Location: New Orleans, LA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]
When I was looking for a good hotel in New Orleans for my wife and I to celebrate our ten year anniversary, it definitely proved difficult to narrow down my options. Half of my associates warned me to avoid the French Quarter, while the other half advised that the best spots aren't far from Bourbon Street. In the end, I went with a gut instinct as well as a great deal on one spot that seemed to attract a lot of interesting attention: the Hotel Peter and Paul.
The property resides north of the French Quarter in the Marigny District, consisting of a repurposed church, school, rectory and convent on Burgundy Street. Pulling in one balmy afternoon, I found the place more gorgeous than advertised and to my chagrin, it even came complete with two added bonuses. The first (completely unintended) perk was that my wife and I got to meet Elijah Wood, as he was staying onsite for a horror film convention happening in the church. The second perk was different though similarly glorious, in that the Hotel Peter and Paul has an onsite coffee presence called The Elysian Bar.
Located in the rectory, The Elysian Bar is a cafe and bar run by the same team behind Bacchanal Wine, with excellent libations and terrific coffee available to hotel guests and locals alike. Stopping by on our first morning, my wife and I stepped in and witnessed the most luxurious rectory I have ever seen, as each room had a regal southern charm that made me feel fancy while simultaneously much at ease. After a brief search, I found the espresso machine and pastries in a former chapel, beautifully lined with blue and white tiles along with simple wall frescoes.
The coffee comes from Congregation Coffee, a local roaster I had already come to admire. I went with the offered options of an espresso of the Gallup blend and a drip coffee of Highwalk. The espresso, pulled short/medium with brown crema, smacked of chocolate, cream, blood orange, tangerine, basil, cucumber and a little hibiscus, proving sweet and bright. The filtered coffee also made for a delectably sweet infusion, with notes of honey, oats cream, grape, pear, biscuit and a little peanut butter in a medium body.
Paired with the lovely accommodations (we stayed in a School House Petite) and excellent service, I can easily declare the entire experience to be at the top of my list. Rarely is such a beautifully unique hotel paired with an excellent, in-house coffee bar. Whether you plan to stay at the hotel or you're in the area, most definitely pay The Elysian Bar a visit for some excellent coffee in NOLA.
These wonderful folks made this visit possible in part. Make sure to check them out!
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