This is an historic hotel.
ROOMS : As with most historic hotels, expect tiny rooms with little counter space. If you have stayed at old hotels such as this, then you know what I mean. There was no bed spread, but after seeing all of those 20/20 shows that show how dirty comforters are, I didn't mind not having one. It was cold, but there was an additional blanket in the closet. A coffee maker was provided with individually wrappd disposable cups. The flat panel TV had cable. My only issue with the room was that the walls were paper thin. I could hear everything in the next room and in the hallway. Because of this, I felt guilty turning on the TV when we came back from partying late night. I can't say if all of the rooms are like this, or if our room was an exception. There is also some late night and early morning street noise.
STAFF: The staff was great! They offered to print our boarding passes upon our departure. They were also very friendly.
BUILDING: Very old and kind of drab from the outside. The sign is a tiny little circle hanging under the awning on the corner.of the building. The lobby coffee shop sign is larger, which caused our cab driver to not be able to immediatly find the hotel. The owners should reallly consider some architectural lighting and a large banner sign down the corner of the building. Halways are narrow, and the elevator is small and dated (not historic in appearance).
LOCATION: Great! Across the street from the Hard Rock Cafe and the river front. Two blocks from Jackson Square, 6 blocks from Harrah's Casino, and little bars and restaurants all around.
Overall, I would say it was a good experience. It was the most reasonably priced place that I could find in the French Quarter.

I stayed here in 2004 and the hotel was under construction at that time too! Like some others at that time the TV's only had 2 volumes, quite and loud, and you could hear everything anyone was doing through the walls. The location is great, and the staff is wonderful. The first night we got there our room was small and in the front of the hotel with a window, The bed was uncomfortable - I thought we were sleeping on a pull out couch. There were some plumbing issues (hot water) if I remember correctly, and we asked to be moved to another room - the staff accommodated us the following day and our room was much larger, and looked like it had been rennovated. I don't think we had a window or if we did - it looked out to another building as the hotel is a bunch of buildings strung together and joined buy a common quaint courtyard. The 2nd room we had had some water damage in the ceiling but it was definitely an improvement over the last room. There were also stains on the carpet (as there were in the first room).

That being said - the hotel is close to everything - it's certainly not as bad as the Holiday Inn in the CBD that we stayed at over new years a few years earlier where I was actually afraid to go to sleep in there. Cafe Du Monde is just up the street, Jackson square is a block away, as with just about all of NoLa great meals are just steps away and there is always good music. For the budget conscious traveler, who doesn't need modern luxuries and is looking for a small local friendly historical inn to stay in, this is a great place. Be prepared that the carpet in your room is going to be a little funky though - don't plan on tossing your clothes on the floor or sleeping on it!

After reading several reviews and wanting an affordable hotel in the French Quarter, my wife and I settled on the French Market Inn. We visited a couple of days before Christmas so it wasn't crowded. Yes, the hotel is in need of renovations (which, according to a sign in the lobby, are in progress.) The carpet in our room was stained and some of the bathroom fixtures were old but working. Also the walls are PAPER-THIN (we could actually hear someone in the next room opening the zipper on their luggage!) It was really no worse than some Motel 6 or Super 8 rooms I've stayed in. But remember that this building is nearly 300 years old!

The only other complaint I might mention is that I paid a few dollars extra for a room with a courtyard view, and ended up with a view of the fourth floor of an empty building across the courtyard! Not a really big deal, but if you really want the courtyard view don't get a room above the second floor.

The architecture is fascinating and the courtyard is very quaint. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and there is a hotel cat but he/she never made an appearance while we were there. If you get hungry for a snack you *must* try a coffee and a pastry from the coffee shop adjacent to the lobby - delicious! Self parking is available directly across the street for about $25 a day, and the hotel is within walking distance of anywhere you may want to go in the French Quarter.

So the bottom line for me is, unless you want the sterile box of a national chain hotel, the French Market Inn is a fine choice for a stay in New Orleans. Besides, how often can you say you stayed in a 3-century-old building (and a possibly haunted one at that!)?

My husband and I went for our 20th anniversary in Oct 2011. The hotel is in awesome awesome location, walking distance to anything and everything without the noise of Bourbon St. The hotel is older and a little run down, but under renovation. The price is great, staff is friendly, room small and dark, but was cleaned everyday, but if you are there to stay in your room...go home!