Imagine a large, private balcony suite, right where the lively French Quarter spills over into the famous jazz district of Frenchmen Street.
A special New Orleans gem, Ruthie's Balcony Suite bears the name of our beloved family matriarch. And for good reason. It's the best room in the Lanaux Mansion. Vaulted ceilings soar above a huge bedroom/living area, including a spacious kitchenette and full-sized bathroom. But it's the balcony you'll love most. Overlooking the corner of Esplanade and Chartres, it's the perfect place to people-watch while enjoying the pot pourri of sounds that drift over from the nearby markets, jazz clubs, and busy Mississippi waterfront.
*ABOUT THE SPACE*
The Lanaux Mansion is a historic bed & breakfast at the intersection connecting the lively French Quarter with the famous jazz and blues district of the Faubourg-Marigny - a.k.a. Frenchmen Street.
The mansion consists of two deluxe 1-bedroom suites, one massive 2-bedroom suite, and one separate cottage suite, all with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. Ground-level suites have private entrances, while the second-floor suites share a common staircase just inside the mansion's front door.
This listing describes Ruthie's Balcony Suite on the second floor.
Occupying nearly a third of the mansion's second floor, Ruthie's Balcony Suite is our premier accommodation. It features a spacious living area, newly redecorated private bathroom, and a large, sunny kitchenette with everything you need to warm your food and chill your drinks - including a microwave, toaster, a coffee & tea station, tableware, and a full-sized fridge to hold groceries and leftovers from those big French Quarter meals.
Beautifully renovated, the suite combines the classic architecture and detailing of the period with every modern comfort you could want - wi-fi, air conditioning, smart HDTV, a ridiculously comfortable pillow-top King mattress, and much more. There's even a 7' sofa for a third sleeper if you're traveling with a child or friend.
And did we mention the private wrought-iron balcony that wraps the front of the house? It's all yours. Grab your coffee or cocktail and make yourself at home up here, listening to the sounds of the Quarter and watching the locals and tourists go about life on the streets below.
Oh, and don't miss the sunsets. They're pretty hard to beat.
Everything you need is right here for you in Ruthie's Balcony Suite, though we imagine you won't spend too much time inside. After all, you're mere steps away from the city's best entertainment, restaurants, and bars.
*ABOUT THE LOCATION*
Step outside the Lanaux Mansion and cross the street to hit the bars and restaurants of the French Quarter, or walk around the corner to find the myriad music spots on Frenchmen Street.
You're about a block from either.
Also within a few minutes' stroll are the famous and sprawling French Market, the legendary beignets and coffee of the Cafe du Monde, the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral, and the paddle-wheeled riverboats along the Mississippi waterfront - not to mention more bars, restaurants, museums, curio shops, and art galleries than you could possibly ever visit in one trip.
The dream-like settings of Audubon Park and City Park, with their massive moss-covered oaks and glorious mansions lining the nearby avenues, are a short drive or bike ride away. Further afield, you have the deep Louisiana bayous full of gators and cajuns alike, plus historic battlefields and plantations to tour.
You couldn't possibly see and do everything New Orleans has to offer . . . but you can sure have fun trying!
Grab a drink and start planning your trip now. Or come with no plan at all. Either way, it's easy to have fun when you're here in the Big Easy.
*ABOUT THE LANAUX MANSION*
You might recognize the stately Italianate mansion at 547 Esplanade from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," just one of the many films and TV shows in which it's been featured.
The house itself is a star, with a fascinating past. But it's not just its good looks and pedigree that make the French Quarter Lanaux Mansion so attractive. It's the unbeatable location at the corner of Chartres Street and Esplanade Avenue - which literally straddles the line between the rollicking French Quarter scene and the famous music clubs and jazz dens of Frenchman Street.
Sitting on the balcony with a drink in your hand, you might hear the blare of trumpets from nearby Frenchmen Street, the drums of a parade on Esplanade, and the whistle of a riverboat rolling down the mighty Mississippi, just two blocks away. If you're lucky, you might even catch the spectacle of a second-line or jazz funeral during your stay here.
Built in 1879 by wealthy attorney Charles Andrew Johnson, the house has played host to not only actors and film crews, but to prominent figures of history including southern general Robert E. Lee and others. Some even claim there's a ghost among its distinguished list of guests.
Wallpaper from around the time of the American Civil War still adorns the massive double parlors downstairs, as does much of the home's original furniture. The vaulted guest-room ceilings soar high overhead. And the decor is a fine mix of classic period architecture and stylish upscale amenities.
In 140 years, it has changed owners only four times. Most recently, it was the gregarious and accomplished New Orleanian businesswoman Ruth Bodenheimer who ran the home as a much-loved bed and breakfast for decades until her passing in 2019.
Inspired by Ruth's love for the house and the one-of-a-kind city called New Orleans, her daughter Beth now proudly carries on the legacy of making guests feel welcome and at home here.
TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS?
For even bigger parties, you can also book our adjoining Lanaux Two-Bedroom Balcony Suite (https://www.vrbo.com/2089849) to sleep up to five more.
And you can sleep another four by booking the Wieland Suite along with Sophie's Enchanted Cottage, both downstairs off our courtyard: https://www.vrbo.com/2012644
... (*Subject to availability.)
*A NOTE ABOUT COVID-19*
Our cleaning team will rigorously disinfect your room before you arrive, sanitizing all surfaces including door handles, remote controls, pushbuttons, light switches, and bathroom fixtures. All dishes, bedding, and linens are washed and disinfected at maximum heat for your safety. We want you to feel comfortable and secure during your stay.
