La Belle Esplanade

La Belle Esplanade is everything it promises. The building is 100% authentic and modernized in a perfectly unobtrusive way that maintains its essential character. We stayed in the La France suite which I would recommend for any couple visiting New Orleans. Matthew is a very knowledgeable and welcoming host, he suggested an event we hadn't heard of off the usual tourist beat where we had an amazing time.

We were happy with our stay. It was close to all amenities, both tourist and local. Street parking was safe. It also provided free Wi-Fi. The historical architecture was colorful and beautiful. The owners are very friendly and helpful. So, thank you, and we'll absolutely visit New Orleans again.

Such a unique hotel. We stayed there 2 nights, at room Clio. Fantastic. All those colors, indoor decor and everything else. Also has a very cute balcony. Located at a quiet neighborhood. Owners are always around.

My husband and I spent five nights in New Orleans and had a truly magical vacation. La Belle Esplanade is a beautiful, fun, and vibrant home with unique accommodations and fabulous breakfasts that sustained us throughout the days. Our room (Les Fleurs) was very spacious and clean, with a super comfy bed and fun decor. ||||Matthew and Melanie, a truly dynamic duo, were wonderful hosts and were instrumental in the wonderful time we experienced. Their passion for New Orleans is extremely contagious. Their daily recommendations were spot on for areas to visit, restaurants, and activities. We learned very early there is so much more to the city than Bourbon Street and really spent no more than 30 minutes there during our stay. However, if this is your thing, you are close to all the action but far enough away to get a quiet recharge. Since this was our first visit, we felt as though we had a nice blend of some typical tourist attractions, as well as places we never would have known existed. We loved how New Orleans had its big city feel but also felt like a small town, as we spotted many people bumping into others they knew at various restaurants and coffee houses. We loved the beautiful historic Treme area where La Belle stands tall. Very safe area and walkable. Highly recommend staying as long as you can. It feels like we did so much, but I know we barely scratched the surface. There’s something to do and see at every turn. We look forward to returning.

If you're looking for a bed and breakfast in New Orleans that's filled with warmth and charm, look no further than La Belle Esplanade! The moment we arrived, we were greeted with the warmest of welcomes from the hosts, Matthew and Melanie (we ABSOLUTELY love them), who made us feel right at home. Their quirky and fun personalities really set this place apart and was a major highlight of our trip. The building itself was adorable, with a cozy and inviting atmosphere that truly felt like a New Orleans home. Matthew and Melanie went above and beyond in providing us with insider tips on the best local restaurants and how to find the most exciting parades in the city. Thanks to their guidance, we were able to make the most of our short time in New Orleans and create unforgettable memories. All in all, we couldn't have asked for a better experience at La Belle Esplanade. The hosts were wonderful, the location was perfect, and the overall vibe was just what we were looking for. We can't wait to come back and stay here again! Thanks for everything. -Griffin and Hayley

Matthew and Melanie were superb hosts. From the very beginning, they made us feel incredibly welcome. This was our first trip to New Orleans, and for once, I did not plan a single thing for our vacation. We relied solely on Matthew and Melanie's suggestions, and we are so glad we did! We got to see many different little neighborhoods and local spots and experienced far more fulfilling adventures than those offered solely on Bourbon Street. Thank you, Matthew and Melanie, for a fantastic trip!

Where do I even begin? From the warm welcome and beautiful breakfast to the breathtaking charm of the home - I could not imagine how any other hotel in New Orleans could top this place. Mathew and Melanie go above and beyond to ensure a unique and true to New Orleans stay for your trip! I enjoyed our morning chats over coffee and delicious, local treats. I can’t wait to stay at La Belle Esplanade again!

Not enough time in new Orleans but time well spent! If you're looking for a quirky, beautiful hotel to stay in then this is the one for you! We only had two days here but with all the recommendations from Melanie over a morning cup of coffee she made it an experience worth while. With all the local reccomendations on places to eat, go out,hidden gems to go and see we had the best time. The hotel itself is just so charming, it's like a museum full of new Orleans goodies and the rooms are cosy and so inviting. It's just the perfect amount of out the way of the busy nature of new Orleans but so close a taxi takes minutes! Thankyou for making our stay whilst short and sweet so memorable we hope to be back in the future. - Dan and Meg

Our first stay in New Orleans and we were convinced that it is THE place to stay. Not only do you get to stay in a beautiful and well cared for room but the wealth of knowledge and warmth shared by Mr. King and Melanie was invaluable. The intimacy of locally sourced morning breakfast accompanied by welcome conversation about what to do is a service in itself. Thank you for what you do. Oh, did I mention how comfortable the beds are?

My wife and I have traveled a lot and stayed at a number of hotels and short term rentals. La Belle Esplanade is unlike anywhere else. We received a personal phone call from Matthew inviting us to check in early around noon which was a nice surprise. Upon showing up, he sat us down to get a sense of what we wanted to do in town and where we've been. Matthew provided excellent recommendations of local spots we should be checking out. He never lead us astray. Breakfast each morning was a joy as we talked with Melanie and Matthew along with other guests about our experiences around town over a locally sourced spread of tasty treats. We stayed in the Les Pêches suite. The room was very comfortable and the balcony was a nice place to watch the neighborhood go by. Neighborhood is quiet but also great to walk around and explore. I can't recommend La Belle Esplanade enough. You won't be disappointed.

Mr. King & Melanie have ruined us for all other B &B's! They set a high bar with their amazing service, excellent breakfast choices every morning, and just overall knowledge and welcoming spirit! They are amazing hosts!

Melanie and Matthew have created a unique and charming bed and breakfast for New Orleans visitors: our stay was short but sweet, but still our hosts introduced us to easy city navigation as well as treating us to gentile hospitality. Our room thoughtfully included GLASS drinking containers, TWO luggage racks, a shower curtain with inside pockets at EYE-LEVEL for shampoo, conditioner, and skin cleanser: we'd been on a three-week road trip and really noticed/appreciated these traveler comforts. Carry on, Melanie and Matthew!

The stay here is fantastic they always take care of you and the breakfast in the morning is always amazing and something different the rooms are very elegant and to me New Orleans charm very nice play to stay and enjoy Nola

This was the most amazing place to stay! The room (Pelican) was private, lovely, spacious, fun, and just so beautifully cozy. The whole inn is lovingly decorated in oddities and wonders from New Orleans and beyond. Honestly, though, the real icing on the cake of this inn are the two amazing innkeepers. Breakfast is the perfect way to start the day as they tell where all the delicacies came from around the city and offer as many recommendations for ANY possible request you could imagine in the wondrous city of New Orleans. I 100% can't wait to bring my mom and anyone else here to continue my exploration of this amazing town. Thank you so so so so so much for such an adventurous and delightful stay. Until the next time!

When we started looking for lodging for our time in NOLA, we didn't realize at the time that it was during Jazzfest. My searching led me to this quaint little boutique hotel. Thankfully I didn't look any further. Jazz fest was canceled this year but I am so glad I didn't change my reservation to somewhere in French Quarter. Wonderfully decorated, comfortable and a delicious breakfast that kept us going all day long. The owners are true ambassadors of this great city and can point you in any direction with a list of must see places. They are truly interested in the places that you went to that day. We loved it so much that we made another reservation before we even left the airport. No need to rent a car, you can walk to City Park or the French Quarter and the city bus is right at the of the block. NOLA has the most friendly people. They really do want you to visit and it shows. Thanks Matthew and Melanie

Nothing I write will do justice to the awesomeness of this bed and breakfast. Nothing. My fiancee described it as part Mardi Gras, part Midsummer Night's Dream, and part Dr. Seuss. We stayed in the Les Fleurs suite, which was very spacious, quirky, comfortable, and beautiful; we had a canopy bed and a sitting room with beautiful antique furniture. Breakfast every day was a combination of local treats and produce, and there was something for everyone. As I was still recovering from the flu, I spent a few days of our trip just hanging around La Belle Esplanade. Even though I would have liked to have felt better and explored the city more, it was lovely to make myself a cup of tea and spend my time exploring all of the quirks of this amazing space. Matthew and Melanie have done an amazing job designing it! Speaking of Matthew and Melanie, they were also so, so lovely. What I particularly liked about Matthew's and Melanie's styles was that they're very good at reading people; my party wanted straight-forward, off-beat suggestions on what we should do, and we were sent to some amazing museums and restaurants that we never would have found on our own. If either of them makes a suggestion to you, just follow it! However, I also noticed that they respected guests who seemed to want more privacy/independence; Matthew's straightforward style worked great for us, but he and Melanie also knew how to interact with those guests who didn't want to chat in the mornings. They are both clearly very talented and care about making each guest comfortable. In sum, I would, without hesitation, recommend that you stay here. We will certainly be back!

We absolutely loved our stay here for our honeymoon at the end of May 2016! Matthew and Melanie who run the place are amazing and have tons of recommendations for things to do and see, from the more touristy interests (OK, but the swamp tour was awesome!) and the more local interests. We stayed in the Clio suite, and we had a little balcony to sit on. The B&B is beautiful, and the neighborhood is too! From our home base, we walked all different directions, all time of day. There wasn't a moment of boredom, and breakfast felt like sitting down with some cousins to munch and compare notes on what's happening and what we should check out. We are big B&B people, but this is easily one of the best! We hope to come again.

My fiance and I traveled to New Orleans back in late November/early December for a quick weekend getaway. Everything about our stay at La Belle Esplanade was fantastic: the room, the breakfasts, the neighborhood, and especially the hosts. We look forward to coming back for a longer visit!

This place is gorgeous! The photos online don't do it justice. If you are looking to get an authentic feel for the city and enjoy a piece of history, this place is perfect and reasonably priced. The managers are very friendly and knowledgeable and the breakfast they provide each morning is perfect...enough to keep you full during your adventures, but not so much that you don't have room to enjoy all of the delicious food the city has to offer for the rest of the day. I would highly recommend this place. The only tip I have is to plan to drive around. Taxi's were a hassle during my visit. Parking is easy, so having a car is no big deal.