Bourbon Orleans Hotel Review: Staying in a Haunted New Orleans Landmark

Hello, spooky cats!

For another dark tourism hotel review, we stayed at the historic Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Located directly on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, the hotel combines elegant architecture, a beautiful courtyard pool, and a long list of ghost stories. Guests have reported seeing a ballroom dancer beneath the chandeliers, a wounded Confederate soldier wandering the halls, a sorrowful nun connected to Room 644, and the spirits of children believed to date back to the building’s orphanage years.

We stayed for two nights in Room 602 on the reportedly active sixth floor. Although we planned a separate paranormal investigation, this review focuses on the room, amenities, location, and what it was actually like to stay there.

Was the Bourbon Orleans worth booking—or did the hotel’s plumbing provide the real horror story?

Arriving at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel sits in one of the most convenient locations in New Orleans.

It is directly on Bourbon Street, placing guests within walking distance of restaurants, bars, historic buildings, ghost tours, shops, and many of the French Quarter’s best-known attractions.

You can step outside and immediately begin exploring. That makes the hotel an appealing choice for visitors who want to experience New Orleans without constantly using a car or rideshare.

The property wraps around an interior courtyard containing a pool, balconies, seating areas, and a bar. From the outside, the hotel has the elegant balconies and classic architecture people often picture when imagining the French Quarter.

Staying in Room 602

We stayed in Room 602 on the sixth floor.

When you first enter, the bathroom is located near the door, followed by the main bedroom area. The room had an unusual slanted wall, so taller guests should pay attention to where they are walking.

I hit my head on it more than once.

The room included:

• A king-size bed
• A large television
• A refrigerator
• A Keurig coffee maker
• Complimentary bottled water
• A safe
• A closet
• Drawers and storage space
• A full-length mirror
• Several chairs
• A large window with shutters
• A private bathroom

The room felt slightly smaller than a standard room at a modern chain hotel, but it was still comfortable.

Compared with some European or Japanese hotel rooms, it was positively enormous.

The Bed and Room Layout

The king-size bed gave us plenty of sleeping space.

After staying in several hotels with full-size beds, having a king felt like a luxury. The mattress seemed comfortable when we first arrived and was much better than the terrible bed we had slept on the previous night.

The room had a small chair nook near the window, along with another chair closer to the bed.

The large window overlooked the courtyard pool rather than Bourbon Street. Although we did not get a street view, the pool-facing room was probably quieter than one directly above Bourbon Street.

The shutters could be closed for privacy and to block out light.

Storage and In-Room Amenities

The room had a proper closet containing a safe, dry-cleaning bags, hangers, and additional storage space.

There was also a refrigerator hidden inside the furniture. We did not notice it immediately, but it was useful once we found it.

The room included a Keurig coffee maker and bottled water. Two bottles appeared to be complimentary, while the Evian water was priced at approximately $8.

That is expensive water, even if it has traveled farther than we did.

There was no microwave in the room, but that was not a serious issue during our stay.

The Bathroom

The bathroom had a bold black-and-white design that fit the hotel’s stylish, slightly dramatic atmosphere.

It included:

• A walk-in shower
• A makeup mirror
• A standard mirror
• Two sets of towels
• Tissues
• A hair dryer
• Toiletries
• A toilet
• Counter space

There was no bathtub in Room 602.

Guests who prefer taking baths should check whether another room category includes one before booking.

The shower had black-and-white striped walls and a modern appearance. Visually, it was one of the more interesting hotel bathrooms we encountered during the trip.

Unfortunately, its performance was not nearly as impressive.

The Hot Water Problem

The shower was the biggest disappointment of our stay.

On the first morning, the water took a very long time to warm up. Even after waiting, it never became properly hot. It only reached a lukewarm temperature.

At first, I wondered whether the problem was caused by the age of the building or by many guests showering at the same time.

We left a note and also told the front desk that something seemed wrong.

The issue was never fixed.

For both days of our stay, we showered in water that was either cold or barely warm.

That was especially frustrating because the rest of the hotel experience was generally good. A historic building may have plumbing quirks, but guests should still be able to take a hot shower.

The Courtyard Pool

One of the hotel’s best features is the courtyard pool.

The pool sits in the center of the hotel, surrounded by balconies, guest rooms, seating areas, and historic architecture.

According to the information provided during our visit, the pool was heated, contained salt water, and was open from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

There was also a bar in the courtyard area.

At night, the pool looked especially atmospheric. The blue water, balconies, warm lights, and quiet courtyard created a beautiful setting.

Most guests were not swimming when we explored after dark, so the area felt peaceful—and slightly eerie.

No Balcony in Room 602

Some rooms at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel include private or shared balconies.

Room 602 did not.

Our next New Orleans hotel was expected to have a balcony, but at the Bourbon Orleans we only had the large window overlooking the courtyard.

Guests who consider a balcony essential should pay close attention to the room category when booking. A French Quarter balcony may sound standard, but not every room includes one.

Exploring the Sixth Floor

The sixth floor is frequently mentioned in the hotel’s ghost stories.

Room 644 is often described as one of the most haunted rooms in the building. The legend involves a sorrowful nun who reportedly died there and is said to remain connected to the room.

Naturally, we went looking for it.

We found Room 644 and explored the surrounding hallways. Nothing dramatic happened while we were there, but simply knowing the story made the area feel more unsettling.

Old hotels are especially effective at turning ordinary corridors into places where you expect someone—or something—to appear.

The Ballroom

The Bourbon Orleans is also known for its ballroom.

One of the hotel’s most famous ghost stories involves a lone ballroom dancer reportedly seen moving beneath the chandeliers after the music has ended.

We followed a set of elegant stairs that led toward the ballroom area. The foyer contained chandeliers, tapestries, and decorative architectural details.

It looked like a beautiful space for weddings and formal events.

Unfortunately, the ballroom doors were locked.

I tried several of them because curiosity remains stronger than dignity.

For one brief second, I thought we might have found an unlocked entrance, but the room remained inaccessible.

Ghost Stories of the Bourbon Orleans

The hotel’s paranormal reputation includes several recurring figures.

The Ballroom Dancer

Guests and staff have reported seeing the apparition of a woman dancing alone in the ballroom. She is often described as continuing to twirl long after any event has ended.

The Confederate Soldier

A wounded Confederate soldier is said to wander the hotel’s corridors, possibly searching for someone or something he lost.

The Nun of Room 644

One story involves a sorrowful nun connected to Room 644. She is sometimes said to have taken her own life in the room.

The Ghostly Children

The building was once associated with an orphanage, and guests have reported hearing children laughing, running, or playing in areas where no children were present.

These stories make the Bourbon Orleans an appealing destination for paranormal travelers, although legends alone do not prove that a building is haunted.

Old hotels contain pipes, elevators, guests, cleaning staff, traffic, and settling architecture—all of which can create sounds that become much stranger after midnight.

Did We Experience Anything Paranormal?

During the hotel review portion of our stay, we did not experience anything that we could confidently call paranormal.

We explored the sixth floor, found Room 644, visited the ballroom entrance, walked around the pool at night, and examined a photograph that initially looked unusual.

After taking a closer look, the suspicious shape in the photo appeared to be a tree.

Trees remain one of the paranormal field’s most dedicated impersonators.

The separate ghost-hunting portion of our stay focused more closely on the hotel’s supernatural claims.

For this review, the plumbing was far more active than the ghosts.

The Hotel’s Atmosphere

The Bourbon Orleans is visually impressive.

The courtyard, balconies, chandeliers, tapestries, staircases, and black-and-white bathroom decor gave the property much more character than a standard chain hotel.

The hallways and interior spaces felt elegant without being overly formal.

At night, the courtyard became especially atmospheric. The glowing pool and surrounding balconies created the type of setting where a ghost story feels believable, even when nothing unusual is happening.

Location on Bourbon Street

The hotel’s Bourbon Street location is one of its strongest advantages.

Guests are close to nightlife, restaurants, bars, shops, historic streets, and many French Quarter attractions.

However, Bourbon Street can also be noisy and crowded. Guests who want quiet accommodations should consider requesting a courtyard-facing room rather than one overlooking the street.

Our pool view may not have been as exciting as a Bourbon Street balcony, but it likely helped us avoid some of the late-night noise.

Who Will Enjoy Staying Here?

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel may be a good choice for travelers interested in:

• Haunted hotels
• New Orleans history
• French Quarter architecture
• Bourbon Street nightlife
• Dark tourism
• Paranormal investigation
• Courtyard pools
• Historic hotel experiences
• Walkable attractions

It is especially convenient for first-time visitors who want to be close to the center of the French Quarter.

Possible Drawbacks

The biggest drawback during our stay was the lack of hot water.

We reported the problem, but it remained unresolved for both days.

Room 602 also did not include a bathtub or balcony. The slanted wall created a minor hazard, and I repeatedly had to remind myself not to hit my head.

The room was slightly smaller than a typical modern hotel room, although it was still large enough for two people and our unreasonable amount of luggage.

The expensive bottled water was also worth noticing before opening it.

Final Bourbon Orleans Hotel Review

We enjoyed many parts of our stay at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel.

The room was clean and attractive, the king-size bed was comfortable, the courtyard pool was beautiful, and the location on Bourbon Street made exploring the French Quarter extremely convenient.

The hotel’s historic atmosphere and ghost stories added to the experience. Walking through the sixth-floor hallways and standing outside Room 644 made the stay much more interesting than sleeping in an ordinary hotel.

However, the hot water problem significantly affected our review.

We reported it, but it was not repaired, leaving us with cold or lukewarm showers for two days.

Would I stay at the Bourbon Orleans again?

Possibly—but I would want confirmation that the shower worked properly.

The rest of our experience was good, but we stayed at other New Orleans hotels during the trip that we liked more.

The Bourbon Orleans remains a beautiful and memorable place, especially for travelers who want historic charm, a central French Quarter location, and the chance to search for a ballroom dancer, wounded soldier, sorrowful nun, or ghostly child.

Just test the water before unpacking.

Stay spooky, cats!