Review: Eliza Jane New Orleans, Hyatt Unbound Collection

In a nutshell: the Eliza Jane New Orleans is a comfortable, classy hotel in the heart of the city. An easy walk from Canal Street, you have access to the French Quarter without all the noise. From the inviting lobby lounge and excellent bar to the comfortable rooms and great breakfast, it is an excellent choice for a weekend in the Big Easy. 

In February I visited New Orleans for the first time in several years. Back in 2012, my wife and I stopped here for a couple nights on our way across the country by rail. Although our stay in New Orleans was brief, it was an enjoyable time. We were able to see some of the most iconic sights, enjoying walking Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue, rode the streetcar, and enjoyed some live music over an excellent seafood dinner.

It took a meetup of fellow miles and points enthusiasts to bring me back to NOLA. The event was joint-hosted by Miles to Memories, Award Travel 101, and Travel on Point(s). We had a great time in New Orleans, and I made several new friends.

The city was fairly busy on this early February weekend, and hotel prices weren’t cheap. I elected to book all three nights in New Orleans as award stays. With only one Hyatt free night left at my disposal,I settled on the Eliza Jane New Orleans for my first night, moving on to another hotel for the remaining two nights.

Booking

Cash rates for the night at the Eliza Jane New Orleans were a little over $200 after taxes. I waffled between booking the Eliza Jane or the Hyatt Centric, located just a few blocks away. Rates were actually higher at the Centric, which is right on the edge of the French Quarter. But the Eliza Jane appeared to be the classier property based on the photos (for the record, it definitely is).

I asked my Globalist concierge to weigh in on the decision. Her input quickly sealed the deal. The Eliza Jane has far more suites than the Hyatt Centric, making it much more likely I’d get an upgrade.

Arrival at the Eliza Jane

I flew into New Orleans on Friday evening before our Saturday meetup. A shared Uber ride brought me from the airport to the Eliza Jane New Orleans. The 45-minute ride cost $65, which the two of us split. Not exactly a cheap ride.  

The lady at the front desk greeted me warmly. She informed me that they had been able to upgrade me to a one bedroom suite, exactly how I’d hoped. I was also offered a 4PM checkout, which I happily took. It’d give me just enough time to get back to the hotel after the meetup and move myself to the La Quinta around the corner. 

The front desk area is small, with only three desks. The hotel isn’t necessarily boutique, as it boasts 196 rooms and suites. But it maintains the feel of one.

The Eliza Jane New Orleans hotel lobby is a very inviting space. Just off to the side of the bar area is a fantastic lounge area. There is additional seating on either side of the bar.

Before I left the desk, the lady explained that I needed to use a different elevator to get to my room. For some of the rooms, you have to walk past the main elevators and find the “secret” one by room 134. It felt like a secret since I walked past that one as well and came to the end of the corridor. There was no indication of a staircase either, but I saw the elevator on the way back. A bit tricky, this hotel is! I finally made it up to room at the end of the hall on the third floor. 

Eliza Jane New Orleans: One Bedroom Suite

The door opened into a hallway-like area that led directly into a small living area featuring both a sofa and an armchair. The living area is completely separated from the bedroom, making this a true suite. In the corner was a shelf and cabinet with the in-room coffee and water.

In-room coffee at the Eliza Jane consists of a Keurig. I’m not keen on these machines, but a find that for making a single cup in a hotel room, they are the most ideal. As a Hyatt elite, the water is of course complimentary as well.

Heading through the living room takes you into the bedroom, with the door to the bathroom sandwiched between the two. The bedroom is larger than the living room and on the corner of the building. Lighting consists of the two lamps near the bed and the one on the desk.

I found the desk comfortable, but then again, I barely worked while here at the Eliza Jane. The “chair” doesn’t have a back, which might be annoying to some. There is also a folder with info on the hotel. The lack of a garbage can at the desk might be the only complaint. The only one in the room is in the bathroom.

Speaking of the bathroom, I thought it was quite stylish. It featured a sink with a large counter and a tub-shower combo. The bathroom is not especially large, but overall it was more than satisfactory. 

As room 339 is a corner room, I did have a view of the street. I was a quiet side street, though, and I didn’t have any trouble sleeping.

Overall, I was very pleased with the room, and I appreciated that the hotel had been able to upgrade me. Both the bedroom and living room were well-appointed and entirely comfortable.

Breakfast at the Eliza Jane

As a Hyatt Globalist, breakfast was complimentary at Couvant, the hotel restaurant. You can spend up to $25 per person with the provided voucher. This is more than enough to cover the $19 breakfast buffet. The buffet for kids 12 and under is $12. There is an a la carte menu as well if you wish to order some smaller bites. 

It surprised me that the gratuity is specifically included with the breakfast voucher, but I’m glad the hotel covers this as well. You must redeem the voucher in the restaurant and cannot order room service.

The breakfast buffet at Couvant consists of potatoes, sausage, bacon, eggs, oatmeal, fruit, pastries, scones, museli, and a few other options. It’s not a large spread, but it is quite a nice variety of options. 

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant in the old building that houses the Eliza Jane. The service at Couvant was excellent as well, with both servers being quite friendly and attentive. I’m also glad I waited for breakfast to have a cup of coffee. It was one of the better hotel restaurant coffees I’ve had in a long time. 

Other Features of the Eliza Jane

The bar at the Eliza Jane is a popular place in the evening. It is open until midnight and was closing down when I arrived back from my first evening out with the Miles to Memories crew. Even though I was at a different hotel the following day, I headed back to the Eliza Jane as my last stop for the night before turning in.

The hotel is actually located in multiple old buildings (hence the multiple elevators and split levels). The middle area has been converted into a small, open-air courtyard. It looked like a nice place to hang out as well.

I did think some of the art was quite amusing, especially this vintage photograph of a man with two alligators. Given the pose, I sure hope they are both taxidermied!

I didn’t head down to the hotel’s fitness center. The Eliza Jane New Orleans does not feature a pool, but does have treadmills, a Peloton bike, free weights, and other equipment. Finally, if you need to park a car, the hotel charges $42 per night plus tax, which I consider pretty expensive. Remember that parking is waived on award nights for Globalist members, however.

Visiting New Orleans

It had been years since I’d visited New Orleans, and nearly as many years since I’d had a po’ boy. The first stop of the night was at Deanie’s Seafood, just into the French Quarter a block of Canal Street. The classic shrimp po’ boy here was excellent!

I’d have the chance to see a bit of the city the following day before and after the travel meetup, as well as all day Sunday to enjoy New Orleans. Given the raucous carousing in the French Quarter after dark, I definitely enjoyed it more during the day. My favorite landmark is the St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square.

The Creole townhouses found all over the Quarter are a close second, though. These row houses with their iron railings and balconies are likely the most iconic New Orleans architecture. It would have been fun to take a walking tour of the French Quarter, but sadly I didn’t fit that in.

Finally, you cannot miss enjoying a cup of coffee and some beignets at Cafe du Monde. The famous New Orleans establishment is open 24 hours and is incredibly popular during the day. Remember that they are a cash only establishment!

The Verdict: Eliza Jane New Orleans

Overall, I had a lovely stay at the Eliza Jane New Orleans. From the welcoming, friendly staff, to the comfortable room and excellent breakfast, this Hyatt Unbound Collection property really delivered. I unfortunately had to move on the following night, but I was really glad I’d had the chance to stay at this hotel. It’s at the top of my list for a return visit to NOLA.