Catahoula Hotel

"How did it strike you on arrival?There aren’t too many 19th-century Creole townhouses in this part of the Central Business District, so it’s an immediate stand-out. The interior, though, is unmistakably modern—all striking contemporary art, polished wooden staircases, and black-and-white tiled floors. Nice. What’s the crowd like?The lobby bar and coffee stand (which also has a food menu) creates a natural social hub, and there’s clumps of post-work young professionals deciding whether or not to get into the tequila selection at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday evening. The demographic skews young and hip for locals and visitors. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The 35 rooms are all designed around the quirks of the building, and so differ notably. My entry-level Guest Room had large windows and exposed brick wall with modern Louisiana Cypress fixtures. The design touches certainly maximize the restricted space, but maybe only a younger clientele will like the minimal nature of, say, coat hooks on the wall in place of closet space. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?The Casper mattresses made the custom-built bed a joy to sleep in. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.While the toilet and sink are separated by a physical door, the only thing separating my shower from the rest of the room was a shower curtain. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?The fast, free Wi-Fi seemed to cope with the demands of the presumably heavy social media activity on site. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?The front desk staff are skilled multi-taskers, checking people in, directing locals to the rooftop bar, etc. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The lobby pisco bar has some charismatic bartenders who will steer you through the delights of a sometimes unfamiliar menu. The rooftop bar is also one of the city’s best. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?The bartender recommended a drink that involves chewing on a weird flower before drinking the cocktail. It was awesome. Bottom line: worth it, and why?It’s a boutique hotel in the true sense of the word, thoughtfully designed and unpretentious."