Honeymoons at The Pontchartrain Hotel: what works and what to skip
The Pontchartrain Hotel is a strong honeymoon pick if you want a historic Garden District hotel with rooftop cocktails (Hot Tin), on-site dining, and a streetcar stop outside. Skip it if you need a pool, on-site gym, or room service — those are not available here.
In this guide
Best rooms for honeymooners
Choose a room based on whether you want extra space, a city view, or classic period details. The Deluxe Room, City View gives a roomy layout with windows over the city; Superior Suite options add living space.
If you want a suite layout, the Melpomene Two Bedroom Suite and the Polyhymnia Two Room Suite give separate sleeping and sitting areas for privacy. The Thalia Family Suite is listed with multiple beds but is intended for families rather than a typical two-person honeymoon stay.
- Deluxe Room, City View — 1 King Bed; city-facing windows.
- Superior Suite — 1 King Bed; more living space.
- Melpomene Two Bedroom Suite — 2 King Beds; large suite living area.
- Polyhymnia Two Room Suite — 2 Double Beds; two-room configuration.
| Room | Why it works for honeymooners |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room, City View | Roomy, city-facing windows for daytime views |
| Superior Suite | Separate sitting area for in-room privacy |
| Melpomene Two Bedroom Suite | Two-bedroom layout when you want extra space or guests |
Where to eat and drink for date nights
The hotel runs four distinct food-and-drink venues on-site: Jack Rose (dinner and weekend brunch), Bayou Bar (Creole dishes and live jazz), Silver Whistle Cafe (breakfast), and Hot Tin (rooftop cocktails only).
Hot Tin is the honeymoon highlight for evening drinks with wide downtown and river views; it serves craft cocktails only and is 21+ with first-come, first-served entry.
- Hot Tin — rooftop craft cocktails; Sunday–Thursday 2 PM–12 AM, Fri–Sat 2 PM–2 AM; 21+ only.
- Jack Rose — Italian/French/Spanish–inspired dinner (and brunch weekends); reservations recommended.
- Bayou Bar — Creole fare with live jazz Tue–Sat; casual nights with no reservations required.
- Silver Whistle Cafe — breakfast daily at the historic community table, 7 AM–11 AM.
| Venue | Best for |
|---|---|
| Hot Tin | Sunset or late-night cocktails (21+) |
| Jack Rose | Dinner and celebratory meals (reservations recommended) |
| Bayou Bar | Live jazz and casual Creole dishes |
What to skip or plan around
Do not expect a pool, on-site gym, or room service; independent sources and the hotel's info state explicitly there is no pool and no on-site fitness center, and room service is unavailable.
If a daily on-site fitness option or a pool is a dealbreaker, book elsewhere or plan to use the included daily access to Franco’s Gym on Magazine Street (part of the destination/amenity fee).
- No on-site swimming pool.
- No on-site fitness center; Franco’s Gym access is included instead.
- Room service is not offered; guestrooms include a private in-room bar and guests can order carryout from hotel restaurants.
| Common honeymoon wish | Pontchartrain reality |
|---|---|
| Pool for daytime lounging | Not available on property |
| In-room dining/room service | Not offered; private in-room bar instead |
| On-site gym | No; daily access to nearby Franco’s Gym included |
Practical logistics and fees
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM; late check-out may be possible for an extra charge, subject to availability. The hotel requires the person checking in to be at least 21 years old.
A daily destination/amenity fee covers complimentary guestroom coffee, high-speed Wi‑Fi, local calls, digital newspaper and e-books, bottled water at check-in, daily Franco’s Gym access, and preferred access to the hotel's restaurants and bars.
- Check-in: 4:00 PM. Check-out: 11:00 AM.
- Minimum check-in age: 21.
- Destination/Amenity Fee includes Wi‑Fi, coffee, bottled water, gym access, and preferred dining access.
| Item | Included or not |
|---|---|
| Wi‑Fi | Included via daily amenity fee |
| Franco’s Gym access | Included via daily amenity fee |
| Valet parking | Available for a fee |
Location and getting around
The Pontchartrain Hotel sits at 2031 St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District with a St. Charles streetcar stop directly in front of the building. The streetcar connects to the Central Business District and the edge of the French Quarter in about 15–20 minutes.
Walking distances to nearby points of interest are short: Magazine Street is roughly a 10-minute walk, Lafayette Cemetery about 10–15 minutes on foot, and the National WWII Museum about a 15-minute walk.
- Streetcar: stop directly in front; 15–20 minutes to downtown/edge of French Quarter.
- Magazine Street shopping/dining: ~10-minute walk (0.4 mi).
- National WWII Museum: roughly a 15-minute walk.
| Destination | Approximate time from hotel |
|---|---|
| French Quarter (edge) | 15–20 minute streetcar ride |
| Magazine Street | About 10-minute walk |
| National WWII Museum | About 15-minute walk |
Weddings, proposals, and special occasions
The Pontchartrain Hotel offers on-site event spaces for weddings and proposals. The Parlor is a 2,790-square-foot industrial-chic venue behind the hotel with capacity for up to 200 guests and can connect to Jack Rose for reception dining.
Jack Rose can be privately booked for rehearsal dinners or smaller receptions (private buyout capacity cited for up to 125 guests) and the hotel's event spaces together total about 5,000 square feet, with larger meeting rooms available for bigger gatherings.
- The Parlor — 2,790 sq ft, up to 200 guests.
- Jack Rose private buyout — up to 125 guests for dinner.
- Total event space across hotel ~5,000 sq ft; largest meeting room capacity listed up to 400.
| Space | Typical maximum |
|---|---|
| The Parlor | 200 guests |
| Jack Rose private buyout | 125 guests |
| Total event space | About 5,000 sq ft |
