Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans

A 19th-century infant asylum in New Orleans has been transformed into a stunning new design hotel with moody dark gray rooms and pink bathrooms.

Hotel Saint Vincent is located in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans which is a vibrant area with Greek Revival and Italianate buildings. The red brick building of Hotel Saint Vincent had decorative wrought-iron railings giving it plenty of historic charm.

The building was redesigned into a hotel by design firm Lambert McGuire Design. Much of the interior layout of the 1861 building have stayed the same. And the interiors are an eclectic mix of styles, from art-deco to midcentury design.

The story of Hotel Saint Vincent begins in Ireland in 1813 with the birth of Margaret Haughery, née Gaffney. Margaret, an orphan, eventually made her way to New Orleans in 1835.

There she became known locally as “Our Margaret” for her endless community giving and philanthropy. In 1861, Margaret, with money from her successful bakery, founded The Saint Vincent’s Infant Asylum, a refuge for thousands both young and old.

In 1884, two years after her death, a statue of her was erected, making it the second public monument to a woman in American history. Today, Margaret Place, a park in the Lower Garden District near Hotel Saint Vincent, is a reminder of the humanitarian who devoted her life in support of the people and city of New Orleans.

The Hotel Saint Vincent honors the memory and example left by Margaret and her work by being a beacon for both the local community and those visiting New Orleans.