Last weekend Mr. Jones and I met up in New Orleans for a quick dose of warmer weather. During our weekend getaway, we stayed two nights at the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel, located on Tchoupitoulas Street in the Arts District. We appreciated our taxi driving teaching us how to say Tchoupitoulas (CHOP-ih-too-liss) during our ride from the airport to the hotel.
When we booked this stay, we did not realize that Mardi Gras activities would be in progress, with some of the parade routes passing right in front of the hotel.
While Mardi Gras refers to Fat Tuesday, the final day of revelry before Ash Wednesday — Tuesday February 9th, in 2016 — the celebration starts much earlier in New Orleans, with the first parades on January 6 this year.
As we completed check-in at the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel, we were given a detailed schedule of the parades. You can also view the Mardi Gras parade schedule online.
We were assigned to room 435. Here is a look inside.
The Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel is located in a former warehouse built in the early 20th century. While the warehouse has been transformed into luxurious rooms, the hotel still reflects its warehouse characteristics, such as the brick walls.
While many Renaissance hotels are eliminating the desks in their rooms, this hotel room still had one, along with a flat screen television, and hidden refrigerator in the cabinet below the TV.
One of the things that Mr. Jones and I loved about this hotel was the comfortable king-sized bed. The comforter and the pillows — so soft and comfy — made it tough to get out of bed on Saturday. We could have slept here all day.
We found something unique in the closet – a black, plush terry robe. Only one, however, although I’m certain we could have requested a second robe.
The bathroom was standard with standard Aveda rosemary mint shampoo and conditioner.
After getting settled into our room, we headed to the hotel bar for a Friday night cocktail. The hotel’s bar and restaurant is the Legacy Kitchen, which is described as “refined American fare as well as hand-crafted cocktails in a casual setting.” The bar features eclectic decor, such as the gambling wheel over the bar.
Most unique was the artwork over the sofa in cocktail lounge portion of the Legacy Kitchen. Just after we arrived, the bar was preparing for crowds during the Mardi Gras parade that would pass by the hotel during the next hour or two.
They switched to plastic cups only, and a limited appetizer menu.
Mr. Jones was quite hungry, and he loved the duck chili cheese fries. Tasty, but they were not health food. (That might be a theme in New Orleans.)
We also enjoyed breakfast at the bar at the Legacy Kitchen on Sunday morning. Or perhaps it was considered “brunch.” Picture above is the crawfish and brie omelet, served with home fries. The omelet was slathered in so much rich sauce that it was served in a bowl. The home fries were a mix of oven-roasted potatoes that included sweet and purple varieties.
We did check out the rooftop swimming pool that’s located on the fifth floor of the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel. There is a small gym on the same level. Not surprisingly, both were underutilized on a Saturday at the end of January when Mardi Gras activities were well-underway just outside the door of the hotel.
Our bottom line on the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel:
- We loved the location at 700 Tchoupitoulas Street — near a number of top restaurants and bars. Check out Rebirth, Cochon and Emeril’s restaurants all within an easy walk, as is W.I.N.O and Tommy’s Wine Bar. The hotel is also close to the convention center and the cruise port.
- There’s is the fun and funky Legacy Kitchen downstairs in the hotel.
- Our hotel room was very comfortable, however being in a former warehouse, we heard lots of noise from the hallway.
- Don’t confuse this hotel with the Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette Hotel, a 1920’s high rise hotel that’s located closer to Bourbon Street and Jackson Square.
- The Renaissance New Orleans Arts is a Marriott Rewards Category 8 hotel requiring 35,000 -40,000 points per night for a free stay.
Here’s a fun way to remember a New Orleans visit:
Check out these other posts on recent hotel stays:
- A Peek Inside the Ghent Marriott Hotel in Belgium
- A Return Visit to the Conrad Centennial Hotel in Singapore
- A Look Inside the Milan Hilton Hotel
- A Look Inside the Hilton Panama Hotel
- Views from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge in Alaska
- A Peek Inside the Hilton Antwerp Old Town Hotel
- A Look Inside the JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square Hotel
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