I stayed here while I spent a few days in NOLA. I was drawn to it because the website and travel advisor photos had shown pictures of a large tub in the middle of the area. I was pretty much sold when I saw those. Sadly, we didn't get that room, but it wasn't a huge deal. First impressions: I don't know. Pretty much all over the place. There was no parking... our car had to be taken to a public lot, but I guess that's to be expected in a place where the streets are made of cobblestone and they're usually one-way We checked in a it was creepily quiet. They were running their check-in system off of a Mac. We went up the elevators to our room (on the 4th floor) and the elevator scared the sweet baby jesus out of me. It made the worst sounds and the landing felt horrible when you got to your destination. It's also really dark in there... maybe for ambiance? Got into our room and it was... nice. I have no complaints. Concrete floors. Didn't really bother me, but it might bother some people. The room was just very clean and industrial looking... with a modern twist. The bed was pretty comfy... which is a make or break for me. And really, the price was pretty great for what you get in the room. I really can't complain. The hotel is central to all of the touristy things that there are to do in NOLA. Bourbon St was literally a 5 min walk away, and then from there, you can stroll into the French Quarters and Historic District. Everything is just a walk away- we never had to cab anything. I'd really recommend this place. The front desk girl/concierge is also really knowledgeable about the area, which helped when we wanted a place to eat and things like that read more

Beautiful decoration & furniture -- minimalist and modern unlike the other gaudy and/or stodgy accommodations across town. Front desk kept saying that the place has a NYC feel... my room was as big as a Saudi prince's NY apartment, maybe. The penthouse room was gigantic, but so was my buddy's normal room. The penthouse rooms have a huge deck. On a pretty block of Gravier near the conference hotels. Definitely staying here next time I'm in New Orleans! read more

Found a previous residents bottle of anal lubricant under the bed whilst searching for my phone. Service at check in also very shoddy. Doesn't matter that the rooms are actually nice, i will not be back. read more

Stayed here before a cruise. Got a deal on Hotwire. Can't complain - very nice staff and comfortable room. Cold concrete floors but the bed was very comfortable. I'd stay there again. read more

Very cool boutique hotel, close to everything in New Orleans but on a side street that makes it seem kinda tucked away from the crowd, thanks yelp! Was a bit loud on Friday night but had more to do with the production crew filming in the lobby and outside the front door. The room was big, great loft look & feel, and had everything you'd expect from a top tier hotel. Would recommend this over any of the chain offerings and definitely where I'll stay whenever in town. read more

We booked in for Jazz fest weekend on a recommendation from a friend as it was close to the festival bus service. I was expecting a noisy stay especially with the bar downstairs ( which I knew about thanks to other reviewers).......but was delighted to have 3 quiet nights!!! The best sleep we have ever had at a hotel due to comfy beds, pillows and quietness!! The bath was so comfortable, perfect to rejuvenate after a long festival day. Was nice not to have to pack shampoo and bodywash due to the Aveda products that were supplied. The sister hotel just across on Camp street has a gorgeous modern french style restaurant that is worth checking "Rambla" ( their bar is also very nice) We look forward to our next trip down! read more

Awesome place, and I'm so glad it's back post-Katrina. Great location, a true boutique hotel with enormous rooms and fantastic service. Definitely where I'm staying for my next visit to New Orleans. read more

If there is any chance you may want to relax and sleep during the hours of 12-4am, you should avoid this place. The walls and furniture were vibrating because the bass was so high in nightclub downstairs. I had to complain several times in the night and stayed up late and not feeling well. Management offered to take 300 off, only after having to go out of my way to explain how the noise level was unacceptable. Room was 379/night and should have been entirely complimentary with the amount of discomfort. Would have gone to another hotel if they were not already booked up. There is no insulation in the wall and you will hear everything from the street, which may include jack hammer drilling in the morning to wake you up. The room was very large and I love concrete floors and minimal design, however, this helped to showcase the poor housekeeping job. Countertops had stuff on them, sheets had stains, there was several places with mold in corners of the bathroom. Also, the shower was the most horrible experience I have ever had with a shower. I did not think it would be possible to have such a hard time getting clean, had to use the bathtub to wash hair (which I had to clean prior to use). Also, the front door to building did not lock during stay, even late at night. Nobody asked to see room key and just let us go straight upstairs. Did not seem safe. Overall, even if you enjoy the design of this place and prefer smaller boutique hotels like I do, I would still prefer a chain that has it's act together and has a commitment to service and cleanliness. read more

This is a great hotel. The location is pretty good, but the street is busy and one way so it can be hard to get in and out with the car. The valet isn't particularly quick either. The first couple nights they were filming in the bar so that caused some inconvenience, but not enough to really bother us. The rooms are clean, and the limited furniture and tall ceilings make if modern and give it s spacious feel. I particularly love the Aveda products in the bathroom. It's a nice hotel with a nice staff and a great price and location. I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to stay directly in the Quarter but wants to be close to the hub. read more

Amazing place! A little hard to find but super amazing people and the room is incredible! Andrew made our check in and evening perfect! Thanks! read more

I must say I loved staying here at Loft 523. It was just outside the French Quarters making it easy to get everywhere walking and not need an uber/taxi. This quiet and secluded hotel is just that, with beautiful details. I was greeted by "Lucy" and she was so very pleasant from the time I checked in and then out. I stayed in room 3B which (I believe) is the studio loft layout. The rooms gave me a NY feel with natural lighting and large space. The hotel also offered continental breakfast which was at there sister company International Hotel (which I stayed at and it's another nice place to stay at if Loft isn't available)which is a block up from Loft. Next time I go back to NOLA I'll definitely be coming back to Loft. read more

Great place to stay. I booked two rooms for the labor day weekend. The location is pretty good and a short walk to the french quarter. If you are looking for a nice hotel which sets itself apart from the cookie cutter junk out there, this is the place. The front desk is super helpful and gave excellent suggestions. Parking is pricey but at par with other hotels. The only drawback? One large bed and concrete floors which make it hard if you have 3 people in the room. read more

Loft 523 is a minimalist's dream. The rooms are sparely--yet gorgeously--appointed. Many of the furnishings are made of natural materials, adding texture and depth. The floors are concrete and the walls are monochromatic which makes the room quite soothing. This hotel is perfect for modern travelers. read more

GREAT hotel! Cool concrete floors (bring socks if your feet tend to get cold) but carpeted near the bed. Very modern, sleek. I only wish they added more lighting for those of us "over 30." Can be a bit dim in the room. Large, spacious- fantastic location just outside the French Quarter so you are out of the fray but close enough to quickly walk there in under 10 mins. Two blocks away from Magazine ST #11 bus and 2-3 blocks away on the other side from the St Charles streetcar. HIGHLY recommend this hotel. Very friendly staff too! read more

I was in New Orleans for a weekend and stayed at this hotel. It was a great experience and the staff and management were incredible. I'm not easily impressed but I would definitely stay here again. The hotel is close enough to walk to the French Quarter and the area feels very safe. The rooms are huge and very clean. One of the best hotels I've stayed in while traveling. Highly recommend! read more

This place is amazing!!!!!! The entrance is unmarked no signage just a gorgeous hammered copper door. When you enter the lobby its contemporary interior is simultaneously modern & elegant I arrived late after 9 and was greeted by a stunning and elegant receptionist who got me checked in and ready to head upstairs in 5 minutes being very tired after a long flight I was v v pleased by the quick low hassle check in....now the room omfg this room and it wasn't the penthouse is enormous!! 600+ sq feet of ultra modern chic. The bed and sheets were heaven. & maybe 8 pieces of furniture in the romm made it feel amazing. Big and I mean enormous bathroom with dual shower heads and a huge for two people soaking tub-divine! The staff is absolutely lovely n low key I couldn't be happier w the experience read more

The most comfortable bed I've ever slept in! Modern design, huge rooms, very clean! The bar downstairs is VERY loud, so be warned, but we couldn't hear a thing in our third floor room. Great value!! read more

Wow! What a gem this place was. I find it hard to believe you could find a better place to stay in NOLA for the price. The room was beautiful and sleek. We somehow managed a room with its own balcony and view of the city. The staff was helpful and friendly. Couldn't have asked for anything more honestly. Thank you!! This will be the place I recommend to anyone staying in downtown NOLA. read more

Stayed here a dozen times but never again! The problem is that it has a nightclub in the first floor that they don't control. The only rooms you can actually sleep in when there's an event are in the back (d or e rooms on 3rd or 4th floor) - but they are dark and look out at blank walls. The staff don't even know when a club night is going to happen - so you can't be sure. Great design of the rooms, but total roulette on whether you will be physically able to sleep from the noise! It's crazy making - people screaming and laughing outside the window and it sounds like they're in the room. Music pounding. Then trucks come to the club at 6:15 am and run pumps to unload liquids or something. Unbearable for any price. Don't do it. read more

After much deliberation, my friend decided on Loft523 as the hotel for our weekend in New Orleans. I was a little nervous about the modern design being more of a Victorian fan myself, but it turned out to be really nice to come back to such a clean & clear space after taking in so much around the city. It was definitely spacious, pretty comfortable (as much as modern furniture can be) and the location was perfect-we could walk to the quarter a few times a day. They offer valet at the hotel, which I learned after calling around is at a fair price. When I got my car back it had a ticket on it from the time it took them to park it after we arrived but they said they would take care of it for me if I dropped it at the sister hotel down the street. The staff would get a slightly lower rating. They weren't terrible, but upon arriving the guy at the desk thought it would be a good idea to give us a 20 minute lecture about a bunch of hotel features we weren't really planning on using. It would have been OK if we both hadn't had a long trip and were standing in the lobby still holding our heavy bags, giving each other anxious glances and trying to find an exit moment to just go put our stuff in the room. He got pretty snooty when we cut him short, but come on, write a welcome packet- no one can remember that much information. The front desk lady the next morning felt the need to correct me on my usage of the word brunch on Saturday (if it's 11am on a weekend and you are still serving eggs, that's brunch where I come from) but gave us a great recommendation. The 'hip club' downstairs is easy enough to avoid and not a noise issue from our room. You can decide for yourself with a quick walk through, but we declined the free champagne just to not stay in there. It was a nice change from the norm furniture-wise but I probably wouldn't choose to stay there again. read more

i generally do my homework when looking for a place to stay.... this lovely hotel delivered. the front desk staff, which incidentaly also booked my room are helpful and attentive. the location is close enough to wherever you want to be in the city while being super secluded and quiet. the room, spacious to say the least, clean and modern. i can't wait to stay here again. read more

This is an awesome hotel. Some friends came in town and stayed here and I would totally recommend it to anyone. The staff was cool and knew their stuff. And the rooms were really big and cool and the flat screen was huge! There's not a lot of rooms in the hotel and a pretty cool bar on the first floor. It's close to the french quarter and is walkable to Bourbon. Off the beaten path and well worth it! read more

Maybe I'm not cool enough for this place but I'd describe our penthouse room as a high-design, over-sized prison cell. Cold, dark, sparse, uncomfortable bed with shabby linens, rock-hard couch, and a shower with no pressure and no door -- to ensure you freeze. Unmarked entrance with one employee very unwelcoming. All OK if a good iPod sound system is all you need. We begged to be moved to sister International House happily taking a room a fourth the size. An employee asked if it was the noise that drove us away...no because the bar had not been open the night we were there. "You're lucky," he said. Stay away from this over-sold absurdity. read more

Extremely unhappy with this hotel. Door keys wouldn't work, shower leaked all over bathroom floor, mini fridge broken, dirty, no sign out front (hard time finding this place even with a GPS unit). Shower leaked all over bathroom floor, toilet seat unbolted, and cheap blinds and no curtains, so I was awakened as soon as it became light outside. The advertisement states "floor to ceiling windows",not even close. Advertisement states "Sony Flat screen TV/DVD with Surround Sound", not in our unit (we stayed in a Penthouse unit.) $32.00 per night to valet park your car several blocks away. Extremely overpriced. Seems like it was an interesting concept that they tried to accomplish on a very cheap budget. I would not ever stay here again, not even for 1/2 price!!! read more

I recently stayed at loft 523 for a long get away weekend. I loved the location, far enough away from the madness of the french quarter but well within walking distance. Also very close to the streetcars. The rooms have a very minimalist feel with concrete floors, high ceilings and modern furnishings and artwork. The staff were all extremely friendly and accommodating. The only drawback is the noise. We spent the firs two nights on the second floor and we could hear all the sound from the street, even loud conversations. There was a party each night in the hotel bar and there is a dive bar across the street that was going until late. We didn't get back to the hotel until 2 a.m. and there was still quite a bit noise. This was followed up by garbage and delivery trucks early morning. The staff was able to move us to the 4th. floor for our last night stay and we did not really hear any noise at all and got a great night sleep. If you are looking for something other than the standard hotel experience, give Loft 523 a try. read more

Loft523 is something special! It spacious, modern, well appointed, and well maintained. Located on Gravier...it has the feeling of being off the beaten path, when in fact you're right there in the mist of the New Orleans experience. When traveling I loved the loft experience, I happen to stay in unit "2e" with the terrace..., needless to say the terrace adds a whole another dimension to my stay. After a day, I found myself feeling quite at home. One final word about the staff..., they are professional, cordial and quite accommodating. If you like it nice then treat yourself to something special. read more

Business called me to the crescent city, and I was more than happy to respond... New Orleans is one of my favorite places to visit - and I'm typically here for jazzfest, when the hotel choices are sparse and the hair count of the aging mancrowd is sparser. Well this time I decided to treat myself to something a bit different. I read all the reviews about more boutique-ish hotels, and Loft 523 seemed to stand out in terms of both relative smoooveness and affordability. When I arrived, I was not disappointed. The hotel is actually a little difficult to find if you're not familiar with the area, but I liked the fact that I'd landed a secret passageway to sleep and comfort. Once I located the door and walked in, I was fondly greeted by the front desk dude, who called me by name and said he had been lokng forward to meeting me. Mmm yeah, a lil OTT, cool nonetheless. The interior of the lobby was decorated much like the rooms themselves - industrial, slightly edgy comfort. When I got to my room I was happy to see a flatscreen tv, a hoppin stereo system, and a very relaxing bed. The floors were stark polished cement, but the bathroom was marble... Dual sinks and a double shower head were totally groovy (with a hint of being romantical). The front desk dude continued to be helpful when I asked for an iPod dock - he hooked it up within 10min, and made the whole stay automatically more pleasant. There was a "club"/bar downstairs which I didn't really check out, but it looked like a good time... The location was perfect - just close enough to Bourbon to get there and back easily by foot, but far enough away to not smell the wafts of puke, pee and sewage. All-in-all, Loft 523 delivered the goods. I'll be back for sure... read more

My can't say enough about this trip! My boyfriend and I were blown away at the room and service! All of the lights Had dimmers on then which was wonderful! Except for the vanity light. Which could have been brighter but no biggie. The bed was so comfortable. Neither one of us wanted to get out of the bed. If I had to have one complaint it would be the showers. I'm 5 foot and the way that the shower came out the spout. It was over my head. And I couldn't change the direction of the spout. The WiFi was fast and easy! The staff was so nice and helpful. We had just had a long drive in from Houston avoiding a lot of flooding. We were suppose to be at the hotel at 4:40 we got there after 8:00pm. We called in advance to let the staff know and they mad check in so fast and easy! Also it rained a bit while we were there and the hotel provided us with umbrellas for the day! That was soooo helpful! My boyfriend said he enjoy the gym. That after his workout there was a station with fresh fruit and coffee and tea for him. Also for the whole weekend the price we could not beat! All in all this hotel was top notch for us! We will for sure be back! read more

what a fun hotel! on a cross-country road trip, NOLA was a must-see so we decided to book a spot not too close to bourbon street sh*tshow, but close enough to meander around the city. loft 523 fit the bill perfectly, and it looks just as good as the photos depict online of this little oasis on gravier. the bed was comfortable, and they provided a soft robe and slippers to guard against the littlest chill from those smooth, concrete floors. they provide valet, but you can self-park for ~$10 less at the same hotel parking garage as loft will park you in. cool, contemporary vibe from an otherwise frou-frou city. i'd totally stay here again if given the opportunity. read more

Great space. Modern loft hotel with only a few rooms. Staff could seem a bit aloof, but they delivered on all requests I made. Hotel bar was way better than most other hotels I've stayed at, with a very young, hip, good looking crowd and a great band. read more

This hotel was above and beyond anything I ever expected from a swanky boutique hotel so incredibly close to the french quarter. The location was pretty prime. My boyfriend and I pretty much walked everywhere (and I wear heels) we were close enough to all the hot spots in town but not so close as to make things noisey. I loved the decor and all the nice touches, sound system, bath robes, giant bathroom with soaking tub. The lighting options were great also. They had dimmer switches everywhere and the bathroom had a makeup mirror, which made getting ready easy. They also had a full length mirror in the room which was nice considering most hotels do not. Stephanie at the front desk was awesome! From the moment we got there she was on point with maps and all the details on local hang outs, dive bars, sites, local eats, and high-end night life. She made the trip that much more enjoyable and we would have been totally lost with out her. read more

My wife and I booked a room online at the International House and specifically paid for a room that had a window in it (a lot of hotel rooms in New Orleans/French Quarter don't all have windows in the rooms). When we arrived, the room we got had NO WINDOWS. It was late and we were tired and went back down to the front desk and explained what was going on. They were completely understanding and explained that the hotel was over-booked but they would put us up across the street at their sister location, Loft 523. Boy did we luck out! We got a swanky, SoHo style, super large hotel room with a gigantic bathroom, balcony, large windows and it was also super quiet which was important to us. They let us stay for all four nights at the cost of our original (much cheaper) room and everyone on the staff at Loft 523 and at the International House was superb in their accommodation and kindness. Highly recommended! read more

As a hotel designer I am pretty critical of hotels. So here it goes. I love traditional design and hotels in New Orleans are saturated with it. However, I found the clean modern design of Loft 523 refreshing and a nice juxtaposition to the local surroundings. This hotel is located on a quiet side street not too far from the French Quarter and I was able to walk everywhere. As stated in other reviews there isn't any street signage of the Hotel and I was slightly annoyed when I got there as it took a few minutes to find it. However, this seemed to be a nice advantage as my stay went on because it was very quiet and there wasn't a lot of random foot traffic that sometimes can be annoying in a hotel lobby. The lobby is small and simple. The front desk could use more useful storage and a dedicated luggage room. It looks a little junky when your front desk staff can barely move when they have bags piled behind them. The corridors are dark and moody. I loved how in both the elevator and in the corriodors they introduced some traditional motifs in different design elements to play against the lack of ornamentation. Ok, so the rooms. Overall I loved everything about my room. I admit it was Christmas so I did get a superior room that has the spoon tub. It came in pretty handy after spending a day walking the Garden District. So, yes the showers don't have a door and to some that can be drafty but as a lover of modern design I enjoyed my shower. I do agree that a shower ledge for those of us women who have to shave our legs would have been a plus. The only other thing I would have added to the bathroom is better lighting at the vanity. There was plenty of overhead lighting and though the makeup mirror helped there isn't much lighting at your face. If you are a man this can be annoying if you are shaving. In future a backlit mirror would be a great upgrade for this hotel and solve the issue. The IHome allowed me to chill to my own tunes. The only draw back of the room were the blinds at the windows. As a designer I get the cool design element of having the sheer drapery go wall to wall and back lit. Adding a blackout drape would take away from that. However, a late night and the lack of proper light shielding materials made for a far earlier morning than I wanted. The positive is that I did make it to Brennan's for a delectable breakfast before the crowd. Now for the staff. Overall all of them were kind, responsive, and helpful. I was coming in on a holiday weekend and I called ahead to get recommendations of what places would be open. Stephanie was helpful and followed up to make sure I was taken care of. I have already recommended this hotel to several of my friends and I plan to stay here on my upcoming trip to NOLA. read more

We stayed here recently for six days and nights on a combined business/pleasure trip. For the business aspect, Loft 523 is located just a block or two from the heart of the business district. For pleasure, if you are looking to move beyond the French Quarter, Loft 523 is on the edge of the Warehouse District. We loved the cool, minimalist style of the property, and the laid back but very helpful staff. I have travelled for many years for both business and pleasure, and if you are looking for an alternative to the chain hotels for business, and "romantic getaways" for pleasure, try Loft 523. I will definitely stay there next time - no matter the reason for my visit. read more

The descriptions of this hotel are so vastly exaggerated. Other than a large minimalist decor room I did not find anything acceptable on this place. Do not dare try to drive here. Valet parking a true challenge. Try to find a a bell man to help with luggage if you check in late. I spent two ugly nights here with earplugs so I could sleep. The noise from the street below was unbelievably loud! No restaurant. No self parking. Shower water pressure was a dribble and I could go on. I do not know who paid these other guests to rave about this very sub par facility! I have been to New Orleans countless times and this time wanted to try "something different". A very and expensive mistake! read more

We had a great stay at Loft 523 and a previous issue we had was graciously resolved by the general manager. We plan to stay at this hotel again in the future! read more

The hotel staff was very friendly and the lobby was very inviting. Everyone at the desk was very knowledgable about the city and made our stay so enjoyable. We were within walking distance of all the major atractions of New Orleans. We were there on a very busy weekend (Mardi Gras) and they were able to get us in our room before check in time. They were so accommadating. read more

My husband and I stayed at Loft 523 for 3 nights starting 7/24/11 and we absolutely loved it! It is close to everything, French Qtr, Warehouse and Garden Districts, but just enough off the beaten path.... We appreciate & love modern design and that was what drew us here. We were not disappointed. The room was spacious and elegant and has free wireless internet. The staff was courteous, friendly, and extremely helpful. Thank you Brian, Nicholas, and Angela (apologies for misspellings, if any). We had never been to Nawlin's and thanks to Loft 523 and the 3 of you, we enjoyed it tremendously and look forward to returning. read more

My husband and I chose Loft 523 for our New Orleans honeymoon and we couldn't have been more delighted. The staff was kind, attentive and helpful with directions, recommendations and calling cabs. Upon arrival we were given a handwritten note welcoming us to Loft 523, congratulating us on our marriage and explaining that we had been upgraded to the penthouse level. The room was lovely - sleek, gorgeous furnishings, luxurious king size bed, a large bath with both a shower and beautiful tub, and balcony access. Our room was quiet and we slept well both at night and during the occasional afternoon siesta (with the exception of one weekend night where there was some noise of revelers, but that cannot be blamed on the hotel!). My only regret is not checking out the hotel bar until we were awaiting our taxi - the space is artfully decorated with interesting conversation areas. We definitely plan to stay at Loft 523 again in the future! Highly recommend! read more