Fairmont Returns to New Orleans With a Landmark Hotel Near the French Quarter

One of America's most storied hotel names has come home to one of its most storied cities. Fairmont New Orleans officially opened on 2 November, marking the brand's return to the Crescent City after two decades and, rather neatly, its 100th hotel worldwide.

The 250-room hotel occupies 17 stories of the former Bank of New Orleans building at 1010 Common Street, a 31-story landmark designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1970. The French Quarter, the Caesars Superdome and the Convention Center are all around a 15-minute walk away.

A 1970s love letter

Rather than borrowing from the French Quarter's colonial look, the hotel celebrates the glamour and optimism of the 1970s. Original sidewalks, the entry canopy, lobby floors, decorative bronze panelling and a local cypress ceiling have been lovingly restored, with interiors by the Rockwell Group.

The brand's history here runs deep. Fairmont operated what is now The Roosevelt New Orleans for 40 years until Hurricane Katrina forced its closure in 2005, making this return feel like something of a reunion.

Dinner with Emeril

Dining has been developed with celebrated chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group. Delmonico Steakhouse, making its New Orleans debut and its first outing beyond Las Vegas, serves dinner, while The Café by Emeril offers a more relaxed counterpoint. Two bars and a rooftop restaurant follow in December.

Also arriving in December are the Fairmont Gold floors and a 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness centre. The rooftop pool and lounge, billed as the highest in the city, look out towards the Mississippi River, and there is more than 19,000 square feet of event space for weddings and celebrations.

Rooms with a view

Rooms and suites pair floor-to-ceiling windows with custom artwork nodding to the city's history, and nightly rates start at around $459, according to New Orleans CityBusiness.

For a city that has always known how to welcome guests in style, a grand old name checking back in feels exactly right.