This small hotel was actually built in 1829 by Alexander Lavalette, a wealthy French sea merchant.

It is one of the largest homes in the Kongens Quarter (King's Quarter) of Charlotte Amalie. The dining room has its original floors, hand painted Moroccan glazed tiles laid in a harlequin pattern with terra cotta tiles from Martinique.It has a beautiful stained glass window by Tiffany called "In Search of the Promised Land". There are 300 year old Italian chess pieces large enough to stand guard on each side of the doorway.

The historic kitchen was originally built inside the main house, which was extraordinary for that era. Kitchens were always built in separate structures because of heat and fire danger. Today, the old kitchen is now the popular bar of the hotel.

Hotel 1829 is a "U" shaped house with a large courtyard leading to the West Indian "Welcoming Arms" staircase. The stairs flair out at the base as if embracing you while ascend them. The upstairs areas are for hotel guests only.

Standing in front of the hotel, you can still see Alexander Lavalette's initials in the wrought iron of the upstairs balcony. The house became a hotel in 1906.