Like many hotels in the Central Business District, the building that today houses the St. James Hotel used to serve a very different purpose. Built in 1833 for Thomas Banks as a meeting place for local tradesmen and merchants, what came to be known as the Banks Arcade went on to be the site of a Caribbean coffee import company. Today, the landmark brick building has been immaculately restored, and the hotel's rooms incorporate warm Caribbean colors in homage to the building's important role in the city’s past.

The hotel exhibits impeccable taste in interior design, which is particularly apparent in The Parlor, a gorgeous lounge off the lobby that looks like straight out of a design magazine. The outdoor areas are just as nice, especially the lovely outdoor courtyard lounge decorated with colorful fabric swags and strings of bare bulbs at night. While the property is kid-friendly, it has a much more adult vibe. Couples and business travelers take advantage of the refined lounge areas to kick back or hold informal business meetings over a drink.

Set on busy Magazine Street, the St. James Hotel enjoys a prime location in the Central Business District, ideal for exploring the city’s top sights mostly on foot. The area immediately surrounding the hotel is primarily made up of office buildings and hotels, with some restaurants and bars mixed in. Harrah’s Casino New Orleans and The Shops at Canal Place can be reached on foot in about seven minutes. Vibrant Bourbon Street, the main drag of the French Quarter, is a 10-minute walk away. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center can each be reached by car in 10 minutes or on foot in 20 minutes. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a 35-minute drive away.

While many historic hotels tend to offer rooms that are on the small side, that’s not the case at the St. James Hotel. Rooms here are quite large, and decorated in a warm, Caribbean-inspired color scheme that pays homage to the building’s past as the site of a West Indian coffee importing operation. Rich wood furnishings and beds with teak headboards stand on beautiful polished hardwood floors. Despite the decorative nod to the past, the room amenities are entirely modern. Free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers all come standard. Closets are supplied with irons, ironing boards, and safes. Nice bathrooms with marble countertops and tile floors feature shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and Geneva Guild toiletries.

Standard Rooms ca come with one king-size bed, one queen-size bed, or two queen-size beds. The hotel offers two different versions of king suites. The smaller version includes a tiny sitting area and a beautiful private balcony. The larger suites include separate living areas with pullout sofas, but lack balconies.

The St. James Hotel offers a respectable range of amenities for its guests. Attached to the hotel is Chophouse New Orleans, a high-end steakhouse open for dinner each night. It features a full-service bar and nightly live entertainment. Continental breakfast is included in the room rate, and is delivered to the guest rooms each morning. The spread includes freshly baked croissants. 

The property also features a number of serene internal courtyards of various sizes. One features a tiny outdoor pool. While beautiful, it’s really not much bigger than a dipping pool and can’t accommodate too many guests at the same time. Another courtyard features chairs and a fountain, while the largest courtyard has been turned into a lovely outdoor lounge area. Colored fabric swags and strings of atmospheric bulbs hang between brick walls over comfortable outdoor couches and tables, creating a lovely urban oasis for relaxing.

For those who would prefer to lounge indoors, The Parlor, located near the entrance, is a stunning airy lounge that looks like a living room straight out of the pages of a design magazine. There’s also a state-of-the-art meeting room on the ground floor and a small business center area tucked into a nook by the front desk. Near reception, guests will find an ATM. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The hotel offers guests free passes to a nearby fitness center, but there’s no gym at the hotel. Valet parking and airport transfers are offered for a fee.