Where to Stay in New Orleans for Mardi Gras

There are a few neighborhoods I’ll focus on for specific reasons: they make the most sense if you’re coming for a visit during Mardi Gras. While there are parades in different parts of the city, the main areas for visitors are the ones I’ll zoom in on because they are the most traditional and the most fun, in my local opinion. You’ll get the most bang for your buck (though carnival is free and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise) in these general areas. I’m very excited to share my picks with you, and I know you’ll be pleased no matter where you decide to stay.

If you’re coming as a visitor for the first time, this will be the most helpful. And really it may be helpful if you’re coming and haven’t been in a while, or want to try out a different spot. This list is not generic, it’s very specific, and I worked on it for a long time. My advice to visitors always comes from a personal perspective, and I try to make sure I give the best ideas and options I can. You’ll find this useful to get your Mardi Gras plans in place. So, let’s get started!

Screaming for Shoes at Muses

Uptown New Orleans is where the locals go, hands down. We all have our favorite spots around and along Saint Charles Avenue, and year after year we make our way down for the parades to “our” spots. While there technically is not any exact location you can claim year after year, we know the drill and when we can set up and we do make it a practice of grabbing our most favorite pieces of real estate. Most of us have a strong preference to sidewalk side or neutral ground side because once you’re there, it’s best to stay put. You can cross back and forth if you need to get to someone you know riding on a float, but you're expected to go back to your spot shortly afterwards. It’s all in the Mardi Gras culture.

If you’re dreaming of making Uptown your official Mardi Gras location, you’ve chosen well. This is by far my favorite place to catch parades, despite having been all over the city of New Orleans over the years and seeing them from every angle. It’s the most friendly, family friendly, and authentic way to be part of Mardi Gras, and I love when I meet visitors who feel the same way. So, if you’re coming Uptown, let’s get you a place to stay.

Best Hotels Uptown for Mardi Gras

Hotel Henrietta

Hotel Henrietta is in a prime spot for enjoying the revelry of Mardi Gras uptown. The hotel has several different types of rooms, and it’s ideal for you if you’re staying just a few days or a longer stay. The hotel provides a private experience for hotel guests during the parades, and you have access to your room to use the bathroom. If you have others who would like to join, they are welcome to buy wristbands to be part of the fun. This is an ideal location for your parading. They do have parking on site, but if you don’t have a car, you’re in great shape. You can walk to so much from this hotel.

The Columns Hotel

The Columns Hotel is the perfect place to watch the parades roll by. This Michelin acknowledged hotel located on Saint Charles Avenue has been a local favorite for so long, and that includes myself. I’ve loved spending time on the patio for happy hour or dinner with local friends and visiting friends. For Mardi Gras, you will be in the midst of the action, and if you need to take a little break from it (because we all do at some point) you can go to your room and rest. Tickets are sold to people who aren’t staying at the hotel as well, so if you can’t get a room here, know that you can be part of their fun regardless. I’m a big fan of this hotel and even recommend it as one of my favorite bars in the city. It’s quite magical.

The Pontchartrain Hotel

The Pontchartrain Hotel is right along Saint Charles Avenue, making it an ideal spot to catch all the uptown parades. It is a one stop shop for all of your dining and drink needs, with Jack Rose being a delicious restaurant and Hot Tin being a rooftop bar with all the right views. This hotel is closer to the downtown side of Saint Charles, and across from the Garden and Lower Garden Districts. It makes it very easy to do some nice sightseeing while you’re not screaming for beads during the parades. It’s a classic hotel in the city, and one that many people are thrilled to stay when they visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

During most times of the year, the French Quarter is the area that gets the most attention because it’s our most famous neighborhood. And yes, it is in fact a neighborhood. People live there and spend their lives there, and even I as a local have to remember that we are amongst people's homes. There are plenty of hotels located in the French Quarter, and I've identified a few as some of the best to stay. The Mardi Gras season is filled with fun and excitement and action in the French Quarter. You’ll see many walking parades, second lines, and costumers all over the French Quarter during Mardi Gras, but you won’t see floats. They are far too large to roll through the sacred streets of the French Quarter, so you’ll have to travel by foot (or maybe pedicab?) to get to them. It’s easy enough, and then you can go back to your (hopefully) quiet hotel room to rest.

Best Hotels in the French Quarter for Mardi Gras

Place d’Armes

Located almost smack in the middle of the French Quarter, the Place d’Armes is a dreamy little hotel with lots to offer. It has a beautiful courtyard where you can relax or take a dip in the pool (if you’re visiting for Mardi Gras this would be a cold plunge). Right outside the hotel is Jackson Square, Cafe du Monde, and my favorite Royal Street to stroll down. You’ll surely see several walking parades from this hotel, and any other fun that the Mardi Gras season has to offer. I’d recommend this hotel any time of the year, and at Mardi Gras time it’s ideal.

Hotel Monteleone

One of my all time favorite hotels to recommend, Hotel Monteleone is up there with the most iconic hotels you could stay in New Orleans. Perfect for Mardi Gras and the festivities around it, it’s very close to Canal Street where the parades pass by. When you’re not attending the parades, you can stroll down Royal Street and visit places like The New Orleans Historic Collection and M.S. Rau. Or you can have a cocktail at the famous Carousel Bar. This hotel will make you feel like you never want to leave. It’s a perfect place to land for your Mardi Gras madness.

The Celestine

This tiny hotel called The Celestine is one that would be a delightful stay during the Mardi Gras season. It’s in the thick of the action, near Bourbon Street, but you will be tucked away from the noise when you go to your room. The Celestine has gotten a Michelin key and other recognitions from major publications. It’s owned by a local who owns several delicious restaurants, as well as The Chloe Hotel uptown. Book this one early, as it’s got just 14 rooms, and enjoy the boutique hotel luxury right in the middle of the French Quarter during Mardi Gras season.

Maybe an area that you weren’t considering for your Mardi Gras adventure, the Warehouse District and CBD are great options because of where they are situated in the city. They are squished between the French Quarter and Uptown, and many of the parades pass through to get to Canal Street. This makes it an excellent choice for your Mardi Gras stay in New Orleans. Both areas are near a ton of restaurants and near the green streetcar line, so you can bop around the city with no issues and no need for a car. During the parades, prepare to stay close to your area so you don’t get trapped outside of where you want to be. If I were coming to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, these are areas I’d highly consider.

Best Hotels in the Warehouse District/CBD New Orleans for Mardi Gras

Higgins Hotel

The Higgins Hotel is directly associated with the National WWII Museum. It’s a beautiful Hilton property that has multiple eateries and one of the most beautiful views of the city on their rooftop bar, Rosie’s on the Roof. It’s a perfect stay for the Mardi Gras season, as it places you inside of the parade route. You could actually walk from one side of the parade as it’s coming and then to the other side as it’s ending. During the times when there are no parades, you can get around town very easily, or just spend the days at the WWII Museum (because you could spend days in there). This is a great spot for your revelry in New Orleans during carnival season.

Hotel Perle

I’m loving Hotel Perle because of its unique nature. A large building was turned into just a few “apartments” or suites, being able to accommodate larger groups of people. For those of you who are traveling with families or groups of friends during Mardi Gras, this is a hotel I would highly recommend. It’s right on the green streetcar line on Saint Charles Avenue, so you can hop on right there and head uptown, or just stay where you are to catch the parades. They end close to where the hotel is, and it makes for a perfect spot to comfortably watch the parades. This one is a big winner to me!

Virgin Hotels

The nice thing about Virgin Hotels New Orleans is that it is just outside the box of Mardi Gras in the downtown area. You can easily walk to the route and catch the parades, but you’re not going to be trapped inside it. Not that it matters too much, as you don’t want to go anywhere else while the parade is rolling (except the bathroom once in a while). This hotel is chic, comfortable, and has a rooftop pool and bar. It encourages a little mischief, making it a fun stay in an already fun city. Check them out for your Mardi Gras madness - they will not disappoint.

King Cake Time

This is your time to shine. Come to our city, enjoy it, be respectful of it, and participate fully in all our Mardi Gras season has to offer. We are thrilled to have you here. New Orleanians love sharing our traditions with people who visit, and especially those who embrace it. We are a city of joy, of friendliness, and of Mardi Gras. You will never experience anything else like this in your entire life, and I encourage you to come with open arms for your throws and open minds. This season is about friends and family, and we cannot wait to host you. Throw me somethin’ mister!!

If you liked this post, you might also like the one about how to experience Mardi Gras like a local, or what to wear to Mardi Gras.

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