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The Honesty Bar At Soniat House Is (Kinda) Big And (Very) Easy

Where: 1133 Chartres Street [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70116

Could there be a better antithesis to the horrible hotel minibars that charge you for just having a peek and a squeeze of the biscuit tin/booze bottle/sexytime kit? There we were thinking honesty bars went out of fashion in, like, the 50s, but last week we went to New Orleans, stayed at the olde worlde Soniat House in the French Quarter, and walked straight in on this scene in the living room, just off the check in desk.

Instead of minibars in the bedrooms, there’s this communal one down here. And instead of having to ask someone to give you booze, they let you pour your own. And then charge yourself. It’s not just those three bottles, either – as you can see from the gallery, there’s another shelf of spirits, one of mixers and one with wine, condiments and a cocktail shaker.

Prices are pretty high - $4 for a beer isn’t bad, but wine is $12 a glass, as are cocktails. But then again, you’re in charge of the measures, plus New Orleans is the city of generous measures, so when in Rome, etc etc.

As for the hotel… we had a suite in the building across the road and liked it a lot – but be warned, it was one of the least hotel-like experiences we’ve ever had, which can either be a very good or a bad thing, depending on how you see it.

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Mardi Gras Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / Wyndham Hotels / → All Tags

Still Some Mardi Gras Rooms at the Bourbon Orleans

Where: 717 Orleans Street [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70116

Mardi Gras is fast approaching. If you think it's too much trouble to fill out an application form to stay at the Inn on Bourbon, then you can try the confusingly-similarly named Bourbon Orleans, which has balconies overlooking both Bourbon Street and Orleans Street. It's decorated a-la France in the 1800s (with a few modern touches, luckily), and until 1964 the hotel building was actually a kind of convent. But things have changed.

These days the Bourbon Orleans has its own Mardi Gras deal and they say they still have some rooms available--although the weekend of February 2 to February 4 is fully booked. For the rest of Mardi Gras you can get rooms starting at $239 and you'll be right in the heart of the parade. But there are definitely not many rooms left, so get a reservation in before you miss out and are left to pitch your tent on the pavement. (We don't think this is actually allowed so don't tell anyone we said this).

[Photo: NaMakani]