Virgin Hotels New Orleans

Virgin Hotels New Orleans opened on 6 September 2021, an $80 million, ground-up 14-storey tower at 550 Baronne Street in the Warehouse District, its exterior designed to echo the neighbourhood's converted-warehouse architecture despite being new construction. The 238-room property had been in development since 2015, delayed roughly eight months by the pandemic.

The place

550 Baronne Street, in the Warehouse District/Central Business District, within walking distance of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the main Arts District gallery strip.

The concept

Under development since 2015 and delayed roughly eight months by the pandemic, Virgin Hotels New Orleans is a genuine ground-up construction rather than a conversion — a 14-storey, $80 million tower whose dark-steel-and-glass and exposed-brick detailing were designed to echo the Warehouse District's own converted-cotton-warehouse architecture, without occupying an actual historic building. It brought Virgin's hospitality brand, and its signature 'Chambers' room terminology, to New Orleans for the first time, with over 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space aimed at the convention-centre crowd next door.

Dining & wellness

Commons Club, Virgin Hotels' signature all-day restaurant, bar and lounge concept, anchors the ground floor; The Pool Club occupies the 13th-floor rooftop with a pool, bar and skyline terrace; and Funny Library Coffee Shop handles daytime coffee and casual food.