Nashville vs. New Orleans: Which Southern City Has the Best Luxury Hotels?

The competition between Nashville and New Orleans is heating up as both cities vie for travelers seeking good music, good food, and convivial gathering spots. Today, Broadway goes toe-to-toe with Bourbon Street. It’s barbecue versus beignets and bareknuckle boxing for bachelorettes, bachelors, and big groups—but which one has the lock on luxury? “Nashville has undergone remarkable growth in recent years, and the city’s ability to blend its rich musical heritage with sophisticated dining and entertainment options creates a unique landscape for luxury experiences,” argues Sam Fox, founder of Author & Edit Hospitality and Fox Restaurant Concepts (including Nashville’s wildly popular Twelve Thirty Club ).

Yet, New Orleans has the edge on history with numerous century-old hotels and a legacy of cultural traditions. We put the hotels to the test to see which city delivers the best in luxury digs. The Hermitage vs.

The Roosevelt The Basics : Both of these historic hotels ooze Art Deco style and share a long list of celebrity patrons—Elvis oft visited the Hermitage in Nashville, and the likes of Marilyn Monroe frequented New Orlean’s the Roosevelt . Built in 1910, the Hermitage enjoys status as the oldest luxury hotel in Nashville. Recent renovations lend the interiors a refined elegant style—but the hotel’s legendary lime-green, glass-tiled men’s room remains untouched.

Indeed, almost as many women as men have visited this Art Deco masterpiece, the 2008 winner .