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Vibrant, colorful houses with ornate details line a street, showcasing a mix of bold colors and unique architecture.

Don't Settle for Tourist New Orleans

This is the Real New Orleans You're Looking For

Welcome to Esplanade Ridge

La Belle Esplanade sits at 2216 Esplanade Avenue, in the heart of "Esplanade Ridge" — a colorful, historic stretch of New Orleans, LA lined with whimsical gingerbread manor homes. Our boutique hotel is the orange house in the middle of the block; you can't miss it.

We are close enough to the French Quarter for easy access, yet firmly planted in a real residential neighborhood where people have chosen to do more than visit.

A bride and groom dance down the street while a brass band plays in a vibrant neighborhood.

This Is the New Orleans You Came For

Our location is in the thick of it all with Mardi Gras Indian parades, second lines, the Crescent City Classic 10k road race, all of it passes by our front door or nearby.

Our neighborhood is packed with things to see and experience — You never know what pleasant thing you'll find when you turn a corner.

A stone angel statue covers its face beside a white structure with trailing ivy.
Sign for A. Brocato Ice Cream, featuring flavors like spumoni and cassata, against a bright blue sky.
A colorful mural depicting abstract figures and animals covers the side of a house.
Sign for "Ruth's Cozy Corner" featuring home-cooked meals and sandwiches, with empty chairs outside.

A Small Hotel in A Colorful Mansion

  • A cozy bedroom with a wooden bed, vibrant red walls, a lamp, and artwork, featuring a fireplace and a television.

A Room As Unique as You

The Perfect HQ for Your Authentic New Orleans Adventure

We only have five suites, and every one of them is bigger than a New York City apartment, a lot of San Francisco apartments, too. Every room is a different color. Every ceiling is a different color. New Orleans is a city of stories, and every room in La Belle Esplanade is full of whimsical artifacts and stories to accompany them. Each suite includes a private bath with a clawfoot tub equipped with a shower, a bedroom (naturally), a private sitting room, and a private balcony. As a small hotel in a colorful mansion, we have all the amenities you should expect. Additionally, as a very small operation, we are usually around. But you will not usually be here. You will be out exploring, making the kind of authentic New Orleans memories that only happen when you stay somewhere real.

Discover the Locals' New Orleans

Real Stories from Esplanade Ridge

A street view of a storefront named "OMEN," featuring a psychic readings sign and an inviting window display.

Palm Readings in New Orleans

Get your palm read in New Orleans. You cannot do anything you please, but you can do a lot of things that you cannot do anywhere else in America. New Orleans is a world of its own. You will learn a lot about yourself if you get either your palm, your cards, or your tea leaves read.
Lush green trees and palm fronds against a bright sky.

Autumn in New Orleans

End-of-year New Orleans is the best New Orleans. It will feel like a balmy summer day to you. From the end of September to the middle of December, the weather is predictably pleasant. There is always something to do every time of year, but autumn in New Orleans tends to be less crowded.
Exterior of Pontilly Coffee shop at dusk, featuring a brightly lit sign and outdoor seating.

Pontilly Coffee

Walk in the front door and the first thing you will hear is, “Welcome to Pontilly Coffee!” Everyone responds the same way to service with a smile. The smells from the kitchen in the back are enticing. The lady at the counter is nice. Nobody is in a rush. A hunched-over old man counts coins from his coin purse. Nobody minds. This is Seymour. Everybody knows him.

You Belong Here

The best New Orleans memories are made on Esplanade Avenue