Ace Hotels, the uber-cool brand best known for their lobby hangouts, opened its New Orleans outpost (the first in the South) in the Spring of 2016. Ace Hotel New Orleans sits on the corner of Carondelet and Lafayette streets in the Warehouse District and is the perfect starting point for exploring the city. The hotel sits a few blocks in either direction from the Superdome and the Mississippi River. It’s also less than a mile’s walk (or about a 7 minute cab ride), to Preservation Hall in the French Quarter, and an even shorter walk or streetcar ride to the National WWII Museum.
French Quarter Inspired Shabby-Chic Style
The nine-story building that houses the hotel was built in 1928 and formerly home to the Max Bennett Furniture Company. The Art Deco-meets-Dadaist decor of the lobby, with its original Terrazzo floors restored, is trimmed in shades of dark greys, greens, eggplant, and indigo—a palette that carries throughout the hotel and captures the shabby-chic style of the French Quarter. The hotel reflects the quirky vibrancy of the Warehouse District — home to art galleries, trend-setting restaurants and artisanal boutiques.
Dining and Entertainment
Entertainment and distinctive dining are close at hand, too: the in-house Three Keys music venue hosts live performances, including burlesque, five nights a week. Josephine Estelle, the the hotel’s New Orleans-style osteria, is helmed by James Beard Award-nominated chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman. Ticer and Hudman take the seasonal, craft-centric philosophy of Italian cuisine, stirring it up with fresh flavors of New Orleans and the American South. The menu at Josephine Estelle includes gnocchi with chicken gizzards, asparagus and trout roe with country ham, and a fried fish with tarragon tartar sauce.
A stones throw away from the hotel, Seaworthy is an oyster bar that highlights wild-caught and sustainably harvested Gulf Coast, East Coast and West Coast oysters. The late night oyster and caviar hub is chic but distressed— a press release describes it as a 'sailor's clubhouse'.
Rooftop Pool/Lounge
The Ace Hotel's most popular attraction might be the hotel's rooftop pool lounge, Alto. You can relax poolside while snacking on small plates, sipping seasonal cocktails and enjoying panoramic views of the city. The grille's Italian-inspired menu focuses on salads, seafood and spiedini. In addition to cocktails, Alto's inspired bar offers a rotating tap, frozen drinks, craft beer and fine wine.
The Ace Hotel is also home to Stumptown Coffee's Cold-Brew focused cafe. This is also the Portland, Oregon based coffee chain's first location in the South. It has become one of our favorites - read more about it here!
Every aspect of the hotel - from the decor to the drinks - perfectly emblazons the Crescent City’s unique blend of French, Spanish, and Afro-Caribbean influences and it has quickly become a gathering place for locals as it is a hub for travelers.
To check room availability at Ace Hotel, click here to check on Booking.com.
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For more ideas about places to stay and things to see and do in New Orleans, explore the blogs below!
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Every female solo traveler is different when it comes to exploring a city alone at night. Some are reluctant to leave the comfort of their hotel, others are eager to hit the town, and some want to be out and about, but don’t want to drink alcohol. Our list of 7 things to do at night as a solo traveler in New Orleans has something to suit every preference!