Hotel Peter and Paul
Curated by Katy
Standing in the Marigny, a vibrant and colorful neighborhood in New Orleans, is Hotel Peter and Paul. The hotel's visionary, Nathalie Jordi, saw the mid-19th-century Saints Peter and Paul Parish complex and set out to reimagine it into the delightful and charming boutique hotel we have today.
After four years of meticulous restoration, Nathalie, in collaboration with the design and hotel geniuses at ASH NYC, has created a haven for visitors and locals in the city of New Orleans. Friendly interiors are adorned with French antiques, locally-made furnishings, and cheerful gingham prints. The 100% local staff are the warmest of spirits, and with the fresh dishes and cocktails served up at The Elysian Bar and courtyard restaurant, you're going to be smiling your entire visit...I certainly was.
At a glance
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Price: from $159
Rooms: 71
Suitable for: Families, including those with children under 5, people with disabilities, and pets
Nearest Airport(s): New Orleans (MSY): 15-30min by car
Arrive by: Car, cab
Open: Year Round
Check in: 3pm Check out: 11am
The Hotel
Hotel Peter and Paul is a landmark occupying an entire city block in the Marigny and comprised of several structures––a former schoolhouse, convent, rectory, and church–– each with a story to tell and a design narrative woven in. The result is a stay with wonderfully unique rooms, a community gathering place, soulful drinking and dining, and one jaw-dropping event space.
Rooms and Design
Designed by ASH NYC the common spaces and rooms are bright and welcoming with gingham touches as a recurrent motif. Treasures to be found in the hotel include items selected from European antique fairs and New Orleans estates, locally handcrafted poster beds, curtains and armoires, and a collection of Catholic icons...paying homage to the parish, of course. Decorative painted walls create surprising moments, like the mural of playful lemons in the cafe, and are mostly executed by Ann Marie Auricchio.
I arrived at Hotel Peter and Paul on a perfect New Orleans spring day. As I walked into the lobby and reception, located within the Schoolhouse, I was awed by the grand space. Elegantly and minimally designed, the historically preserved architectural elements take center stage. The sunlight beamed in and a delicious subtropical breeze was blowing off the river. Smiles greeted me and ushered me to the front desk. Pretty sure I wasn't going to want to leave for a while.
Accented by large lantern-style pendants, the central lobby staircase ushers you upstairs to an airy corridor with rooms to either side. The schoolhouse rooms are classically designed and include varied sizes to suit solo travelers to families of 4. Each floor is decorated in a palette of either earthy blue, green, yellow, or red––colors inspired mostly by 14-18th-century paintings. Creative placement of these rooms may mean you're sleeping in what was once the former gym, a classroom, or backstage of the school's theater.
The Rectory dates back to 1875 and is where the clergy used to reside. Today it serves up some seriously good eats at the Elysian Bar from the James Beard nominees at Bacchanal Wine. You'll also find five cozy baroque-inspired rooms in shades of soft pink, peach, and crimson––some overlooking the bar's courtyard. The Rector's Repose, located here, is arguably one of the most romantic rooms you will find in the city.
The Convent is where the Marianite nuns who taught at the school lived. Seven quiet rooms in this building are decorated in blues and ivory, some with fireplaces and all with lovely tassel-laden custom canopy beds.
Select rooms feature claw-foot bathtubs or balconies.
Food and drink
The Elysian Bar is located in The Rectory, and is named after Elysian Fields Ave. While Elysian Fields was originally an ancient Greek reference, in modern times the name often refers to a place that makes you feel a sense of bliss after leaving it. After having frequented the Elysian Bar multiple times during my visit, I think it’s aptly named.
The restaurant and bar offer a variety of spaces for different times of day and mood. You can choose from classically designed parlors with calming decor and Italianate fireplaces (fun fact: the nuns and priests used to hang out here watching iconic TV shows through the 80s and 90s); a cheerful plant-filled sunroom with custom-made tables and chairs, perfect for breakfast; the "jewel box" bar inspired by cypress tree roots, stealing the show; and a perfectly charming inner courtyard. We won't encourage dine and dash, but if you must, there's also a small grab-n-go cafe in the front room (a former chapel) for your essentials of morning beverages and pastries.
The Elysian Bar is brought to you by the team at James-Beard-nominated, Bacchanal Fine Wine. Don’t forget to make a trip to the Bywater to visit it as well.
The area
The Marigny is bordered by the French Quarter on one side, the Bywater on another, and the Mississippi River on a third. It's a mixed-use neighborhood notorious for its colorful Creole cottages, music, and relaxed bars. Locals love lingering at sidewalk cafes and bars here and are ready to send you warm greetings as you walk by...or have a conversation if you decide to sit for a bit.
You'll also enjoy the elegant and stately Esplanade Avenue and easy access to the French Quarter, Bayou St John, the Fairgrounds (Jazz Fest, my fine friends) and City Park – home to an amazing sculpture garden, the Louisiana Children's Museum, and New Orleans Museum of Art.
Events and Community
The Church of St Peter and Paul is extraordinary and has become a fortunate gathering place for locals and visitors. As a special event space, it is remarkable. And community events are held nearly every day, from yoga and Pilates to choir practice, neighborhood association meetings, Christmas caroling, kids' piano recitals, experimental theater, and beyond. The Hotel Peter and Paul project has always been one to help revitalize and unite a beautiful neighborhood and the city of New Orleans.
The Visionaries
Nathalie Jordi, a New Orleans-based journalist living in the neighborhood, had a dream for the collection of structures at St Peter and Paul. It was a daunting prospect so she enlisted the help of boutique hoteliers and designers at ASH NYC to help her realize it.
What we love about this team is their process of questioning and mindful decision-making. They use every opportunity to tell the story of the people that created the fabric of the city, and integrate those that keep its heart beating today.
At Good Trips, we always talk about intention rather than perfection. Nathalie is our ideal hotelier, making sure that her establishment not only serves guests with the highest respect and quality experience, but also forges relationships between those visitors and local community members.
Nathalie Jordi. Photo Credit: Liz Jurey
Room TIPS
For families: choose a Schoolhouse Two of Queens
For something small and cozy: choose a petit room; we love the ground-floor, yellow rooms with low-beamed ceilings
For privacy: choose a convent room
For romance and opulence: choose a rectory room
Good Trips perks
Flexible Check-in & Check-out upon availability
Promo code: GOODTRIPS
Sustainability in practice
Employees:
100% of the staff is either from New Orleans or became a local before being hired. Staff is treated well with benefits and even 4 weeks paid vacation...highly unusual by U.S. standards!
Connection and Economic benefit to the Community:
The buildings were central to the identity and life of the Marigny for more than a century. Hotel Peter and Paul honor the history of these structures and the people who came through their doors. The hotel goes beyond talking about amenities in their in-room directories and tells the stories that matter –– of the Mississippi River, jazz, slavery, local flora, and best recs for getting to know New Orleans and the Marigny.
Environment:
Hotel Peter and Paul is transparent about all of their efforts divulging the process and the difficulties in the journey of making these monumental structures environmentally friendly. Constantly on a mission to do better, what they have done includes:
Low-to-no single-use plastic
Large recycling efforts (no small feat in NOLA)
Toxin-free cleaning products and laundry soaps
Organic toiletries
Energy efficiency wherever possible
Low water consumption and responsible water run-off management
Native and near-native plant palette
Local, organic, seasonal food
Book with promo code GOODTRIPS for special incentives.
Katy Hoogerwerf
Katy is a New Orleans native who grew up shaped by the art, design, music, and famously good food her hometown is known for. Her passion and expertise lie in finding design-led conscious businesses and sharing them with you.
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