Columns Hotel

Nice to see the bar I built doing so well.

(This review is based solely on the dining experience at the Albertine Tea Room)
Extremely disappointing. We had reservations for 2:30 on Christmas Day. We arrived and were told our table wasn’t ready yet. No problem, we were able to sit at the bar and have some drinks. At 3:00 we we’re brought to our table. Luckily we had champagne from our previous wait, as it soon became 3:30 and we hadn’t so much as SEEN a waiter. I went to the hostess stand and said we had been seated for 30 min and no one had even come to our table. After waiting another 10 min, I went to the bar to get us more drinks to make the wait more bearable. When I returned, there was a waiter at our table explaining that he had to attend to another table first but he would be with us shortly. Ten minutes later and we were finally giving our order to the waiter (almost 1.5hours after our reservation time). Bread never came, wine came about 20 min after we ordered it. The soup was great. The salad came about 20 min after the soup and was pretty abysmal. Still no bread. We asked for wine glasses twice and never got them so we just reused our dirty glasses. We asked for bread three times and finally got some after our entrees had arrived. The entrees were fine, nothing special. My fiancé got the osso buco and it was mostly bone with a thin layer of meat. I got the salmon, it was dry and the side of vegetables were watery and tasted like they came from a can. My parents said their meals were just ok. Dinner plates were cleared and we gave our coffee/​tea orders. When I was brought my tea cup, it had coffee stains all over it and smelled like French vanilla. It had clearly not been washed. When half of the deserts were brought out, I asked for a clean cup. It was brought out to me with the remaining deserts, but the rest of my party never even received the coffee they had ordered. By the time I flagged down a waiter, deserts were finished and nobody even wanted their coffee anymore. By the time we got our check it was 6:00, 3.5 hours after our arrival. Was there a manager present at all? The experience was nothing short of a disaster, and on Christmas to boot. All in all, the service was terrible. The food was ok, the building was gorgeous. Will NEVER return for dinner.

This a review for the bar only, we didn’t stay here. The atmosphere on a Saturday night was very fun even though it was crowded. The bartenders handled the crowd well and still made quality specialty drinks with care like old fashioneds and sazeracs. The place is beautiful and it’s worth going just to look at the architecture. It’s amazing that it used to be a private residence.

I guess this place is a hotel too, but I think most people go here for fancy drinks in a fancy environment. Drinks may cost a bit and the wait might be awhile, but the ambiance could be worth the wait. I am not sure what the history of the building is, but it looks like it has a good story to tell. So grab a drink and sit out on the patio or in one of the downstairs lounges. Just imagine you are in the times of Tennessee Williams.

Quintessential St. Charles bar. Grab a drink, make friends inside, or head out to the front patio for some privacy and streetcar watching. It really is what you make it. It gets plenty lively, loud and crowded on the weekends, but you can always escape to the patio. It is older, more intimate and somewhat stale, but sometimes that’s just what you need to break the chain of loud smokey bars out here. It’s one of the few landmarks that hasn’t reinvented itself.
Tip: I haven’t seen someone do it yet, and I don’t know if they’d be open to it, but I think it’d be pretty baller to rent the second floor balcony for a birthday or classy bachelor party starting point.

This is a review of the food and the mood at Columns Hotel, because I’m not quite sure whether it’s the food that puts me in «the mood,» or vice versa (even though the alternative — the mood putting me in the food — doesn’t make sense). I think the food and the ambiance at Columns Hotel brings me to new heights. I’ve been there for brunch, and I was blown away. The Columns is located on St. Charles Ave, which is about as picturesque of an avenue that New Orleans has to offer. The street car passing by only adds to the charm the Victorian mansion has to offer. The architecture, with the alabaster white exterior coupled with floor to second store colonial columns is breathtaking. My guest and I sat on the patio outside, and the view, and weather was perfect. The tables are covered with white linens and each had a vase with freshly cut roses, adding to the whimsical romance. The service was great, our water glasses were always full, and our waitress was very attentive. I went for my favorite meal on earth, the Shrimp and Grits, while my guest chose the chicken club sandwich with fries. The shrimp and grits were uh-​maze-​ing, and what’s unique about the Column Hotel’s shrimp and grits is the kick of spice at the end! I have yet to return to try out their bar and their hotel, but I certainly will! Until then, I’ll continue to reminisce on my wonderful, almost dreamy, experience!

This place is beautiful. You’ll see that from the moment you start walking up the stairs. The interior is old timey even has a bit of an aged smell to it. Not bad just smells a bit antique. This is a great spot to bring a date and enjoy a nice cocktail over a somewhat intimate setting.

This review is solely for the hotel, not the food or bar scene.
It’s clear the Columns was once grand and happening. Now it’s old, mildewy, and still happening.
We stayed here for a weekend and the condition of the hotel was disappointing. Clearly the focus of the staff was on the night/​brunch scene. The bar scene was lively each night, a wedding reception was held here, and brunch on the porch was popping as well. The Columns has maintained its status as a place to be seen.
Staying overnight here is another matter. The rooms are outdated and in need of renovation. The ceilings have settled unevenly, the paint is cracking, and the bathrooms are ancient (and not in a charming way).
We stayed in Room 16, the Sweetheart Room, the first night and there was a private balcony complete with nesting pigeons and a build-​up of bird poop. Gross.
The bathtub was difficult to shower in — no place to set soap or bath products and a wrap around shower curtain. The supplied bath products were low budget.
The second night we moved to Room 10. While this room had no balcony and a smaller bed, it felt newer and marginally nicer.
The bed and sheets were comfortable. Guess that’s one plus.
The check-​in process was dreadfully slow. Their computer system was supposedly new, but loaded extremely slowly, and the staff was even slower. I understand being technically challenged, but this was a little much.
I would not recommend Columns as a hotel. Perhaps the bar and brunch scene is worth it, but I had no desire to find out after seeing the condition of the rooms.

The columns is a great place to have a drink and listen to music, or meet friends, or even strike up a conversation with a complete stranger at the bar.
Okay I can do the standard Unilocal review, but I have to say it: I love this place. Sure it’s uptown location can get kind of dudebro but I’ve been coming here so often over the years I can’t let a couple backwards ball caps and popped up polo shirt collars deter me from this place.
It’s got atmosphere, it’s got nice places to sit and little out of the way intimate spots. It’s the kind of place that can inspire stories or create experiences and it’ll always be high up on my list of places to visit on a night out.

The Columns is a charming place to have a drink and take friends, especially out of towers. It’s very old New Orleans, but I will say they are due for a refresh as its getting a bit musty and aged in the bar area. The wine selection is poor but the cocktails are good and snacks available are nice. I love this place despite itself. It feels like having a drink at your haughty aunt’s rundown mansion: Patina-​quaint but homey.

I learned a new term today: «Porch sitting». Now granted, it needs to be said the way a southerner can roll it out which sounds more like «porch settin» to this Northern gal, but whatever you call it, the Columns Hotel is a great place to practice doing it.
We were in the Garden District admiring the beautiful homes and decided to stop and have a Bloody Mary on their broad porch and watch the world go by. The front porch of this historic building has tables just perfect for“porch settin” and we went inside to the beautiful bar to order our drinks to take outside.
The bar is ornate, with tons of carved wood, crown moldings and original wallpaper all from a timeperiod that has long since passed.
The huge dark oak staircase anchors the hall and the rooms surrounding the entrance have celebrated many a celebration over the years. And the bartender told me that the hotel is still functional welcoming guests each night.
But back to my porch. As I sipped my drink and looked at the huge oak trees draped in Spanish moss around me, I thought of a time gone by and of those who sat and looked at the same scenery with eyes over the past 100 years.
Yep. Porch settin. I like the way that sounds.

I’ve been to the Columns dozens of times. But never really felt inclined to write a review until now. I basically think it’s really over-​rated. There’s nothing special that they offer, except a nice porch and central location. The drinks are basic — that of a basic bar. Inside, it’s pretty easy to get a drink, but the service on the porch this past time was just plain AWFUL. We were having to ask for drinks that we’d already ordered, we couldn’t get enough water, and the list goes on. There are too many wonderful places in New Orleans to have an amazing cocktail to be stuck in a dark bar or outside with lousy service.

This place is my go to place in Orleans for an outdoor cocktail, especially for bringing first time New Orleans guests. The service is a little hot or miss. But for the over 10 years I have been coming here, drinks have always been good and very chill.
While the city can be hot, it is always nice to sit on the front or side patio. The side patio is a little more intament, with the front patio having a great view.
If you are from out of town, opt for a local cocktail like a Sazerac.

This review is solely based on the couple of hours I spent getting drinks here. In their defense, it was a rainy muggy day in NOLA, but sitting inside at the bar would have been a nightmare — it was old, stuffy, musty and smelly. The place is old and has a lot of character, which I definitely appreciate — some of the woodwork was gorgeous! However, I think the place can do a lot better with upkeep.
We decided to sit outside, which felt way more fresh and is probably a great place for bruch on a sunny, lazy NOLA weekend. The place seemed to be home to a lot of European people, which made for great chatter and people watching. It is very weird that the patio only has these HUGE 8 people round tables — we had a whole table to 2 people while other people waited, which was SO strange. Better seating would definitely help. I had a mojito, which seemed very bitter, but my friend enjoyed it — so that’s that. Cant remember what my friend got for her own drink, but she enjoyed that too — I will chalk this to being an off day for alcohol for me, lol! The cheese plate was very promising looking and pretty big, but honestly not very fresh — some of the grapes were definitely rotting.
Would I come back here? it seems like this place is a NOLA fav — can’t think why, but I will give them the benefit of doubt and come back for brunch on a sunny day to see how I feel. Until then, I can’t go beyond 2 stars!

The front porch is the place to be on a hot afternoon with so good cocktails. As with most things, come early because seating on the porch fills up after 4:00pm. The do server food, but we only had drinks so I’m not sure how it is.

My girlfriend and I stopped by Columns Hotel for happy hour when we visited the Garden District.
The hotel is beautiful, and the front porch looks out onto St. Charles Avenue. When we arrived, all the tables on the porch were full, so we sat in the shade at a table located next to the porch.
For happy hour, beer is $ 1 off, wine is $ 3 off, and well drinks are $ 3. Happy hour lasts from 5 – 7 pm. We opted for a couple of Abita beers and an overly sweet mint julep. We had been riding our bikes all over town, so it was nice to relax in the shade and enjoy some good drinks at a reasonable price. If you are in the Garden District, you should definitely stop by Columns and check out the bar.

Classic cocktails, comfortable conversation, and watch the city go by.
Offers a small number of quaint hotel rooms, making an ideal spot for a small destination wedding party
(More to come)
If it is Hump-​Day
All-​Week-​Long, Bubba’s
Gonna Start His Drinking Now
#NOLA_​Haiku

This is one of my favorite places in the world. I believe I first came here for drinks in 2006 when I was first in NOLa.
It is such a lovely place to grab a drink or seven on a beautiful, balmy day in the bayou.
Happy hour is something incredible like half priced well drinks or something.
I love the bathrooms and the beautiful décor. Very old school and grand.
The patio is a great place to chill right on St. Charles avenue to take in the sights of the streetcar, the sounds of the locals and good company!

Get a drink, take a few photos, enjoy the décor. And move on.
Drinks and food are both ok. Overpriced, but you’re not paying for the items, you’re paying for the atmosphere and the view. Weird crowd, mix of uptown old-​timers and the next generation trying to become uptown old-​timers.

Me and the Columns are in a long term relationship. Even though I don’t see her that much anymore she stills knows we’re cool. Our flirtation began back when I was a youngin’ in my college days. I thought this place was so awesome because me and my friends could feel fancy and have real talks without any fist pumping music in the background. Fast forward 5 years and I see the Columns is still infiltrated with college kids reminding me of my ever fading youth. On weekends its really more of a mixed crowd so everyone feels welcome. My most recent trip was great and it made me realize I never wrote a review for such a nostalgic. On a rather busy night, my group of 6 scored a table outside. We had a lovely cocktail waitress who brought us drinks all night. My French 75s were on point.
Even thought he interior is pretty, I love sitting outside on the big porch watching the streetcars go by. I still would recommend you to explore the rooms inside if you have never been because coming from a historic standpoint its really beautiful.