Enjoy Southern Luxury on the Northshore

Slumber in style at Covington's renovated Southern Hotel.

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The official Explore Louisiana blogging team.
Exterior view of Southern Hotel in Covington

Southern Hotel renovated exterior.

After a full day exploring St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana’s Northshore visitors have a fabulous place to rest their heads—the Southern Hotel. After ceasing operations as a hotel in the 1960s, the beautifully restored boutique hotel in downtown Covington began welcoming guests again in 2014 - 107 years to the day of its original opening in 1907.

The Southern hadn’t been a hotel for more than half a century when Covington attorney Lisa Condrey Ward and partners purchased the striking Mission-style property in 2011 and began restoration. Before its vacancy in 2003, the building had been used as a sanitarium, government offices, a drug store and courthouse.

Back in 1907 the hotel’s original owners touted its modern conveniences—“hot water!” “electric lights!”—and, thankfully, today’s Southern can boast those amenities as well. But guests will also find everything expected of a 21st-century boutique hotel—fitness and spa treatment rooms, a plunge pool, meeting spaces, a handsome bar and a restaurant coming later this summer. 

The Southern’s new owners preserved significant architectural details of the building, keeping most of the original bricks and archways as well as the original layout of the hotel’s corridors. Ward handpicked many aspects of the hotel’s elegant décor, furnishings and art. Reflecting Covington’s history, the hotel conveys a distinct sense of its setting, thanks in part to the use of antiques and works by regional artists.

The Southern has 40 rooms and two suites, one of them named for author Walker Percy, who called Covington home. Numerous sitting areas, indoors and out, invite guests to slow down and succumb to the hotel’s charms. 

The Southern Hotel a centerpiece of downtown Covington’s historic district, already popular for its numerous galleries, antiques shops, boutiques and nightlife. More than 15 restaurants are within easy walking distance of the hotel, making it a great hub for a romantic getaway or girlfriends’ weekend. 

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Visit The Northshore and explore all there is to offer in St. Tammany!