Some of the city's most intriguing restaurants cannot be seen from the street, but instead, can be found inside of one of New Orleans' new or classic hotels.
In the city of New Orleans, restaurants are not few and far between. When wanting to discover a new restaurant this summer, there are plenty of options on every corner, right in a hotel. Even without being a guest at the hotel, you can enjoy restaurants, bars, and coffee shops that hotels have to offer. These hotel dining options will have guests not wanting to leave the premises, and non-guests debating a staycation. Check out the hotels below that not only offer luxury accommodations, but delicious food and libations as well.
The Chloe
Located right on St. Charles Avenue, The Chloe is a quaint and beautiful boutique hotel. When dining in, patrons can sit right on the avenue and watch the streetcar pass by. Additionally, you can enjoy your meal poolside on the hotel's back patio. The restaurant serves New Orleans classics with a modern twist, including muffaletta egg rolls and shrimp etouffee dumplings.
Something fun that the hotel offers is "Wine Wednesday," which is a weekly pop-up event hosted on Wednesdays that features different wines for people to taste. This experience is 20% off every Wednesday and can be enjoyed by anyone—visitor or local—who makes a reservation.
The Virgin Hotel
Coming up on the first anniversary of opening its doors in New Orleans, the Virgin Hotel offers three unique dining experiences. First, the hotel contains the Funny Library Coffee Shop on its ground floor right by the hotel's check-in desk. The coffee shop can serve as a general workplace for patrons who wish to enjoy a cup of coffee and connect to the hotel's Wi-Fi. Besides offering a space to get some work done, the whimsical room also contains fun games and books for your entertainment.
As you adventure through the hotel, you can find the Commons Club—the hotel's restaurant that offers dinner daily and brunch service on weekends. Some menu highlights include the pan roasted sea scallops, roasted heirloom carrots, and crispy boudin that is served with red corn grits and a sunny-side-up egg. To add to the experience, live music is often played as people enjoy their meal.
Up on the rooftop of the hotel is the Pool Club, a terrace that contains a poolside bar with signature cocktails and snacks. Non-guests of the hotel can enjoy the pool by purchasing a pool pass for only $25. Whether it's 8:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m., the Virgin Hotel has a space for you.
Four Seasons Hotel
When you first enter the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown New Orleans, the dazzling Chandelier Bar is front and center. The chandelier that hangs in the center of the circular bar contains 15,000 crystals, making this bar a glamorous spot for a cocktail. The bar also offers a wide selection of champagne from around the world that is difficult to find anywhere else.
When you turn the corner, guests can come across Miss River. The relatively new restaurant focuses on each individual ingredient when executing its dishes. In the center of the space is the restaurant's "Food Stage," where patrons can see chefs prepare and plate some of the restaurant's signature dishes. A menu item that attracts customers is the whole-carved buttermilk fried chicken accompanied by dipping sauces to share with your party.
The Ace Hotel
Located in the Warehouse District, the Ace Hotel features two restaurants with two different concepts. First is Seaworthy, a locally-sourced seafood restaurant that is adjacent to the hotel. Oysters and cocktails are the restaurant's specialty, with the oysters being sourced from the gulf coast, as well as from the east and west coasts. During the restaurant's Happy Hour, certain craft cocktails are eight dollars, which pairs perfectly with their deal of half off select oysters.
Josephine Estelle is the second restaurant whose home is also the Ace Hotel. The Italian restaurant is run by two award-winning chefs who take inspiration from their own family recipes and Southern cuisine. The meat and cheese board, JE meatballs, and grilled baby octopus are the perfect starters to any of the restaurant's pasta dishes or entrees. Besides the delicious food, the restaurant is also known for its fabulous interior design and modern ambiance.
In addition to the two sit-down dining options, the Ace Hotel also has a rooftop bar, the Alto. The rooftop bar is perfect for grabbing a cocktail after a nice meal and enjoying a remarkable view of downtown New Orleans. The bar offers cocktails, frozen drinks, wine, and beer with a shot.
Hotel Monteleone
The popular and whimsical Carousel Bar & Lounge can be found inside Hotel Monteleone. The bar revolves like a real carousel, attracting patrons with its exciting twenty-five seat space that rotates every fifteen minutes. What makes this better than a real carousel is the craft cocktail selection. The bar offers some New Orleans classics, including a Sazerac, Pimm's cup, and a Vieux Carre. Live music is also offered at the bar every Wednesday through Saturday.
After grabbing a drink at the bar, Criollo is a great spot for Creole cuisine inside the hotel. The restaurant offers a fantastic brunch every weekend with live music and great deals on champagne. Brunch menu highlights include eggs Sardou, blue crab & corn beignets, and sautéed speckled trout.
