Loft 523 New Orleans

Loft 523 is a shot of trendiness to what has historically been a commercial, buttoned-up (for New Orleans) neighborhood. Inside, the art gallery-quality of the lobby -- with modern, minimal furnishings and lofted ceilings -- gives way to mod guest rooms hidden well behind hammered copper doors. That rare sense of seclusion is heightened in the penthouse suites, which open up to private terraces blooming with aquatic gardens and spectacular skyline views.That Zen feel is slightly rattled when downstairs' Le Phare nightclub is open, but its clever cocktails and playful live acts may prod hotel guests to join the party.

Loft 523 New Orleans is located in the Central Business District (CBD) across the street from the freewheeling French Quarter. The area adds towering office buildings to the New Orleans skyline -- corporations, foreign consulates, and the city’s convention center are located here, as is the Superdome.The CBD began its development in the early 1800s, when the Louisiana Purchase attracted newly minted Americans to a city once dominated by the Spanish and French. As port traffic increased along the Mississippi River, warehouses and manufacturing plants were built on the CBD shore. When cargo ships became containerized, these buildings were abandoned.The World’s Fair in 1984 sparked new interest in the CBD, and developers restored the 19th century warehouses and plants into chic condos, hotels, and restaurants. The building boom has also included art galleries, the National World War II Museum, and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.Today, the CBD is a mellower counterpart to the French Quarter, but just as alluring. There’s plenty of foot traffic, especially closer to the river and around the St. Charles streetcar line. At night, visitors should be safe on main thoroughfares like Poydras Street, and anywhere there’s a major restaurant or hotel. A wealth of parking garages makes the CBD fairly easy to drive into, except during the week of Mardi Gras.- 25-minute drive to Louis Armstrong International Airport

• 5-minute walk to Canal Street, where you can pick up streetcars to St. Charles Avenue or the New Orleans Museum of Art
• 5-minute walk to Lafayette Square
• 15-minute walk to Jackson Square and Cafe du Monde
• 15-minute walk to the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
• 5-minute drive to the Superdome
• 5-minute drive to the National World War II Museum

The 18 guest rooms are equally chic (though light sleepers should ask for one away from the downstairs nightclub), but vary in size: Lofts run about 600 square feet, while penthouses are about 850 square feet and open up to a private terrace with aquatic gardens and skyline views.Overall, decor is similar throughout -- colorful artwork, upholstered bed frames, and textured accents (pecan wood, glass, suede) warm up guest rooms. The low-slung, sparse furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows amplify space, which may be the biggest luxury.Of course, the bathrooms are extraordinarily luxurious in their own right: Limestone floors, walk-in showers, teak benches, and marbled, contemporary soaking tubs (in many rooms) add to the spa-like appeal. For the ultimate indulgence, staff will draw a warm milk bath, complete with an Archipelago kit of bath indulgences and a tray of Krispy Kreme donuts to enjoy while you soak.- Guest baths are roughly 150 square feet

• 12-foot high ceilings with glass ceiling fans
• Frette bed linens, triple-sheeted
• Herman Miller-designed, ergonomic chairs
• iHome docking stations and sound systems, flat-screen TVs
• Aveda bath products
• Coffee maker with free coffee
• Free Wi-Fi
• Bottled water for a fee

• Room service from local favorite Rambla restaurant
• Free Wi-Fi throughout
• Guests in the “Rock You Suite” (directly over Le Phare) get a $50 gift card redeemable at the club
• Small business center consists of one iMac in the lobby
• Access to fitness room at International House Hotel