The Drifter Hotel Coffee Bar

Summer Rays are Here ‍*Right off Tulane in Mid-City, this motel is a hidden gem. When you first come in, you are greeted with a coffee bar/room check in station. Retro vibes refreshed is the best description of the space. Toward the back overlooking the pool, is the BAR BAR *We came for the Daydream event which was a blast! Poolside music, cocktail stands situated around the pool, event space behind the large fence for music and live entertainment. Next trip, I will be booking a room and hanging out all day and night!

This is a coffee joint that also offers alcoholic drinks located at an old hotel that used to be a pretty rough spot for many years. They have also added topless swimming here for a bit of extra fun and groovy vibes. The Drifter Hotel sold to new investors in 2024 so likely it will get way more expensive and way less groovy with a big decline in fun... Well the future is still to be determined so maybe things will get even more funky and groovy but that hasn't been the trend yet in situations like this the vast majority of the time so we will see...

The Drifter has the makings of a really great hole-in-the-wall. However, what they're charging for rooms is obscene for the level of bugs, black mold, literal holes in the door, and broken furniture. The pool is not as nice as other pools in the city and it's usually quite full --reminiscent of a human soup. The lobby building's flat roof has ponding water visible from the second floor of the motel and I presume based on the presence of extensive water damage in the rooms, the motel has similar damage. The whole place is poorly managed --front desk person claimed not to be able to find our reservation-- and is in dire need of renovation and better management practices. There's a difference between relaxed and sloppy.

Just got out of the pool, on a cool 70 degree evening, and the pool had to be about 90 degrees. Salt water pool, cheap drinks, life is good :)

Definitely a fun and safe environment. It's true to the name. This isn't necessarily a motel to stay at for a vacation in New Orleans, but a place to have one or two nights to crash while enjoying the party ambiance of this place. The pool area was clean, I believe the staff when they say they value safety, and they have a solid bar. Definitely an "alt" scene with cool people.

We were turned away because we didn't have pool clothes on. The lobby is closed and the pool is open for pool guests. They didn't think I pool clothes underneath my clothes.

Drifter is an experience not just a hotel. This is a resort oasis in the middle of an industrial area of the city, you won't believe it once you enter. I got my summer membership this year and this is where I spend my weekends. What a great way to spend the summer in NOLA.

(Solely based on the pool party / events at The Drifter)New Orleans is truly the city that has so many damn hidden gems you will ALWAYS find something new and exciting. Well this weekend was no exception because I was invited to The Drifter for a pool party BUT THIS WAS NOT SOME ORDINARY POOL DAY.My friend and I knew we were about to be transported to some epic hangout when we heard the music blaring outside which really sets the vibe for any experience. There's some side street parking so it was nice not to worry about parking.Entry into their pool party events was $15 a person but you can immediately start a tab and place the entry fee onto. I really enjoyed that you could order from any bartender and only have to have one tab open throughout the day.Drinks are stupid cheap. I'm honestly shocked how low priced they were because I felt like they were almost giving it away (PLEASE DON'T CHANGE THIS DRIFTER) but it made people continue buying more that's for sure. You can order outside on the pool at the pool bar or you can order inside.I wasn't in my swim trunks yet so I was pleased to see they had two washrooms that were unisex and more importantly private bathrooms. They were actually really clean and the "F*&K Racism" poster was a nice touch.The Drifter Hotel provides a safe space and encourage folks to embrace and be courteous to EVERYONE. No allowance of -phobia whatsoever. Make sure to remember this is a Topless Optional pool so don't go all pervy and remember that you must ask for consent before trying to take a photo.The pool was nicely heated and it was cool to see so many folks actually utilizing it and not simply laying around.It was a great time and I'll definitely be back!

The Drifter had a great atmosphere and staff! The heated pool was perfect after long days of exploring the city. Not close to the Bourbon Street action, so fairly quiet and gated so private as well!

It's been 2+ years since we've been able to stay, although we have stayed many times over the past 6 years. Every stay has been excellent, but this stay was even better. I never do reviews, but this experience has compelled me to do so. Every single employee was so helpful to us in so many different ways, that it's obvious they deeply care about their customer's happiness.Stu - The safe had malfunctioned. Stu went above and beyond late into the night, making several trips to the store in order to fix the safe, so that we could store our valuables securely. Stu, Amber, and Ty ( both mentioned further down) relentlessly worked each set up, for the couple of performances, that occurred while we were there. Stu was a warm and welcome face, that made it a mission to check on us every single day, to see if we needed anything. India - Made check in super smooth. When we decided to extend our stay, India was invaluable in working with us on room availability. India's adorable warm smile and get it done attitude, just crushed any stress normally associated with surprise stay extensions. Heather & Stacy - These two were super powers in helping provide us with valuable concierge services and also helping our friends to extend their stay. Super friendly and always eyes up looking to be helpful.Royce - We gave Royce the moniker of TCP (The Consummate Professional). From carrying fridges, to making drinks, to being the rapid response enforcer, if someone was splashing in the pool, Royce was all over the place at all times. And always with a smile on his face.Garland, Sam, Colin, Mack, Clarissa - Most attentive, friendly, and energetic bartending staff ever. They were under the gun with bursts of many people wanting refreshments quickly. Every one of them answered the call without failure, working quickly and efficiently. They even remembered people's names and what they liked, right off the bat.Amber - What can we say about Amber that's truly worthy of how great Amber is? Amber endured a situation that would've made it tough for any human to show up for work the few days after. Not only did Amber rise to the occasion, Amber put herself aside, each and every time, for the hotel guests. Amber is a very compassionate person and that comes through in how well Amber takes care of the hotel guests. It was unexpectedly very cold one day during our stay. Although the pool was heated sufficiently, the cold wind made things miserable. Amber got a projector and created a movie night inside the lobby for the guests. Amber also personally built 2 pit fires for guests that wanted to stay outside.Ty - Last but certainly not least. We still don't know what official title Ty carries, but you'd think it could be brand new owner, the way he is always running around helping in every way possible. We noticed Ty work many 12+ hour days. Ty, like the rest of the staff, was constantly thinking of how our experience could be improved. We think Ty may be the VIP for our stay in the overall, but it's too close to call, considering how wonderful the rest of the staff was. We've always loved the cultural vibe of The Drifter. It's truly a place to just be yourself. All of the wonderful people mentioned above, made us feel like immediate family. We are already looking forward to our next stay.