Louisiana Hotels and Lodges with a View

Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center

Nothing beats a vacation getaway more than a room with a view. And we’ve compiled a great list of hotels and lodges throughout Louisiana that deliver. Whether for a weekend away or a long trip with family or friends, a view from your accommodations offers delightful vacation lagniappe.

Views of the Mississippi

Several hotels line the dramatic curve of the Mississippi River as it rolls past downtown New Orleans. The historic Hotel Monteleone incorporates great river views from its guest rooms as well as from its rooftop bar and pool. The Hilton New Orleans Riverside places many of its rooms riverside and visitors may enjoy a craft cocktail at The Westin’s Observatory Eleven bar. And that’s just a few hotels featuring views of the mighty Mississippi.

Four Seasons New Orleans River View Suite

The relatively new kid on the block is the Four Seasons New Orleans located in the former International Trade Mart, which once offered one of the most stunning views of the river from its rotating restaurant and bar. Now, Vue Orleans occupies the building’s top spot, an indoor and outdoor observation deck with 360-degree panoramic views of the city and river. Visitors who stay at the Four Seasons should take in every aspect of the hotel’s riverside, including Chef Donald Link’s Chemin á la Mer restaurant, honoring Louisiana’s waterways.

(Left) Chemin Bordelaise (Right) Chemin á la Mer restaurant

“A great way to enjoy the experience is Vue Orleans, dining in Chemin á la Mer and time at our resort-style pool deck overlooking the Mississippi River,” said Vicki Bristol, Four Seasons public relations director. “The pool is always heated to 78 degrees making it ideal for year-round swimming.” fourseasons.com/neworleans

Capitol Views

Many Louisianans recall this downtown Baton Rouge property as the Capitol House, once frequented by state politicians and former Gov. Huey P. Long. Today, it’s the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, but regardless of the name change, the hotel still sports breathtaking views of the 5.4-acre Riverfront Plaza greenspace along the Mississippi, Acadiana stretching on the river’s west bank and the Riverfront Dock and Overlook, a docking area for visiting vessels but also a keen spot for up-close river views. If the weather cooperates, visitors may watch river traffic and an occasional steamboat roll by while enjoying the Hilton’s rooftop pool. hilton.com/en/hotels/btrcphf-hilton-baton-rouge-capitol-center

Cypress Bend Resort

Cypress Bend Resort

Golfers have been flocking to Cypress Bend Resort on Toledo Bend for years to savor the rolling greens with dramatic views of the lake. Now they have one more reason. The resort recently renovated its championship golf course by award-winning architect Jeff Blume.

But you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy this resort. Many of the 95 guest rooms, the outside patio and the dining hall face the lake — the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine while the sun sets over Texas. Trails throughout the resort’s 600 garden and forest acres skirt the lake and some bluff views include resident bald eagles and other wildlife. cypressbendgolfclub.com

Hamilton House Inn

West Monroe sports numerous antique stores, boutiques and restaurants with some establishments fronting the Ouachita River. Owners of the Hamilton House Inn have turned a historic building into a charming boutique hotel, with five elegant guest rooms and a deck in back for relaxing with drinks.

“You can catch a smidge of the Ouachita River (more or less depending on the time of year and whether or not the leaves have fallen) and the train bridge from the back deck of Hamilton House Inn,” said Sheila Snow, vice president of communications of Discover Monroe-West Monroe. “You can also enjoy a view of the picturesque downtown West Monroe from their balcony.” hamiltonhouseinn.com

View from the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles

Lake Charles Casinos

When L’Auberge Casino Resort opened in 2005, it offered residents and guests alike a dramatic view of Lake Charles from its 26 stories overlooking the Calcasieu River. It has since been joined by its neighbor, Golden Nugget Lake Charles, with a 14-story tower and a 20-story tower. Each property offers more than 1,000 guest rooms, 18-hole golf courses, lazy rivers and expansive pool area, shopping, restaurants, marina and spas. And, of course, no shortage of casino floors. lakecharles.com, goldennugget.com/lake-charles

Red River Sites

Numerous casinos line the Red River in Shreveport and its neighbor Bossier City with high towers to offer the most impressive sights of both the river and downtown Shreveport. Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino and Ballys rests on the Shreveport side while in Bossier choose from Horseshoe, Boomtown and Margaritaville. For those who want more than a view, all five casinos feature dining and nightlife. shreveport-bossier.org/hotels/casino-hotels

The Hotel Bentley

One of our favorite views at the historic Hotel Bentley in the heart of downtown Alexandria remains the two-story lobby with its massive marble pillars, crystal chandeliers, a Roman ceiling mural and a central fountain — all greeting visitors when they enter the front entrance from Third Street. The Bentley peeks above the city skyline with only five floors, but marries the oversized lobby with the flat landscape surrounding the Red River, and most guest rooms provide a lovely view of both city and river.

Joseph A. Bentley, who spent much of his fortune from logging, created the hotel he envisioned to become the jewel structure of the city. Arkansas architect George R. Mann, who designed the Arkansas State Capitol, was enlisted for the project finished in 1907. During World War II, when soldiers were trained nearby in the Louisiana Maneuvers, the hotel saw the likes of Major Gen. George Patton, Lt. Col. Omar Bradley, then Gen. Dwight David Eisenhower and the future Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. visithotelbentley.com

Shadetree Bed & Breakfast

St. Francisville sits upon a bluff above the Mississippi River, and one bed and breakfast takes advantage of the view. Shadetree offers  two guest rooms facing the river.  A “hobbit door” leads guests to a private treetop deck in the Sun Room and 19 windows bathe the Gardener’s Cottage in natural light. The Louisiana Hospitality Group, which owns and operates several Louisiana inns and restaurants, including the historic St. Francisville Inn in the heart of downtown St. Francisville, manages the Shadetree property.  louisianahospitalitygroup.com/shadetree/

Greenwood Plantation Bed & Breakfast

The vast home and gardens of Greenwood Plantation B&B in St. Francisville is spectacular any time of year, but spring brings forth an array of brilliant colors. The plantation home with its 12 guest rooms overlooks a reflecting pond perfect for photos along with an avenue of live oak trees cascading over azalea bushes. Visitors may wish to sit back in the plantation’s rocking chairs on the wide veranda and simply absorb the scene. greenwoodplantation.com/bed-and-breakfast

Grosse Savanne Lodge

This Orvis-endorsed lodge outside Lake Charles offers nine bedrooms, each of which contains two beds and a private bath. Four guest rooms overlook the neighboring marsh that stretches between Calcasieu and the Grosse Savanne Ridge. The lodge offers several packages: an overnight with a guided fishing trip in the morning and the bed and breakfast package of an overnight with meals and beverages are two options.

For those who want to shoot birds with a camera, there’s the eco-tour package, which includes overnight accommodations with an eco-friendly tour through the property’s restored wetlands. Southwest Louisiana sits inside the Central and Mississippi Flyways, so millions of migratory birds fly through the area. grossesavanne.com

Pecan Island School Lodge

Children of the residents of Pecan Island on the Louisiana coast attended a K-12 school that was state-of-the-art for its time. Solidly built on a raised section of land, it withstood several hurricanes.

Today, the school is a privately owned hunting and fishing lodge and guests may visit at the discretion of its owners. Classrooms are now guest rooms and meals are delivered in the school’s old dining room with broad windows overlooking the marsh. On the walls are photos from the days when the halls rang with young voices and the lodge includes the original basketball court, indoor pool, tennis courts and running track in back.