Gorgeous gathering spaces, tons of Nola-authentic programming and some of the biggest rooms on the market make Hotel Fontenot a standout on the New Orleans hotel scene. Visitors will love its location in the trendy CBD neighborhood – just blocks from the Quarter – and the opportunity to mix and mingle with locals. You may even spot a Traveler Broad at one of our absolute favorite new New Orleans hotels.
Looking for some ideas on how to fill your New Orleans weekend? We wrote a guide on where to drink, shop and visit while you’re in our city. (Sure, it’s for bachelorettes, but we’d recommend these spots to anyone 🙂
The Fontenot offers more than a room
The Insta-savvy set fell hard for Fontenot’s lounge, the Peacock Room, with its layers of lush velvet, playful fringe, saturated ceruleans and impeccably mixed prints. We were excited to find that beneath all that enviable style, there’s the type of substance that keeps locals coming back. (In fact, about 90 percent of Peacock Room visitors live in town.)
Hospitality powerhouse Jessica Retif – former GM of Uptown superstar Saba – runs a bar program so inventive (spirulina falernum?!) it will surprise and delight even seasoned sippers. And Chef Chris Lusk’s cheeky share plates blend sophisticated prep with nods to South Louisiana snacks, like the Crawtator-encrusted P&J oysters. Brunch coming September 2021. Jazz songstress – and Traveler Broads’ personal icon – Robin Barnes wows Peacock Room crowds on Thursday nights as part of lounge duo Da Lovebirds.
Programming, in general, is at the heart of Hotel Fontenot, from fitness pop-ups in its meeting space to borrow bikes to musical trios in the downstairs coffee-and-go-cup shop Gospel. Our favorite addition? Flash Your Feathers Fridays, where anyone in a headdress gets a free glass of bubbles! V on brand, right? Check the Fontenot website for the latest offerings.
New Orleans Hotels: In-room at Hotel Fontenot
In a city that loves a dark hotel room, the Fontenot offers light and bright alternatives with beautiful city views. (Don’t worry, there are blackout curtains for those post-late night mornings.) And no matter what you’re up to in New Orleans, you’ll have plenty of space. Formerly a Staybridge Suites, a building-wide overhaul ditched the ensuite kitchenettes, but kept the square footage. Add to that divided bathrooms, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option for those double up occasions – friends getaways, wedding blocks, etc. – among New Orleans hotels.
Luxe touches like soft, microfiber robes, high end Malin+Goetz toiletries and tech-savvy service (you text the front desk and valet, for example) make the Hotel Fontenot special enough for a staycation splurge. And, while “friendly service” may feel cliche, we were blown away by the welcome we – and other guests – received from staff. From Retlif personally keeping bar and dinner service running flawlessly to the front desk staffer who greeted a hearing impaired family in fluent ASL, the team clearly puts guests first.
If you must leave the hotel, get to know New Orleans with one of these tours. (Note: We earn a small commission if you book through our page 🙂
