White, silver and gold orbs dangled from the ceiling of the Hyatt Centric New Orleans during our December visit. Ornaments filled the lobby’s clear cylindrical floor lamps and a trio of Christmas trees glowed in the corner. Guests sipped on a seasonal favorite — complimentary hot apple cider. The modern boutique property, mere steps from Bourbon Street, decorates for every holiday. The friendly front desk staff told us masks will hang on the wall when Mardi Gras rolls around followed by American flags for the Fourth of July.

The hotel’s concierge offered me a map while explaining she could assist with our dinner reservations. The full-service hotel has a bar and a casual restaurant off the lobby. Tempting pastries from local New Orleans bakery Sucre fill the glass cases. A large chalkboard menu announces daily specials — Monday is brownie batter pancakes, but it’s Wednesday’s waffles with fried chicken that caught my eye.

After the valet parked our car, Jim joined me inside where we were given the keys to our wheelchair-accessible Petite Queen Suite. The enormous guestroom, more than 550 square feet, boasted two queen-sized  beds and a television. An oversized sofa, a small table perfectly sized for a room service tray and another television were arranged in a separate area. A glass door provided access to a large, shared courtyard with ample seating. A mini fridge, coffeemaker, free WiFi and an in-room safe completed the amenities.

The bathroom, with crisp white subway tiles and contemporary wallpaper, featured a roll-in shower and a separate tub. A note on the mirror said we could download a playlist of New Orleans tunes and listen to them on Spotify. While dressing for dinner, we heard a few lively selections. There was no need to rush as our walk to the century-old Arnaud’s Restaurant took less than five minutes.

The New Orleans Hyatt Centric is one of the brand’s 16 U.S. properties. This was our first time experiencing the brand’s embrace of destination-themed ambience. Besides the customary robe and slippers, our turndown service gifted us pralines, a traditional Big Easy sweet. The hotel’s convenient French Quarter location, professional staff and beyond-the-expected guestroom made for a lovely evening in the city’s oldest neighborhood.

Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans 

800 Iberville St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
tel 504 586 0800