Lions Inn

I cannot say enough good things about our experience at Lions Inn!!! The management and staff were so friendly and incredibly accommodating. The atmosphere is low key and the pool area is very pretty. It’s wonderful to have access at all hours to swimming to recover from the muggy heat. It’s in a great location too. Far enough from Bourbon Street to feel peaceful but still a short walk (or shorter cab ride) back into the action, when you’re ready for it. Clean, comfortable, friendly, not too precious — a perfect B&B. Oh and how could I forget … SUPER affordable!

Outstanding lodging option for New Orleans, I will recommend this place to friends and family and look forward to staying here again when in N.O. Excellent value for the money — close to all the hubbub of Bourbon Street, but peaceful, quiet, clean and relaxing.
My wife and I stayed here in Room 1 while in New Orleans to attend a wedding. We’d both previously visited the city for conferences and trade shows, usually with top notch lodging at New Orleans’ finest hotels.
That being said, please understand, the Lion’s Inn IS NOT a Five Start Luxury hotel. This is two small/​medium homes converted into guest rooms, fenced off of the outside world with a nice medium sized residential swimming pool and hot tub. There is a small garden patch in the back yard for relaxation. There is a complimentary continental breakfast. There is a complimentary wine and cheese hour (5PM-​6PM). There is complimentary WiFi and they even have bicycles with chains and locks for guests to borrow, all included with your stay.
What MAKES this place great, in my opinion, if how it’s DIFFERENT from all the mega hotels and chains situation in and around the Quarter.
The location is key: close enough to walk if you choose or an inexpensive cab ride ($ 6 – 8). There are wonderful places to eat in this neighborhood (Horn’s was OUTSTANDING, Cake Café was DELICIOUS). The neighborhood is a quiet and peaceful contrast to the loud and raucous Bourbon Street. It was so nice to go out, and hoot and holler, and when we were done, to return to serenity and sleep.
The management and cleaning staff were cordial and accommodating.
I am so pleased with this place.

We stayed in room three which is in the front of the second building by the pool. The room was a bit noisy being right by the road and the air conditioner was noisy both of which made it difficult to sleep. This house has five or six rooms with no living room space and no tourist information. Small refrigerators and a small microwave are available, but they’re shared with other guest.
The manager Ed was not very welcoming and guarded the ice and main house even keeping the doors locked most of the time. We were aloud in the house only if Ed was there which was during the continental breakfast or during the wine and cheese hour. Tourist information is available inside as are umbrellas, if you can get to them. Your room keys do not work for the main house which made it seem like we were not trusted in there and the b&b consisted of just the second house with no living room space.
The pool was nice and enjoyable, and the garden is beautiful! However I used the hot tub once, but it did not appear to be very clean. Some seating is provided around the pool, but they’re not very comfortable and only two lounge chairs are at one end of the pool. Space around the pool is very limited.
There’s an outdoor table with a refrigerator near by. Plenty of sodas are provided here, but no bottled water. We were directed to use water from the sink, but water sprayed out the side of the water filter suggesting that it hasn’t been replaced in a long time. Both of us had a lot of GI issues which improved when we got our own bottled waters.
Only one of the bikes was in good working condition.
I wouldn’t recommend this place to our friends.

Room 1 is perfect! Right next to the gorgeous pool/​hot tub and garden area, where all of the guests hang out, especially at wine and cheese hour (daily at 5).
I was a little worried that room 1 would be too loud, but the a/​c window unit drowned out any noise coming from the patio.
The location is perfect, in an area that’s a little less touristy than the French quarter. Just blocks away from great restaurants and fun bars, and just a little farther (still a very easy walk) from Frenchman street. And a little farther still from the French quarter.
We will stay here again. A great spot in an amazing town!

This is my first review on Unilocal ever! Amazing experience!!! Doug the manager was extremely friendly and accommodating! The room was very clean, quiet, and lovely. The backyard was a mini paradise of a fish pond, jacuzzi, and a perfectly heated pool. The free bike rental saved my boyfriend and I a lot of money as the rates around the area in the bike shops were ~$ 20/​day. The complimentary breakfast really helped fill us up and get ready for the day! The complimentary wine and cheese hour was relaxing and enjoyable due to us being able to get to know some of the guests a bit more. With this B&B you get a lot of bang for your buck and I felt like my money did not go to waste at all! Everything was perfect and I would come back again and again I just wished that I could stay longer!

My husband and I stayed in the Sun Room while we were in town for a concert. Top notch accommodations with pool, hot tub, wine and cheese hour. Our room could be reached through an outside door, which was great because we did not have to enter through the front door of the house and wake everyone up when we got back from our concert at 2:00am!

The Lion’s Inn’s selling point and biggest asset is the beautiful courtyard and pool. It was so so nice to have a pool to swim in during a hot and humid summer afternoon. This inn is very affordable for New Orleans standards especially considering there is a pool, all other aspects basically meet the value. The rooms are very clean and have some charming details, I did notice the towels were very shabby and our room on second floor was extremely dark. I also would have been nice if they would have turned on the AC unit prior to our arrival, it was so hot in our room I could barely breath for the first 30 minutes. The breakfast was serviceable but nothing really special. But really, I am not in New Orleans to sit in my hotel room and there are beignets to eat and so many good brunch places in the neighborhood to check out. Speaking of the neighborhood, The Lion’s Inn is in a great neighborhood especially if you are trying to avoid the super touristy areas of New Orleans. It is a really easy walk to Frenchman St and the French Quarter and we felt comfortable walking back late at night. The Lion’s Inn is great for the money, I would highly recommend it!

I took a 3 day trip to New Orleans by myself and stayed at Lions Inn, room D, which gave me affordable accommodations in a great location near the French Quarter. The B&B is beautiful. The building is classic NOLA. The staff was very helpful. Good breakfast in a lovely, huge renovated modern kitchen/​dining room. I enjoyed chatting with a couple other guests during breakfast. All common areas are top notch and high quality. The outdoor pool, hot tub, garden and pond are awesome. The large back yard is a hidden gem! I highly recommend this B&B. And no, I am not the proprietor’s mother! I am just a tourist from Philadelphia PA.

Super chill, super nice host. Amazing oasis garden and pool. The guests are friendly and adventurous. The Marigny is probably my favorite neighborhood, and the Lion’s Inn is well priced, clean and a home away from home after a good night out.

I stayed for a couple of days over July 4 2013. The gentleman who checked me in, Ed, was kind and very helpful. I stayed in Room B which is basically a double bed with shared bathroom access. The shared bathroom was never a problem, the place was always quiet and clean, and the bed and pillows were comfortable.
There’s a great in-​ground pool in the backyard as well as a hot tub, both open 24 hours should you get adventurous. The continental breakfast each morning and the complimentary wine and cheese afternoon hour were both great.
As for the location– this is a quiet, safe residential street in Marigny. It was exactly what I wanted: about a ten minute walk to the excitement of the French Quarter but away from the noise. The walk to and from seemed very safe each time I did it (which was around 11 a couple of nights). There are also some great local bars and restaurants in Marigny within a few blocks that I’d recommend for some less touristy fare (including Mimi’s, a great dive around the corner with pool and an awesome on tap selection).
Top all this off with complimentary bikes, wifi, and umbrellas, and you’ve got me sold on staying here the next time I’m in NOLA.

Building and pool area décor/​atmosphere: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
The common areas in the house and yard were decorated in a way that felt cozy and inviting, but without the tackiness of home-​and-​garden kitsch that sometimes passes for «homey-​ness.» The décor was both classy and warm, and I doubt it would be possible to find better in this price range.
Room interior: ⁸⁄₁₀:
The room that we had was very cozy and romantic, and the furniture and other items were in good condition. I found the bed to be quite comfortable as well. The one exception to all the positives was that we had an A/​C unit in the room instead of central cooling in the house, which is fine if different guests want different temperatures in their rooms, but the A/​C unit was very old and loud. It cooled perfectly well, but was better left on while we were gone during the day so that the room would be cool when we got back, so that we could keep it turned off while we were there. Otherwise, having the A/​C on in the room made watching TV or relaxing there just a bit less pleasant due to the loudness of the A/​C unit. If the room had a quiet A/​C unit then the interior would get ¹⁰⁄₁₀.
Extended continental breakfast: ⁸⁄₁₀:
The hours for this were reasonable, making it easy to grab food even if you slept in kind of late. The selection of items was generous, and when we were there, they had hard-​boiled eggs available in addition to the juice, fruit and grains that you expect. The cereals and bagels were mediocre quality but I felt like overall I was getting a good deal to get all of the breakfast food included with the room price.
Service: ⁹⁄₁₀:
Ed was very accommodating and pleasant. We received everything that we needed. I did request a toilet plunger be brought to the bathroom before leaving for the morning, but by the time that I returned after a couple of hours the plunger was not there, because I think it wasn’t brought until the afternoon when the maid service went there. Otherwise I can’t think of anything that wasn’t perfect about the service.
Location: ¹⁰⁄₁₀:
Being able to walk to everything in the French Quarter made our trip much more enjoyable, and we were still secluded from the noise by being tucked away on Chartres St. I wouldn’t have changed anything about where we stayed in the city. Parking the car on the street was also no problem.
Value: ¹⁰⁄₁₀:
I am convinced that by staying here I probably got the best deal in New Orleans to be had within this price range.
OVERALL: ⁹⁄₁₀
My girlfriend liked the place as much as I did. I researched as thoroughly as I could to plan this trip and was concerned by some of the negative reviews but felt more at ease after seeing that they were several years old and mostly upset with the service back when somebody other than Ed was running the place. I also saw a review which complained that the room was in bad condition, but our room was in very good condition and everything was kept very clean, so the few negative reviews I’ve seen did not at all match our experience as of June 2013. I enjoyed Lions Inn as a place to come home to at the end of the day, not just as a place to sleep and wake up. We also were glad to have the pool and the generous breakfast options, which were more than adequate. Based on our experience I would return here if I vacationed in New Orleans again.

This really is a hidden gem. We have stayed here twice and had a great experience both times. Ed, the manager, is the sweetest man. I mentioned it was my partner’s birthday and he had a cake waiting for us when we arrived. The rooms are spotless and the grounds are beautifully landscaped, plus the pool and hot tub are very clean and a nice retreat from the busy day. Each morning there is an extensive continental breakfast (coffee, yogurt, eggs, bagels etc.) and a wine and cheese social hour each day from 5 – 6. The place is quiet at night so even if you are a light sleeper there shouldn’t be a problem. The Wi-​Fi is free, it doesn’t reach all the way to the back of the pool area but I just sat up front when I needed to use it.
The neighborhood is a relatively quiet and safe artists community. Just 10 minutes walking to the Quarter but Lion’s Inn provides free bikes if you need them. There are also several coffee shops, restaurants, and bars within a few minutes walking as well. Great location away from the crazy quarter but easy to get to. Be sure to check out Cake Café across the street, Bacchanal Wine in the Bywater and The Country Club (clothing optional resort) about a 15 minute walk down Chartres. We can’t wait to come back and stay here again.

We decided really to stay here based on price, Unilocal reviews and it’s location. Loved being in the Marigny and being able to walk to the quarter or the bywater and Treme. We loved being able to walk around the neighborhood and just look at the local architecture and find neighborhood bars. It seems like there is a strong gay element in the Marigny and that was an unexpected bonus. We didn’t really take advantage of the opportunities to socialize with the other guests, they have wine and cheese hour from 5 – 6 daily. The weather was cold, so we didn’t get a chance to hang by the pool or hop in the hot tub. I’m not at all familiar with bed and breakfasts, just a few minor issues, bed was kinda lumpy, a few guests in neighboring rooms were loud and had barking dogs or were blasting their TV’s too loud, but not for too long. Pretty satisfied overall with the experience, would strongly consider staying here again in the future.

An easy walk from the French Quarter and all that it has to offer, the Lions Inn was our little oasis to return to after a nice dinner and drinks or a show. The room was comfortable and clean, the pool and frog pond areas were lovely, and the proprietors were friendly and accommodating. We had our pooch with us — a very dog friendly place. These aren’t luxury digs, but very comfortable, priced well and very cozy. Next time to NOLA, we’ll stay again, and hopefully longer this time.

Owner Floyd is very accomodating. There is a pool and fish pond in the back. I’ve stayed twice, and enjoyed both visits. Wine and cheese served at night. Bagels, coffee, tea, jam, OJ, etc. for breakfast. Close to quarter, grocery stores, and a bunch of nice little bars.

Perfect Spot! Right outside the craziness of the quarter. A garden oasis with the finest hospitality. The fellow guests are a pleasure to meet. (My experiences ranged from a polite chat to a raucous evening by the pool.) The owners are extremely helpful when it comes to navigating your way around. Free bikes, a wine/​cheese hour, and more southern charm than you can imagine.
A real diamond in the rough.

After reading so many wonderful comments about Floyd I was disappointed to find out he wouldn’t be with us for our stay. The woman who was there was nice to *us* but she said a few racists comments that made both my partner and I uncomfortable («Don’t go in that neighborhood, there are a lot of poor black people.») We tried to just keep to ourselves after that.
Our room was beautiful and very clean and right by the pool which was convenient. There was a window A/​C which was nice and a small fridge.
The grounds were lush and very well taken care of and the pool area was really delightful. They also had a hot tub which was a plus!
They have 2 dogs, one was named «Nippers» and one morning ran toward me and bit my foot. He didn’t break the skin but it was not the best way to start my morning. The really annoying thing about it is that she just brushed it off and said, «Oh, he does that some times.» Unacceptable. The other dog, however was really sweet and gentle.
The biggest draw to this B&B was the FREE BIKE RENTALS! They had 4 bikes or so with locks and chains that you could take with you on your day. We saw a lot of New Orleans because of the bikes.
It’s in a good location– 15 minutes by foot to the start of the French Quarter. It is right near the Cake Café which is a MUST-​SEE while you’re in town. Amazing cupcakes!
The food was good. There were a few times where she made us eggs but otherwise it was serve yourself bagels, cereal and fruit.
I’d stay there again if Floyd was going to be there.

I stayed here back in October.
I had read reviews that it was very homey and everyone was very nice. My first thought when reading this was «No s#%t, it’s a bed and breakfast.» But quite honestly it is a really great experience.
My room was exactly as described online, small, but with room to move around. The place was very clean and the bathroom was impressively clean, especially since it was a shared bathroom.
I had forgotten to bring a book with me, but Floyd was nice enough to let me borrow one of his. Everyone there seemed to know each other (some of the people had been guests there several times) and it really did have a homey feel to it.
The room was affordable, the pool was nice, the back courtyard was beautiful and idyllic for a warm day in the sun reading, and the hot tub was my favorite. I enjoyed myself so much i have booked a bigger, slightly more expensive room for my girlfriend and I for Thanksgiving.
Now, being Marigny, you have to take into account that the Lion’s Inn is very gay friendly. I would say right out that it is a gay B&B (seems a little redundant doesn’t it?) but of course they accept everyone just as they are. I am not gay myself, but given the usual clientele, many just assumed that I was. So just to say, if any of that makes you uncomfortable, this isn’t your place.
This place really is one of the best places to stay.

Firtst, let me say that we stayed at the apt across the street, not the room (s) with the pool in the back. I mention this because its supposed to be much nicer.
Umm what to say? Run down, falling apart & I was amazed that I didn’t see bugs crawling around when I turned the lights on. The bed crashed in on one side when I was getting off of it & made me feell like maybe all those beignets were finally making me pay, but after further inspection it was just the bed (phew! Now I can go back to eating). Oh, and the décor was a cross between 50’s pervert & mom on the ranch. Ugh.
Plus– it’s inexpensive & you can use the pool across the street.

Jon E. said it right. This place is wonderful, Floyd, Stuart and the others hanging around this warm and homely old house in the adorably funky Marigny neighborhood welcomed us like family, or, even better, old friends (other guests included).
I would only add that the place is dog friendly too, Floyd is really a dog guy, and our accommodations were incredibly accommodating on that front, along with all others.
Wouldn’t think of staying anywhere else in New Orleans.