A luxe boutique hotel in NOLA's CBD, Maison de la Luz blends Art Deco charm, global curios, and cozy privacy with stellar service and a chic lounge.
"A stylish and upscale hotel located in New Orleans, offering a unique blend of local culture and luxury." - Mae Hamilton Mae Hamilton Mae Hamilton is a digital editor covering hotels and lifestyle news at Travel + Leisure. Her work has previously appeared in Afar, The Points Guy, and Variety. Travel + Leisure Editorial
"A layered, tactile, kaleidoscope like this—from pro outfit Ace—could only exist in the Big Easy. ‘New Orleans is such an amalgam of culture and languages and histories,’ says Kelly Sawdon of Atelier Ace. ‘It’s rich and complicated and somewhat messy in a beautiful way.’ The address is Ace’s second in the city, and a more intimate, flamboyant and narrative number than its more formulaic sibling across the street. A collaboration between Atelier Ace and Los Angeles-based Shamshiri Studio, it’s taken over a former City Hall annex built in 1908 and filled it with a traveling steamer trunk of curiosities. The lobby, with its twin staircases, Art Deco lights and front desk straight out of The Grand Budapest Hotel, is Golden Age Europe. The sitting room, an Egyptian adventure with hieroglyphic artwork, while the breakfast room (huge windows, parquet floors and custom-drawn wall coverings) feels like a Parisian bistro for lingering over café noir and beignets. And in the bedrooms, vivid-blue bed frames and navy-piped white linens are layered with curious details, from coffee tables etched with zodiac symbols to sculpted snake handles slithering through shower doors. Finally, a place that artfully distills the bohemian hedonism and mysticism of New Orleans in a gloriously designed jewel box." - Paul Oswell
"For a more private refuge, Maison de la Luz is located across the street from the Ace, its sister property. Guests of this 67-room hotel, which opened in 2019 in an old City Hall annex, are encouraged to pop over to the Ace to enjoy the rooftop pool bar or grab a crawfish roll or a dozen Gulf Coast oysters at Seaworthy, which occupies a Creole cottage built in 1832. Back at Maison, however, the common areas are only for overnight guests, offering peace from the busy streets outside." - Lyndsey Matthews
"What did you notice when you arrived? Beaux Arts flourishes on this former office building hint at the aesthetic whimsy inside. As you pass into the lobby of Maison de la Luz and head beyond the imposing twin staircases on either side, you’re seduced by a curious vision of Art Deco flair and artifacts from around the world, which meld into a hotel unlike any other in the city. What's the backstory? The hotel is a new venture from the Ace Hotel Group, one of two of a new breed (the other is Sister City in New York). Studio Shamshiri designed the look with no small degree of success; if their aim was a luxurious townhouse owned by a world traveler, that’s precisely what they achieved. How were the rooms? Our King Room had dark blue fabrics and rich burnt orange splashes of color, provoking a regal feel. The shower door handles are coiled serpents, the coffee table is gilded with zodiac symbols, and the ice bucket is a golden pineapple. It’s a look that keeps you guessing—one that’s backed up by luxuriously high ceilings, a tiled bathroom, and bespoke toiletries. The minibar includes some particularly high-end spirits (or you can also drink for free at the daily wine-and-cheese hour in the lounge). Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi is free and fast. How were the food and drink options? There's no full-service restaurant, but there is a delightful a la carte breakfast (from $14), as well as free coffee and pastries. The bar is a real destination; you can enjoy a craft cocktail in a plush scarlet library. If you’re an overnight guest, nose through the secret revolving doorway into your own private salon as everyone else looks on with thinly disguised envy. And the service? The scale of the property (there are just 67 rooms and suites) means that personalized service comes as standard, with each guest treated as a VIP. You'll feel like a guest at someone's home. Who else stays here? The hotel positions itself as a new level of luxury in the city, and it has immediately drawn the attention of some movers and shakers, including some touring A-list rock stars who especially appreciate the privacy. What about the neighborhood? What else is around the hotel? The former law offices have been in the neighborhood for decades, so the hotel slots right into the aesthetic of the Central Business District. Sister property The Ace is right there across the street, so guests can enjoy those facilities—the dining, pool, and entertainment—as well. Bottom line. There's nothing like it in the city." - Paul Oswell
"Maison de la Luz was described by one of our readers as an “oasis in the crazy of New Orleans...such a gem.” The hotel has 67 suites." - Travel + Leisure Editors
