voco St. James Hotel by IHG
Vintage-styled CBD hotel two blocks from the French Quarter with quiet rooms and an on-site plunge pool.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Located on Magazine Street in the CBD, voco St. James Hotel offers a quiet retreat just two blocks from the French Quarter. Guests appreciate the vintage furniture, comfortable beds, and helpful staff who frequently provide room upgrades. However, morning dining can be frustrating due to uncoordinated breakfast hours and indifferent service at the bar. 168113
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Reviewers consistently praise the location on Magazine Street, which provides a walkable base near the streetcar line and French Quarter while staying quiet at night. 16110
- The staff earns high marks for being welcoming, friendly, and occasionally offering suite upgrades with views of the bridge. 613
- Rooms offer comfortable king and queen beds alongside bathrooms featuring strong water pressure and spacious vanity areas. 108
The catch
- While some guests find the vintage furniture and antique decor charming, others feel the older style feels dated. 10
- Opinions diverge on the morning meal, with some guests praising breakfast plates like the shrimp dish, while others experienced delayed opening hours and lackluster service at the small bar. 8
Who it's for
- — Travelers wanting a quiet stay two blocks from the French Quarter
- — Guests who appreciate vintage charm over modern minimalism
- — Sightseers looking for walkable streetcar access
Skip it if
- — Early risers needing reliable 7 AM breakfast service
- — Guests frustrated by added amenity fees on award stays
- — Travelers who prefer ultra-modern room design
Seen on camera
4 moments · 2 videos · voco St. James Hotel by IHG
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“With 84 elegantly appointed rooms, the hotel provides a peaceful sanctuary where you can recharge amidst contemporary lu…”
youtube.com0:32“To make your stay as seamless as possible, the hotel offers complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the property, ensu…”
youtube.com0:50“A cozy retreat right in the middle of all the action. Just steps away from the French Quarters buzzing energy.”
youtube.com0:19“With 84 beautifully designed rooms, it's the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring.”
youtube.com0:26Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
How to book
Score breakdown
How the 84/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
83Location
92- “Can't speak to the others, but stayed at the Voco last year in one of their larger rooms as we got upgraded. Had some cute charm and was in a great location!” 6
- “St. James was taken over by VOCO in 2022, and it sits on Magazine street in the CBD near the french quarter. It was very walkable to so many things, without being RIGHT in the center of downtown.” 16
Room
82Service
87Bed & Sleep
84- “The bathroom was huge and modern, and the king bed was super comfy!” 16
Value
82- “I thought the prices were very reasonable, and there are many room types to choose from at the hotel.” 16
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-06
Where it sits
voco St. James Hotel by IHG and the 22 other hotels we cover in New Orleans. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
On par with what $ usually buys
Scores 2 points above the modest median of 82, across 210 hotels in the same bracket. In New Orleans it sits level with the local median of 84.
- This hotel
- 84
- Bracket median
- 82
- Index median
- 88
Based on 210 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 38 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The first morning service was lacklustre, despite being advertised to open at 7 AM, there was no one there. When the bartender first showed up he couldn't care less, we were just a nuisance to him.” 8
- “voco St. James Hotel offers various amenities including a coffee machine in rooms, a bar, and a plunge pool. The hotel is known for its friendly staff and clean accommodations.” 13
- “I have always stayed at the Intercontinental and have loved it. It is a little dated, but super clean, super staff, and nice central location.” 6
- “Mag-reply I-share DrewinATL • 2 taon ang nakalipas Just stayed at the Voco. Just stayed at the Voco. It was a nice hotel that is smaller than the other 2 but the rooms were large and comfortable.” 6
- “We then decided to spend the night in New Orleans. We decided on the St. James hotel because of it's convenient location, great service, and comfortable rooms.” 1
- “VOCO St. James even called to check on us once we got settled into our room. Such a nice touch.” 16
- “The staff was phenomenal and if you qualify for free breakfast, you'll get to eat at King every morning.” 6
- “I just redeemed my annual night at Kimpton and LOVED IT!! The staff was so nice.” 6
- “The hotel was clean and well-maintained and provided a daily housekeeping (which is becoming a rarity in the USA nowadays).” 8
- “The staff was nice and John the bartender took good care of us. Would recommend.” 6
- “Most of the staff (except for the bartender) where very nice and welcoming.” 8
- “The staff was so nice. Gave a room upgrade (a suite!)” 6
- “Every morning, start your day right with a delicious breakfast before heading out to explore the local jazz clubs and iconic landmarks.” 7
- “As far as common areas, there is a bar/restaurant/lounge off the lobby that serves a yummy breakfast, and also drinks and small plates after 4:00.” 16
- “The next morning we learned our lesson and only arrived at 8. This time the very friendly breakfast women welcomed us with a cup of hot tea (or coffee) before handing us the menus and asking what we wanted. This time we could have what we wanted and how we wanted it, a much nicer experience.” 8
- “The connected restaurant served amazing food.” 10
- “Breakfast was served in the morning in the tiny bar area and was made to order from a small menu. The items where rather basic, with only the shrimp breakfast being really exceptional.” 8
- “Yes, there are dining options available at the venue, including a bar that serves cocktails and light fare. Guests have noted the quality of food served on-site.” 13
- “The implementation of the breakfast hours could be better, if it is only available at 8 then also advertise it as such.” 8
- “The typical low American style bathtub provided a shower head with good water pressure, however the plug wouldn't close so Timothy couldn't take a bath.” 8
- “The vanity area was spacious enough for us to store all our stuff.” 8
- “Room features vintage furniture with strong water pressure in the bathroom.” 10
- “The bathroom was huge and modern, and the king bed was super comfy!” 16
- “The bathroom was spacious and (for American standards) nice looking.” 8
- “Rooms remain quiet despite the central location near the French Quarter.” 10
- “Can't speak to the others, but stayed at the Voco last year in one of their larger rooms as we got upgraded. Had some cute charm and was in a great location!” 6
- “St. James was taken over by VOCO in 2022, and it sits on Magazine street in the CBD near the french quarter. It was very walkable to so many things, without being RIGHT in the center of downtown.” 16
- “A night or two at the St. James will put you about two blocks from the French Quarter and a short stroll from the streetcar line, a desirable location for peace and quite and restful sleep before exploring the city.” 1
- “James Hotel, as it was an IHG brand we hadn't tried before, located in a classic building near the French quarter and offering a pool. We arrived late at night straight from the airport on an Uber and where checked-in by the lovely Adam.” 8
- “The venue is conveniently located within walking distance of several popular attractions, including the French Quarter and River Walk, making it easy for guests to explore.” 13
- “A cozy retreat right in the middle of all the action. Just steps away from the French Quarters buzzing energy.” On camera40:19
- “The location is central for family adventures.” 10
- “We then decided to spend the night in New Orleans. We decided on the St. James hotel because of it's convenient location, great service, and comfortable rooms.” 1
- “I thought the prices were very reasonable, and there are many room types to choose from at the hotel.” 16
- “The bathroom was huge and modern, and the king bed was super comfy!” 16
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- 12 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about voco St. James Hotel by IHG
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 20/100We read 0 sources for this property, covering 0 traveler mentions, boiled down to 0 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-06.
Watch this hotel
We keep reading voco St. James Hotel by IHG. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
5 of 5 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 18 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 15VOCO ST. JAMES HOTEL AN IHG HOTELhotelplanner.comReview site2025-05-02RecentRead originalhotelplanner.com
- 6New Orleans. Kimpton, Voco, or Intercontinental?reddit.comForum thread2025-01-07Ageing17 quotes used
“Huge room and a view of the bridge. I was tempted to stay another night. Would recommend!”
Read originalreddit.com - 8REVIEW | voco St. James Hotel - Trip By Triptripbytrip.orgReview site2024-10-19Ageing14 quotes used
“The first morning service was lacklustre, despite being advertised to open at 7 AM, there was no one there. When the bartender first showed up he couldn't care less, we were just a nuisance to him.”
Read originaltripbytrip.org - 3voco St. James Hotel Review @New Orleans, LAflywithmoxie.comReview site2024-07-03Ageing4 quotes usedRead originalflywithmoxie.com
- 16VOCO St. James New Orleans, a Boutique Hotelheatherslookingglass.comReview site2023-07-06Ageing6 quotes used
“As far as common areas, there is a bar/restaurant/lounge off the lobby that serves a yummy breakfast, and also drinks and small plates after 4:00.”
Read originalheatherslookingglass.com - 1Welcome to the St. James Hoteldeepsouthmag.comReview site2013-05-21Ageing5 quotes used
“We then decided to spend the night in New Orleans. We decided on the St. James hotel because of it's convenient location, great service, and comfortable rooms.”
Read originaldeepsouthmag.com
More in New Orleans
All New Orleans hotels →A downtown casino hotel on Canal Street offering easy French Quarter access, river views, and celebrity chef dining.
A French Quarter base featuring spacious two-room suites, wet bars, and same-day grocery delivery.
A Canal Street hotel at the edge of the French Quarter with a rooftop pool and views over Bourbon Street.
An affordable downtown base near Canal Street, Harrah's, and the French Quarter with convenient lobby coffee.
Generous rooms and a large free breakfast buffet close to New Orleans attractions.
Quiet courtyard rooms and French Quarter balcony access two blocks from Jackson Square.