Virgin Hotels’ newest house of slumber, Virgin Hotels New Orleans, embraces the heart and soul of the city’s fascinating Warehouse District.
Located in the city’s newest arts precinct, the new hotel delivers thoughtful yet playful references to New Orleans’ rich heritage. New Orleans design firm Logan Killen Interiors was tapped to curate the hotel interiors in accordance with Virgin Hotels’ localized approach to design. The firm’s experience in residential and boutique commercial projects made them the perfect choice to create a welcoming, comfortable environments, with local touches, historical details, and a nod to New Orleans Art Deco history interspersed throughout.
Ranging from 294 to 1,097-square feet in size, the hotel has 238 Chambers, Grand Chamber Suites, a Penthouse Suite, and Richard’s Penthouse Flat (named for Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson), a 1,097 square foot stunner with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the eclectic downtown New Orleans.
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Local art, historical detailing, and Art Deco-inspired elements woven throughout evoke a sense of old-world meets modern luxury. The Chambers feature Virgin Hotels’ signature layout with two distinct spaces. The Dressing Room includes a full vanity, a makeup desk with a well-lit mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench completed with Red Flower toiletries, and a closet for two.
The Lounge features the brand’s patented ergonomically designed lounge bed, complete with a bullion fringe trim, a red SMEG mini-fridge stocked with street-priced comforts, a High-Definition television, yoga mat, and a cafe worktable with rattan base and tempered glass placed in front of a cozy built-in window seating offering city views.
Designed to make the best use of space and promote privacy for guests, each chamber is separated by a pair of paneled doors, a nod to French doors as commonly seen in New Orleans design and offering a more residential look and feel.
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Ample outlets for smartphones, laptops, or other electronic devices are found in various areas of the Chambers. All feature custom lighting on sensors that automatically illuminate when guests move. In addition, the Chambers have integrated tech capabilities, including controlling lighting, thermostats, TVs, and ordering room services directly via the mobile app, LUCY, while amenities for pets will be available soon.
Executive Chef Alex Harrell, who has become a star fixture on New Orleans’ culinary scene since first arriving more than twenty years ago, brings his modernist approach to classic Southern cuisine to Virgin Hotels New Orleans’ food and beverage venues. Commons Club, the social epicenter of the hotel, located on the ground floor, is designed to feel like a members-only social club but open to all.
Commons Club consists of three areas – The Bar – the true heartbeat of the hotel, The Kitchen, featuring an indoor porch for dining, and The Shag Room, an intimate private space with a playful vibe suitable for small groups. The restaurant, bar, and lounge experiences beckon with locally influenced food and drink showcasing contemporary Southern cuisine with Mediterranean influences. In addition, a full slate of curated music and entertainment experiences will launch an ongoing and robust entertainment schedule consisting of local to national musical acts and performances, game day programming, themed brunches, and more.
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Harrell also oversees The Pool Club, a tropical and lush intimate space, and Dreamboat, a cocktail lounge situated on the 13th floor featuring sophisticated design elements, including a double-sided fireplace evoking a moody and comfortable experience. The rooftop pool and lounge will offer a haven overlooking the New Orleans skyline where guests and locals can dine, drink, dance or lounge.
In addition, Virgin Hotels New Orleans is home to Funny Library Coffee Shop located on the hotel’s first level. The coffee shop is a communal workspace with an assortment of games and whimsical and funny books curated from local book shops. The comfortable space features dark wood and feels like a classic library while mixing eclectic furnishings and playful elements like mixed patterns and bright colors. In addition, the Funny Library Coffee Shop will pour coffee by La Colombe, which will provide classic signature blends. The hotel also features a light and airy state-of-the-art fitness center on the 3rd floor, open 24 hours a day.
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