Soulful sleeps in New Orleans

Savour the spirit of NOLA with stays that conjure the city's historical roots, jazz soul and community spirit 

- Tami Fairweather

OMNI ROYAL ORLEANS

The history of this French Quarter grande dame echoes that of the city, including its dark days. The building has served as everything from a centre of commerce for the exchange of land and enslaved peoples to a Civil War-era hospital, though in better times it hosted some of the first Mardi Gras balls. For much of the early 20th century it flirted with ruin, before decades-long efforts to preserve it paid off in 1960 when it reopened as the Royal Orleans - Led Zeppelin even named a song after it. Today, it is the only hotel with balconies overlooking Royal Street, while its Rib Room conjures the party days of old with a jazz brunch on weekends. A 'Say Goodnight to Hunger' programme also donates food to local shelters for every stay completed. Rooms from around £170 per night, excluding breakfast; omnihotels.com

MELROSE MANSION

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better location for a boutique-chic stay with access to a deep pool than this elegant spot on the edge of the French Quarter. Whether you opt for a room in the main house or one of the studio apartments out back, it is perfectly placed, just a short stroll to the live-music mecca of Frenchmen Street, which might account for its rather colourful 20th-century history. In the first half of the 1900s, after 'Storyville' (the city's red-light district) was shut down, it operated as a discreet brothel; it was later home to the 'Boom Boom Girls', the backup dancers for the late, great burlesque performer (and former owner) Chris Owens. Nowadays, manager Caleb offers a more wholesome kind of hospitality, with a glass of wine on check-in and plenty of tips for the perfect stay. Rooms from around £140 per night, excluding breakfast; melrosemansion.com

HENRY HOWARD HOTEL