Hotel Henrietta New Orleans Review: The Best Boutique Hotel in the Garden District?

My name is Mishana Sturdivant and I own Tad Bit Rad Travels. The purpose of this blog is to share tips, stories and recommendations to empower my readers to travel efficiently and unapologetically.

In this post I share my experience visiting Hotel Henrietta, a locally owned boutique hotel in New Orleans. Although this was a sponsored stay, I will share my honest opinion on my experience.

Enjoy!

I’ve visited New Orleans quite a few times. Most of the time, food and culture are the main drivers. There’s literally no place like New Orleans in the world, and I’m always ecstatic to make that 3-hour flight trip. Hotel Henrietta invited me this time around to experience their southern hospitality, and I’m so glad that I did. In this blog post, I will detail my experience at this exquisite hotel and provide a mini-guide on how to make your stay in New Orleans worthwhile.

Hotel Henrietta is located right off the historic St Charles Ave, a few blocks from Beyoncé’s and Solange’s homes. The iconic green 12 line trolley stops right in front of the hotel for easy access to the Garden District and Uptown. It’s the longest-running trolley in the world, running 24/7, and costs $1.25 for a single ride. I also enjoyed walking up and down St. Charles Avenue. There are many restaurants and shops to explore. It was quiet, still, and away (but close enough) from all the madness of the French Quarter.

First Impressions

Hotel Henrietta Lobby Bar

Now let’s get into this hotel. Walking into Hotel Henrietta, you feel as if you have shifted in time and space. Hotel Henrietta has décor that a world traveler appreciates. Small artifacts from different parts of the world and different moments in time. As you open the French doors of the front entrance, you see a fusion between the vintage café and contemporary art cocktail and wine bar. You almost missed the lobby staff checking you in, but luckily, they greeted me upon arrival. Check-in was quick and easy; I was able to head to my room immediately. There’s so much style as you walk from the lobby to the elevator. The elevator opens, and the first thing I notice is the checkered floor and the blown-up image of Andy Warhol’s medicine closet.

Hotel Henrietta Key Card, standing inside of the elevator

How was the Room?

As I stepped into my room, I was wowed by the size of the suite. My room was 481 sq feet, included one king bed, a kitchenette, and a comfortable seating area with a couch and two chairs. Four people could fit comfortably in this space, but I had it all for myself for the next few days. The room was decked out in premium amenities. I’m talking stunning tiled floors, marble countertops, Le Labo toiletries, Tivoli radios, soft bedding and linens, Turkish linen robes, Illy coffee makers, and soft velour furniture. The room had everything I needed to ensure a cozy, comfortable stay. Hotel Henrietta offers different room types: Studio Suite, Junior Suite, Double Queen, Double Queen Suite, King, and Grand Suite. Each varies by room size, bed style, and whether there’s a balcony.

I enjoyed every corner of my room. The bed linen was super soft, like sleeping on clouds. The large velour couch in the sitting area was so comfy, I enjoyed getting work done over there with a street view of St. Charles Avenue. The walk-in shower was grand with a decent showerhead pressure. The Le Labo products created a rich lather. I appreciated the small details such as the full-length mirror at the room entrance, the knobs to hold your outerwear, the deep closet space for storage, providing a steamer AND an iron, and a fully stocked mini fridge. At the end of the workday, I sat in the shared balcony located at the end of the hallway and enjoyed an overpriced bottle of rosé from the lobby store.

The view as you walk into the Junior suite

Service and Hospitality

Upon check-in, HH gave me two Hotel Henrietta-branded coins to purchase two beverages during my stay. Those beverages included brewed coffee (not specialty) and a cocktail/beer. I thought that was such a nice touch. Most hotels offer a welcome beverage, but it's typically already decided for you. I like the option of choosing what I want and when I want it. The only downside is that I wish the coins were accepted for specialty coffees. Their cortado, which I purchased separately, was delicious and served in a cute glass that I enjoyed in the lobby sitting area.

The staff were personable and always welcomed me when I entered. They answered all my questions, addressed my needs, and offered local recommendations when asked. The space was always cleaned and attended to. I appreciate the free water and tea offered in the lobby. My room was cleaned daily, which I appreciate because I prefer daily housekeeping. Unfortunately, I had just missed the on-site restaurant. I was told by one of the workers that the owner had shut it down a few weeks before my visit. I had looked forward to trying their gastronomy after seeing pictures on their website.

HH Background

Hotel Henrietta is the sister property of the famous Columns. If you’ve never heard of the Columns, just walk 5 minutes down the road, and you’ll notice a grand white Victorian-style mansion with large columns, with a bunch of people enjoying beverages on their patio. The Columns is known to be haunted and has been featured in many films. A few locals I’ve asked said they thought Hotel Henrietta was haunted. There was nothing haunted about my stay. Everything was comfortable, cozy, and quiet. Exactly how I like it. Hotel Henrietta has been open for only a few years, making it a new boutique hotel owned and managed by locals. When I travel, I love to focus on locally owned boutique hotels, and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to experience all that Hotel Henrietta has to offer.

How to Spend Your Time in New Orleans

As I mentioned before, I frequently visit New Orleans. I love the city, its food, culture, and people. As an avid returner, here are my recommendations for making the most of your time in New Orleans. First off, stay in the Garden District. I believe the Garden District is the best neighborhood to stay in while visiting New Orleans. It’s walkable, there’s a ton of shops, restaurants, and cafes, and you’re not too far from the tourist attractions. Some people prefer downtown; some even love the French Quarter. I prefer to dip in and out of the noise, smell, and crowd when I please. Hotel Henrietta is in the Garden District, so I would recommend everyone stay there. You can hop on the 12-line trolley to get around, or take an Uber. My favorite breakfast stops are located off Magazine Street (Garden District): Slim Goodies Diner and Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar. Spend a day wandering through the French Quarter and participating in a walking food tour. Spend another day/night off Bourbon Street, day drinking and walking down Canal Street. Do a ghost tour, a gator swamp tour, and a Jazz club crawl. Now that you’ve got the tourist stuff out of the way, spend the rest of the time diving into New Orleans gastronomy and bar culture. I will share a separate, more in-depth travel guide to New Orleans later, but this should get you started on your planning.

So, if you are planning a trip to New Orleans soon, I highly recommend considering Hotel Henrietta off St. Charles Avenue. The rooms are cozy and comfortable. They offer a luxurious but approachable experience in the heart of the Garden District. After a long day exploring and eating around New Orleans, staying in such a charming hotel with personable, inviting service will make your trip so much better. I personally can’t wait to return.  

There are affiliate links in this article that if you book, I’ll receive a small commission.