Holiday Inn Express New Orleans – St Charles

A resident parrot resides in a large bird cage by the front desk of this quirky hotel, which has a Miami-esque mid-rise stucco exterior and artsy, industrial-chic interiors. A bronze statue of a pig supports a small couch-side table in the front entry, where the eclectic decor includes a glass chandelier and a map of the US, as well as a huge oil painting of a knight and maiden. Some of the hallways are painted dark slate shades, with florid murals and graffiti sprawled across them. There is an outdoor lounge in the center of an open atrium filled with patio furniture and a funky couch made out of an iron-frame bed. The cocktail lounge espouses the same boho spirit, with cool tarnished crimson walls that are paired with Oriental rugs and lots of cozy nooks and plush seating.

The hotel is situated on a large roundabout, Lee Circle, and wedged between the Central Business District and the Garden District, about a 25-minute walk from the French Quarter, or a 20-minute streetcar ride. The area immediately surrounding the hotel is home to a few restaurants and bars, though a 13-minute stroll gives access to Canal Street, which offers many more dining options. The property sits just a couple of blocks from access to an interstate and right by several museums, including the neighboring Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum, as well as the Contemporary Arts Center and the National WWII Museum around the corner. A street car that leads straight down St. Charles Ave towards the Zoo and Garden District stops right across the street.

Though rooms at the hotel are plain and even dorm-like due to simple furnishings, bare walls, and wall-to-wall carpeting (that may be in need of replacement in some areas), they are clean and outfitted with an array of modern comforts that include flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers. Neutral hues are accented by pops of colors in the form of cherry red armchairs or vibrant purple accent walls. Iron-frame beds are paired with simple wood furniture that includes a work desk in every room. Larger rooms have a separate living space with couches, easy chairs, and tables. Bathrooms have standard-issue granite vanities, large tiled walk-in showers, and are stocked with C.O. Bigelow products.

The hotel's stylish and atmospheric lounge, Bellocq, serves innovative cocktails, and there's also a farm-to-table restaurant, Tivoli & Lee, which serves modern Southern fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There hotel has a small 24-hour fitness center equipped with a couple of exercise machines and weights, as well as a business center that offers access to a printer, computer, and fax. Wi-Fi is free throughout and the hotel offers valet parking.