Location Spotlight: Ace Hotel New Orleans

April 8, 2016

Jyl Benson,

For years, Ace Hotels have popped up all over the United States from New York and Pittsburg; to Portland and Seattle; and Palm Springs and Los Angeles. Last month, the company opened its latest incarnation in the Big Easy. Since then, Instagram photos of the cool kids sipping cocktails at the rooftop bar or taking in a Brian Whelan show at the hotel’s live music venue are becoming familiar. It’s no wonder, with thousands of square feet of event, music and dining space to explore, the Ace Hotel is suddenly the hottest hang in town.

The Josephine Estelle restaurant features Memphis expats and James Beard Award-nominated chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman bringing their spin on Italian inspired southern cuisine. If the delicious food, which delivers 24/7 through room service, isn’t enough, the entire space is filled with art from the New Orleans Opera House paired with original columns installed in 1902.

The intimate Three Keys music venue with its black and white tiled floors and wood walls gives music lovers a hip, indie music studio vibe that will have guests coming back every night for its live jazz, pop-up shops and more. The area includes a hand painted mezzanine area and the ability to open up to the bar area for additional event and venue space.

The Barnett grand hall area offers the most for couples looking to add a hotel vibe with eclectic, funky accents. The Barnett event space area includes the Barnett Hall, which sits at 4,000 square feet of space, the Barnett Green Room at 960 square feet, the Barnett Music Room also at 960 square feet and the Barnett Dining Room at 675 square feet.

Though small, the Barnett Dining Room has a dramatic, gothic vibe. Available for smaller sit down dinners, the chandelier over the table is dripping with wax — custom created for the space by Michael Sonmiat. Hand painted burlap walls leave you wanting the Phantom of the Opera to sing you into dessert. Right outside the Barnett Dining Room is a courtyard area ideal for a small, intimate wedding ceremony or a light cocktail hour before moving the party into one of the larger hall areas.

The options the Ace Hotel has for wedding and event space are unlimited. A couple’s entire wedding, from the bridal shower to the rehearsal dinner and the engagement party to the ceremony, can be flawlessly executed under the backdrop of the hotel, which has 234 rooms.

Local musicians and artists from around New Orleans breathe life into the space. Most of the artwork is from local artists and the hotel has partnered with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on outreach and various music collaborations.

For the hotel rooms themselves, more than 30 artists from around New Orleans and the South created original artwork on armoires featured in each of the bedrooms. Calendars, found in each room and available for purchase, are New Orleans themed with local holidays and festivities.

The first week of April, Stumptown Coffee opened its doors in the Ace Hotel providing guests and visitors alike a chance to hang out, meet with friends and drink the Portland based coffee.

Just in time for warmer weather, Alto – the Ace Hotels’ rooftop garden — is open and ready for bridal parties and friends to relax poolside with a panoramic view of the city. Small plate options are available in the spaces own private kitchen area for lunch and dinner. The space is handicap accessible and features seasonal cocktails, frozen drinks, on-tap specials, canned craft beers or refreshing wine options.

In the coming months, the rooftop area will be open to the public, as well as the oyster bar and restaurant that is in production.

Ace Hotel New Orleans, 600 Carondelet Street, www.acehotel.com/neworleans.