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The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is a boutique property in New Orleans’ Central Business District (CBD) that serves up a strong identity all its own. An industrial-chic aesthetic is backed up with charming artistic character, readily apparent from the lobby showcasing works by local artists to the hotel’s 167 quirkily-decorated rooms.
Opening in 2015, it’s a relative newcomer, but it still has plenty of history to lean on. Its four-story building dates back to the mid-19th century and its name comes from the building’s previous incarnation as a candle factory, or chandlery.
The Old No.77 Hotel is the New Orleans outpost of the small national chain of Provenance Hotels, making it one of just 14 nationwide. As with the company’s other properties, the hotel has a clear emphasis on sense of place, with local cuisine, art, and culture all vigorously promoted. Its excellent restaurant, Compere Lapin, as well as its bar, are favorites among locals like myself during non-pandemic times.
Its thoughtful design, intriguing architecture, and wallet-friendly rates earn it a spot on our list of the best hotels in New Orleans.
On the topic of being an excellent value, the hotel has always had affordable starting rates, with entry-level rooms pre-COVID going for around $100 per night. The hotel doesn’t have too many amenities, and there’s no pool, but its location, standard of accommodation, and on-site dining made it a good deal. The hotel has recently dropped its prices, and my entry-level room rate of $71 per night for a midweek stay felt almost too good to be true.
Sadly, I was unable to eat at Compere Lapin or get a cocktail at the bar on this particular stay since they were only operational later in the week and on weekends. The hotel had also implemented other various new COVID-19 protocols that I appreciated and that helped me rest easy. Despite the lack of open amenities, I had a delightful stay and the hotel firmly remains one of my top recommendations for visitors, especially those on a budget.