Is The Royal Sonesta New Orleans worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — The Royal Sonesta New Orleans is a solid choice if you want to stay on Bourbon Street with easy walking access to the French Quarter’s main sights, on-site restaurants, and a large heated courtyard pool. Expect generous room sizes, a lively street-level vibe, and mandatory daily fees and a 21+ check-in age to factor into your budget.
In this guide
Location & street-level vibe
The Royal Sonesta New Orleans sits at 300 Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, so you’re literally on Bourbon Street with Bourbon Street nightlife, live music, and people-watching steps from the door.
Walkable attractions called out by the hotel include Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market and nearby historic sites; Canal Street and downtown are only a few blocks away.
- Address: 300 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Short walks to Jackson Square (about 7–10 minutes) and the French Market
- Streetcar access and the Central Business District are nearby
| Nearby spot | Typical walk time (as described) |
|---|---|
| Jackson Square / St. Louis Cathedral | About 7–10 minutes |
| French Market | Roughly 0.4–0.6 miles |
| National WWII Museum | About a 20-minute walk (≈1.1–1.2 miles) |
Rooms — variety and what to expect
The property lists 27 room and suite types and roughly 483 total rooms, ranging from standard Deluxe Room options to multi-bedroom balcony suites and split-level suites. Many rooms are described as generously sized.
Several room categories offer balconies overlooking the street or interior courtyards; the hotel also advertises Executive Level and mobility/hearing-accessible options.
- Example room names: Deluxe Room, Junior Suite (RClub), Room, Furnished Balcony (Bourbon Balcony), Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony (Bourbon Furnished).
- Accessible rooms and mobility features are available (executive/mobility/hearing variants are listed).
- Some suites include wet bars, separate living areas, and furnished balconies per room descriptions.
| Room type (examples) | Bed options listed |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | 1 King Bed or 1 Queen Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Junior Suite (RClub) | 1 King Bed |
| Suite, 2 Bedrooms, Balcony (Bourbon Furnished) | 2 King Beds |
Pool, fitness and on-site facilities
The Royal Sonesta has a single outdoor heated courtyard pool described as one of the largest in the French Quarter; it’s open daily year-round, weather permitting, and pool access is complimentary for hotel guests.
There is no on-site spa listed in the research dossier, but the hotel does offer a 24-hour fitness center and a seasonal poolside bar (Oasis Pool Bar) with published hours.
- Outdoor heated courtyard pool — open year-round (weather permitting); complimentary for guests
- No lifeguard on duty; children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult
- 24-hour fitness center available for guests
- Oasis Pool Bar has set hours (pool-bar hours are provided by the hotel)
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| Courtyard pool | Heated, complimentary for guests; no lifeguard |
| Fitness center | Open 24 hours for guests |
| Poolside bar | Seasonal; hotel lists specific daily hours |
Dining, bars and live music
On-site dining covers a range of styles: Restaurant R'evolution for Cajun/Creole fine dining, Desire Oyster Bar for casual seafood and po-boys, PJ’s Coffee for grab-and-go, and Le Booze as a Bourbon Street cocktail spot.
The Jazz Playhouse is the hotel’s lobby-level jazz club with live performances; admission requires ticketing for shows and a 21+ age minimum for entry to performances.
- Restaurant R'evolution: dinner nightly, reservations recommended; formal dress encouraged in the main dining room
- Desire Oyster Bar: casual oyster/po-boy options from breakfast through dinner
- The Jazz Playhouse: live jazz sets, ticketed seating and a 21+ admission policy for performances
- PJ’s Coffee Café: morning pastries and espresso
| Venue | Typical offering / note |
|---|---|
| Restaurant R'evolution | Cajun/Creole fine dining; dinner hours listed by hotel |
| Desire Oyster Bar | Casual seafood and po-boys; open breakfast–dinner |
| The Jazz Playhouse | Live jazz; shows may require tickets and 21+ for entry |
Fees, parking, pets and check-in rules
A mandatory daily Destination Fee applies to room rates (the hotel lists $25 plus tax) and includes amenities such as a welcome amenity, Wi‑Fi and a daily food-and-beverage credit. Some third-party sites list similar resort fees under other labels; expect mandatory fees at booking or at check-in.
Valet parking is available 24 hours in the hotel garage with overnight rates and height restrictions; the property is pet-friendly with a non-refundable pet fee and limits on the number of pets per room.
- Destination Fee: mandatory daily fee listed by the hotel (fee inclusions include a welcome amenity, Wi‑Fi and a daily food-and-beverage credit).
- Valet parking: on-site garage with overnight guest valet parking referenced (hotel lists an overnight price); height restrictions apply.
- Pets: pet-friendly (dogs and cats) with a non-refundable pet fee of $75 per pet, per stay; service animals exempt; max two pets per room.
- Check-in: standard check-in is 4:00 PM; guests must be 21+ to check in and need a photo ID and credit card at arrival.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Destination Fee | Mandatory daily fee; includes specific credits and amenities |
| Valet parking | 24-hour valet garage; overnight charge applies; height limits may apply |
| Pet fee | Non-refundable $75 per pet, per stay (service animals exempt) |
Events, weddings and meeting space
The Royal Sonesta offers substantial event space across ballrooms, courtyards and balcony suites. The Grand Ballroom is the largest space (around 5,000 sq ft) and the hotel lists capacities suitable for mid-to-large weddings and conferences.
Several Bourbon Balcony hospitality suites and a private courtyard are available for receptions and ceremonies; the hotel advertises multiple configurable meeting rooms and more than 20,000 square feet of event space in total.
- Grand Ballroom: roughly 5,000 sq ft; hotel lists reception capacities up to 550–600 depending on source.
- Fleur de Lis Suite & Courtyard: combined space with courtyard access for smaller receptions.
- Bourbon Balcony Hospitality Suites: three suites that overlook Bourbon Street and can host receptions and hospitality events.
| Space | Capacity noted by hotel/source |
|---|---|
| Grand Ballroom | Up to ~550–600 guests for receptions |
| Fleur de Lis Suite & Courtyard | Up to 160 guests (combined) |
| Bourbon Balcony Suites | Varies by suite; small to medium receptions supported |
