Review: Hotel Saint Vincent

Why book?

A country club-style oasis in the Lower Garden District with elevated Southern chic design and interestingly varied social spaces.

Set the scene

There’s a tasteful elegance to the guests that matches the property’s aesthetics. The people are urbane and arty, just shy of aloof, and it feels like you’ve been invited to a long weekend at a classy, bohemian bolthole. There’s an ebb and flow of party-like and more reposed energies, with some people energetically socializing over cocktails at the bar, and others draped over the sunbeds. There’s a real sense of relaxed seclusion, even though within minutes you could be out in the thrum of some of the city’s busiest tourist spots.

The backstory

This building started life as a 19th-century orphanage run by local nuns, but those days of religious privation are a distant memory and it’s now one of the city’s most in-demand boutique properties.

The rooms

The layout of the building, coupled with the adventurous sense of the designers, means that most of the 75 rooms and suites retain a sense of individuality within a subtly coherent vision. Boldly-colored velvet textures and near-psychedelic pop art tones appear throughout, from the ecumenical chic of the former nuns’ residences, to Art Deco-tinged, high-end ocean liner-like suites. Welcome surprises include positively Kubrickian deep pink-tiled bathrooms, and bijoux nooks, perfect for writing postcards as you take your morning coffee or sitting down to work on that Southern Gothic literary masterwork. Impeccably-chosen vintage art and artifacts mix with rattan lounge chairs and tiki-adjacent decorative flourishes, floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light to show off the interior’s best sides.

Food and drink

Guests are truly spoiled for options when it comes to the city’s absolute favorite pastimes - eating and drinking as well as possible. Ease into the day at the charming French-Vietnamese Elizabeth Street Café, which greets the dawn with coffee and pastries, before evolving its menu as the day passes, with pho and banh mi tempting the casual crowd. The signature restaurant and bar are San Lorenzo and the Paradise Lounge, respectively. The former is named for the patron saint of cooks and celebrates coastal Italian fare with a New Orleans tweak, to wit Chef Laura Collins’ Grilled Creole Oysters and Scampi Risotto. The sumptuous marble bar of the latter is the centerpiece of an airy cocktail spot that is framed by tropical murals by artist Ann Marie Auricchio. The guest-only Chapel Club has a more plush, salon-like feel and there’s more than a hint of naughtiness with stained glass windows casting color onto the sensual artworks.

The neighborhood/area

Located in the alluring Lower Garden District, Hotel Saint Vincent has the air of a laid back country club with expansive public spaces, shade-giving palms, and many a porch on which to sip a Mint Julep as the sun dips down in the evening. A couple of bars and two lovely restaurants are great additions to one of the neighborhood’s rare hotel swimming pools. The tastefully tropical decor gives off a retro, Riviera-like ambiance.

The service

Staff uniforms were designed in house and everyone cuts as notable a dash as any of the guests. They confidently and politely take everything in their stride. I saw the front desk presented with a guest firing on all cylinders with a huge slice of misplaced anger and sending him away with a smile without any whiff of condescension.

For families

Although children might take to the pool area, the hotel in general feels like more of an adult affair. Rooms such as the Magazine Queen have two queen beds, walk-in closets, and more space.

Eco effort

The hotel says that their sustainability practices include: the use of low-to-no toxin cleaning supplies and laundry soaps, locally-sourced food, LED lighting installed throughout the hotel increasing efficiency, energy-efficient appliances, timers for lighting and air conditioning, conserving energy during quiet periods.

Accessibility

Hotel Saint Vincent complies with all ADA requirements including a choice of three different room types that are mobility/hearing accessible. It’s a historic building, though, so check if you have specific mobility requirements.

Anything left to mention?

The elegance of the pool area alone makes this a hotel worth visiting; add to that the originality and visual charisma of the interior design and you’ve got one of the city’s—nay, the region’s most interesting hotels. From traditionally religious fixtures to daringly erotic paintings, there’s an elevated sultriness about the place that just works like a charm.