936 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | (618) 248-8274
Convenient location right by several museums and tram stop leading to French Quarter
Funky ambiance with front-desk parrot, velvet couches, and murals throughout
Plain, clean rooms with flat-screen TVs, Keurig machines, mini-fridges, and iPod docks
Trendy cocktail bar outfitted in eclectic boho chic
Modern restaurant serves Southern fare
Small 24-hour fitness center
Business center with a computer, printer, and fax
Pets allowed
Free Wi-Fi
Rooms are plain and fairly small
Some visible wear and tear, including worn or stained carpeting
Valet parking only
The trendy Hotel Modern is a quirky upper-middle-range boutique property with eclectic decor and a boho-meets-industrial-chic vibe. An on-site farm-to-table restaurant serves modern Southern fare and there's also a hip and atmospheric cocktail bar with crimson walls and plush seating. The 135 rooms are fairly bare and simply furnished, but clean, with modern amenities that include flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and C.O. Bigelow products in the bathrooms. Situated on a large roundabout, the property neighbors several museums and is just a few steps away from one of the streetcars that reaches the French Quarter in about 20 minutes. Travelers seeking something of a similar character, but closer to the French Quarter, might want to consider the Royal Street Inn, another hipster hangout with a bar.
Scene
Mid-rise stucco building with funky boho-chic interiors and eclectic decor
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.
Location
Located on Lee Circle, with streetcars leading to the French Quarter just outside the front door
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.
Rooms
Clean, plain rooms with simple furnishings and modern amenities like Keurig machines and flat-screen TVs
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.
Features
Hip cocktail lounge and restaurant with modern Southern fare; small fitness center, business center, and free Wi-Fi
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.