PHOTO: Ace Hotel New Orleans

Fodor's Expert Review Ace Hotel New Orleans

Name: Ace Hotel New Orleans
Address: 600 Carondolet St., New Orleans, LA, 70130, USA
Telephone: (504) 900-1180
Price range: $$

600 Carondolet St., New Orleans, LA 70130, USA See on Map

Cameron Todd

Ace Hotel New Orleans incorporates familiar staples of the Ace brand with unique and authentic New Orleanian elements. The music and cultural program has its pulse on the city, the style, food, and cocktails are on point, and with so much going on, you could never leave the Ace and still feel like you got a taste of NOLA (albeit a carefully curated, hipster taste).

YOU SHOULD KNOW Ace isn’t for everyone: depending on the event, some nights the lobby can transform into a clubby lounge or rock show, and though it’s welcoming of everyone, the ultra-hip and fashionable crowd (including the staff) can be intimidating for some.

room

“Curated” and “custom” are words that come up again and again with this brand. The matelasse cotton quilt, the seriously comfortable boxing-style robes, down to the calendars hanging in the rooms—are all custom designed for or by Ace, and available for sale in the shop. The beds are comfortable and every room has a full size Smeg refrigerator and ornate, art deco touches. Larger rooms have turntables (and a curated record selection) or Martin guitars.

Photo: Simon Watson

bathroom

Sleek and stylish, though not roomy, bathrooms are stocked with Rudy’s Barber Shop toiletries and Pearl+ soaps.

Photo: Fran Parente

lobby

Mismatched plush and leather furniture in shades of the signature Ace New Orleans green, craft cocktails, snacks, and Stumptown coffee. A great place to meet or get work done during the day and a party at night: 3 Keys, the music venue within the lobby, holds (mostly free) concerts and events almost every night. DJs in the lobby itself during happy hour and late nights. Off of the lobby you’ll find two boutiques, Friend and Freda, where you can (if you have the money) outfit yourself like the rest of the hip lobby clientele.

Photo: Fran Parente

pool

Alto is more of a rooftop resort than a hotel pool. A scene most days of the week—Alto is open to the public with pool chairs reserved for hotel guests. The pool is too small for laps, but just right for taking a dip on a hot day—between frozen cocktails from the bar.

Photo: Fran Parente

dining

Both oozing with charm and style, Josephine Estelle serves thoughtful, modern Italian food, and Seaworthy next door focuses on oysters and fresh, local and sustainable seafood. A different menu of small plates is served at Alto on the roof (skewers, salads, and warm weather favorites) and at the Lobby Bar (the poutine will cure your hangover, trust us). Room service, from a limited Josephine Estelle menu, is also available.

Photo: Fran Parente

drinking

Each Ace outlet offers slightly unique beverage choices: craft cocktails for happy hour in the lobby, or whiskey and a beer for a late night 3 Keys show, wine, and aperitifs at Josephine Estelle, and frozen and fruity inventions poolside on the roof.

LOCATION

Getting Around

The St. Charles streetcar passes in front of the Ace and will take you uptown, or it’s a short walk to the Canal St. Streetcar or the French Quarter. Poydras street (1 block away) is easy for catching cabs or finding Ubers.

Restaurants

This section of the CBD has become popular for new fine dining restaurants and old staples. If you’re staying around the neighborhood, expect to pay and make reservations ahead of time—but the food won't disappoint. Try Willa Jean for breakfast and sandwiches, Maypop for sophisticated Asian-fusion, or Marcello’s for wine and pasta (all a 5-minute walk).

Bars

If you get bored of the bars at the Ace, walk 15 minutes to Barrel Proof, a local favorite with a vast whiskey selection and fun daily pop-ups in the kitchen, or Bakery Bar, a cocktail bar that also happens to sell killer cakes and desert.

WHY WE LIKE IT

There’s so much to do just within the hotel itself, that if you came to town with no plans at all, the Ace would take care of you. From the art and events to the bar program to the shopping options, the hotel strives to stay current and authentic to the New Orleans cultural goings-on, and we love that.