International House

Description:

• The International House sets the local standard for modern hotels with its creative design and meticulous attention to detail. Record-company and film execs love it, but so should anyone who's had enough of Victorian sweetness and needs a palate cleanser. Here, a wonderful old Beaux Arts bank building has been transformed into a modern space that still pays tribute to its locale. Consequently, in the graceful lobby, classical pilasters stand next to modern wrought-iron chandeliers.

  Interiors are the embodiment of minimalist chic. Rooms are simple with muted, monochromatic (okay, beige) tones, tall ceilings and ceiling fans, up-to-the-minute bathroom fixtures, but also black-and-white photos of local musicians and characters, books about the city, and other clever decorating touches that anchor the room in its New Orleans setting. (This is significant: Without them, you could easily plant this hotel in L.A. and not notice a difference.) The commitment to hip, neat, cool, and groovy means dark corridors and hard-to-read room numbers, and although the big bathrooms boast large tubs or Space Age glassed-in showers, they do come off as a bit industrial. But compensations include cushy touches such as feather pillows, large TVs, your own private phone number in your room, and CD players with CDs. As of this writing, there is no room service, as they wait for the new restaurant to open, but it should be back by the time you read this. They offer all kinds of special packages tailored specifically to the possibilities of the city, so check their website for details.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010