Loft 523 Boutique Hotel in New Orleans – Full Hotel Review

Loft 523 Boutique Hotel in New Orleans is a gorgeous property featuring unique, loft-style rooms right in the heart of New Orleans. This hotel review will dive into everything you can expect when booking at the Loft 523 Hotel, including the resort’s accommodations and unique amenities. As always, all opinions are my own.

My hubby recently surprised me with a quick romantic getaway to New Orleans! While he had visited New Orleans a couple of times for work in the past, I had never been. Needless to say, we were both excited to explore the city together. Whenever we travel and do quick 48-hour, romantic getaways, we always like to find a place that’s both unique and romantic! So when my hubby came across Loft 523 in New Orleans, we knew it was the one! Nestled right in the heart of New Orleans, its unique loft-style rooms are romantic, chic, and just what we needed for this getaway!

The Location

Loft 523 is located on Gravier Street in New Orleans which is right in the New Orleans Central Business District and only a few blocks away from popular areas like The French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and Canal Street. For us, this location worked perfectly because it felt great to go and enjoy the many popular areas that New Orleans had to offer and then come back to enjoy peaceful, quality time with each other. We also loved that for the most part, the location was pretty quiet at night.

Needless to say, while the popular areas are within walking distance, definitely pack some comfy shoes because you will be walking A LOT over the next few days. In total, we walked about 12 miles and almost 30,000 steps.

Check-In Process

The check-in process was a bit, different. A few hours before it was time to check in, we received a text letting us know that check-in would be at the International House Hotel, Loft 523’s sister property. International House Hotel was about a block away from Loft 523 so not far, but it was a bit awkward rolling our luggage across the street and down the sidewalk.

Beyond that, the check-in process was fairly simple and quick. Once we got our keys, we headed back to Loft 523 to check into our room and noticed that the hotel did not have its own check-in attendant or staff present at the hotel. Since we typically get air bnb’s when we travel, this wasn’t too much of a problem for us, but definitely unexpected considering how the property is advertised.

The Rooms

Loft 523 offers 18 loft-style hotel rooms and a penthouse that averages around 600 square feet each. Each room is designed to sleep 2 people and comes equipped with a King Size bed and a luxurious bathroom. We stayed on the 3rd floor in the Artist Loft and we were pleasantly surprised that the room looked just like the pictures online.

In-Room Amenities

Each room has tall windows that let in a ton of light and the concrete floor and contemporary furniture definitely give it that ‘loft’ feel. your. The artist lofts have built-in closets and limestone bathrooms complete with glass showers and ‘spoon’ tubs.

Loft 523 also offers patio and penthouse lofts that house the hotel’s only patios with the penthouse loft overlooking the Picayune Place Historic District in downtown New Orleans.

Each room also came with a robe, slippers, coffee/tea maker, and television. Our television only had one working channel, but we didn’t spend much time watching tv so it wasn’t really an issue for us.

Amenities

According to their website, Loft 523 has complimentary WiFi, 24hr concierge, in-room coffee, yoga mats, bath amenities by Aveda, ceiling Fans by Modern Fan Company, spa services, 24hr access to International House Hotel’s gym, and is a smoke-free and pet-friendly property.

However, during our stay, we didn’t visit the International House Hotel to utilize any of the amenities at the property. Additionally, there was no sign of a spa at Loft 523. There was a bar with a pretty nice sitting area near the lobby of the hotel, but it seemed to be abandoned. Upon check out, a staff member at the International House Hotel informed us that the popularity of Loft 523 was greatly affected by Covid and that they were working hard to have it fully staffed again.

That said, I do believe the hotel will be very nice once it is fully staffed and all of the advertised amenities are available.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Loft 523 was very relaxing and luxurious. Although there weren’t any staff on the property, my hubby and I felt very comfortable. The aesthetic is such a wonderful mix of modern with timeless art and a luxurious, romantic vibe which made it perfect for our quick romantic getaway!

Overall Rating

Overall, I would recommend Loft 523 to any couple looking for a quick, romantic getaway in New Orleans. The location is a 10/10 and it made for the perfect little cozy hideaway in New Orleans.

We would definitely stay here again when we come to visit and we have high hopes that next time, it will be completely staffed with all amenities up and running! So the next time you and your hubby are planning a trip to New Orleans, be sure to check out Loft 523!