New Orleans pulses with supernatural energy, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its historic hotels. These grand establishments don’t just offer luxury accommodations—they come with resident ghosts who’ve never checked out. From former ballrooms to old orphanages, each property tells spine-tingling tales that will make your stay unforgettable.
1. The Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Step into 1817 when this elegant structure first opened as a grand ballroom where society’s elite waltzed the night away. Later transformed into a convent and orphanage, the building absorbed centuries of human emotion and tragedy.
Guests frequently report ethereal dancers gliding across empty floors and the distant sound of children’s laughter echoing through hallways. A Confederate soldier in full uniform and a devoted nun are the most commonly spotted spirits roaming these historic halls.
Book a room in the old convent section at 717 Orleans Street if you’re seeking the most paranormal activity during your stay.
2. Hotel Monteleone
For 135 years, this literary landmark has welcomed famous writers like Hemingway and Tennessee Williams—along with some guests who simply refuse to leave. A playful young boy delights in running through corridors, while a distinguished gentleman in a top hat makes regular appearances.
The famous Carousel Bar serves as the hotel’s supernatural hotspot, where bartenders witness glasses sliding across surfaces without explanation. Staff members have grown accustomed to these otherworldly encounters over the decades.
Located at 214 Royal Street, this establishment perfectly blends literary history with ghostly encounters that continue fascinating visitors from around the world.
3. The Andrew Jackson Hotel
Tragedy struck when this former orphanage caught fire, claiming the lives of five young boys whose spirits never found peace. Their presence fills the building with innocent mischief and unexplained phenomena that both delight and unsettle guests.
Room 208 serves as the epicenter of supernatural activity, where visitors hear giggling, footsteps pattering down empty hallways, and witness objects moving on their own. The playful energy suggests these young spirits simply want attention and companionship.
Front desk staff at 919 Royal Street gladly share ghost stories and can arrange special tours highlighting the hotel’s most active paranormal locations.
4. The Omni Royal Orleans
Rising from the ashes of the 1838 Orleans Ballroom, this hotel carries the memories of grand celebrations that ended in devastating fire. The original ballroom’s elegant atmosphere seems to have transcended time itself.
A mysterious woman dressed in flowing white robes glides through the property, most frequently spotted near the rooftop pool area where she appears to be searching for something or someone. Staff members and guests alike have witnessed her ethereal presence during both day and night hours.
Hurricane Katrina left this 621 St. Louis Street landmark completely unscathed, leading many locals to believe protective spirits watch over the historic building.
5. The Dauphine Orleans
Once serving as both a brothel and smuggler’s hideaway, this establishment harbors spirits from New Orleans’ most colorful and dangerous past. A former madam continues overseeing her domain, while Civil War soldiers patrol the premises they once knew.
Unexplained cold spots suddenly appear in warm rooms, and lights flicker without electrical issues. Guests often feel unseen presences watching them, particularly in areas that once housed the building’s more illicit activities.
The nightly wine reception at 415 Dauphine Street provides the perfect opportunity to swap ghost stories with fellow guests. Some visitors swear additional spirits join these social gatherings.
6. The Olivier House Hotel
This former Creole mansion maintains its aristocratic elegance while harboring shadows from its distinguished past. Dark figures drift silently through ornate rooms, and disembodied voices whisper conversations from bygone eras.
Room 308 experiences the most intense supernatural activity, where a former resident apparently remains deeply attached to their earthly home. Guests in this particular accommodation report the strongest encounters with the building’s resident spirits.
Located at 828 Toulouse Street, this intimate hotel offers genuine historic charm alongside spine-tingling encounters. The combination creates an authentically New Orleans experience that captures both beauty and mystery.
7. The Cornstalk Hotel
Built in 1816, this iconic French Quarter inn features the city’s most photographed fence and some of its most heartbroken spirits. A bride who never found happiness continues wandering these halls in her Victorian wedding dress.
Strange whispers float through corridors where famous guests like Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe once walked. The building’s romantic facade conceals tragic love stories that continue playing out in the afterlife.
Her ethereal presence at 915 Royal Street adds melancholy beauty to an already enchanting property. Guests often report feeling profound sadness in certain rooms, as if absorbing emotions from the past.
