About Our New Orleans Inn

The location is as good as it gets and in the heart of the Garden District! You can walk to Commander’s Palace, you can hop on the St. Charles streetcar and be on Canal Street in 10 minutes, or go the other way and be at Tulane University in 10 minutes. There are a number of things you can walk to…
Bob

Experience the Grand Victorian, a New Orleans Bed and Breakfast in the Garden District

If you are looking for a taste of history in your journey to New Orleans, then a stay at Grand Victorian Bed and Breakfast in the Garden District is your start. Designed and built in 1893 by famed New Orleans architect Thomas Sully (1855-1937), this New Orleans inn has been lovingly restored to its former glory and decorated with period furnishings.

This Queen Anne Victorian house was originally built for Francis Johnson and his family. There are original drawings/plans of the house and millwork at Tulane University’s Architectural Library. Thomas Sully and his business partner, James Feret, are known for beginning the first architectural firm in New Orleans and heavily influencing the unique feeling that Uptown New Orleans offers. The home is a true period masterpiece.

In late 2021 and early 2022, the Grand Victorian was yet again renovated. Painting of the exterior and interior, along with a new roof updated the heart of the house. A landscaping overhaul refreshed the property, and new mattresses, interior decorating with new window treatments, and the revision of the breakfast menu -from a continental breakfast formerly served to a full, hot breakfast, enhances the guest experience.

Our New Orleans B&B welcomes you with a majestic historic past and the comfort and convenience of a modern bed and breakfast inn.

Our Inn Furnishings

After restoring the 7,600 square-foot structure to its former glory, it was decorated with period furnishings to emulate the original style. All of the furniture in the house dates back to the turn-of-the-century, over a span of about 30 years.

A “tester” bed is a 4-poster bed with a full canopy. A “half tester” bed is a 2-poster bed with a canopy covering half of the bed. A “plantation” size bed falls between a modern full and queen-size bed. Because all of the beds are antiques, they are all unique in length and width, however, for your comfort, seven guestrooms have been updated to receive a queen mattress and the Greenwood Suite has a king.

We look forward to having you as guests in our bed and breakfast in New Orleans!

Meet Your Innkeepers - Betty and Kate Rabe

The Rabe family roots run deeply in the city of New Orleans. The dynamic mother and daughter team, Betty and Kate, bring their passion and expertise to help shape the guest experience at the majestic Grand Victorian.

Betty’s no stranger to customer service & the travel industry. Her past work experience at American Airlines in Inflight Service as a flight attendant & trainer, as an instructor trained by the Emily Post Institute, the Ritz Carlton Spa, as an elementary school educator, and as an owner of Sylvan Learning Center are the foundation of her love of traveling and meeting new people.

Her daughter, Kate, follows in her mom’s footsteps with a great eye for style, a passion for travel, and a love of meeting guests at the inn.

“I love the amazing history of the house…this house has a history of very strong women at the helm….and back in the early 1900s after the death of her husband, Olive Andrews Johnson managed the house along with running the family businesses while contributing so much to our city’s playgrounds & other programs for New Orleans children. My sister, Bonnie Rabe, was determined & passionate about renovating & preserving this house in 1998, making it into a Bed and Breakfast to welcome visitors worldwide.

And, now, my daughter & I have the honor & the privilege to take this beautiful piece of history into the future. Staying with us allows guests to see & feel the history in this beautiful house…the charm & grace…that is truly St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.”

Please feel free to contact Betty at info@gvbb.com if you have any questions about the Grand Victorian or your stay in New Orleans!

What's for Breakfast?

A light breakfast is served either in the sun-filled dining room or can be eaten outdoors on our porte-cochere balcony. Breakfast service is from 8:30 am – 9:30 am, each day. Special arrangements can be made for an earlier breakfast, if necessary.

For early morning risers, we have a Keurig® coffee maker in the dining room. Coffee and tea are available 24/7.

Please let us know before your arrival if you have any food allergies to better prepare for your stay with us.

We look forward to serving you in our Garden District New Orleans bed and breakfast.

Common Areas at the Inn

The Grand Victorian offers several locations to accommodate small gatherings of your friends and family while you stay at your home away from home. Our New Orleans Garden District bed and breakfast is one of a kind.

Our historic Victorian parlor is a popular place to relax at the house. Its giant floor to ceiling windows allows guests to overlook the “Avenue” in Uptown New Orleans! The chandelier will mesmerize you.

A library of books to borrow and games to play await you. Enjoy the moment and catch up with old friends or make new ones as you take a break from the fun and exciting things to do in New Orleans.

Our dining room is open all day after breakfast for your afternoon or evening for guests with tables to play cards, check email from home, or visit with family and friends.

Our architecturally significant porte cochere balcony has the best views in the house with wrought iron tables and chairs for lounging with a glass of wine or a good book. It’s the perfect Mardi Gras parade viewing spot around!

Watch the world go by as you relax under the canopy of old oak trees in our bed and breakfast in New Orleans in the beautiful Garden District.

Our Reviews

The Grand Victorian offers incredible lodging in New Orleans and was awarded the honor of being selected as the “2011 Fodor’s Choice Property! In addition, the hotel is recognized by the Historic District Landmark Commission of New Orleans and the Louisiana Preservation Alliance, and it has been seen on the TRAVEL CHANNEL, “Mardi Gras, 2001 & 2002” and in Southern Living Magazine. Winner of the 1997 award for Historic Preservation of the Year by the Historic District Landmark Commission of New Orleans. Join us at our bed and breakfast in New Orleans for a getaway to remember.

1997 – Historic Preservation of the Year – Historic District Landmark Commission of New Orleans
2011 – Fodors Choice
2012 – Fodors Choice
2015 – Tops of the Town – New Orleans Magazine, Voted “Favorite Bed & Breakfast” by Readers
2015 – Certificate of Excellence – Trip Advisor
2016 – Top Ten Romantic Inns – I Love Inns