Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has offically opened Fairmont New Orleans, marking the much-anticipated return of the brand to the Crescent City after two decades – and marking Fairmont’s 100th hotel globally…
Developed by Kailas Companies and operated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont New Orleans occupies 17 stories of the former Bank of New Orleans building, a 31-story landmark originally designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1970. Its original sidewalks, entry canopy, lobby floors and concrete walls on the first and second floors have been fully restored and refurbished, alongside the second floor’s decorative bronze paneling and local cypress ceiling. Rather than looking primarily to the French Quarter’s colonial architecture, the property draws inspiration from the glamour and optimism of the 1970s, celebrating an often-overlooked chapter in New Orleans’ architectural evolution.
Image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
Omer Acar, CEO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said: “Celebrating Fairmont’s landmark 100th hotel in New Orleans is a moment of perfect alignment. This is a city built on the very poetry of celebration, culture, and hospitality, setting the ultimate stage for such a historic milestone. After two decades away, returning to New Orleans feels like a joyful homecoming. This magnificent property is designed to be a vibrant social epicenter, a sanctuary where the city’s rich heritage meets a sophisticated, contemporary energy. Through meticulous design, spirited gastronomy, and exceptional spaces created for connection, we are not just opening a hotel; we are welcoming the soulful spirit of New Orleans back into the global Fairmont family for our next great chapter.”
Interior design by Rockwell Group explores the contrasts that define New Orleans, imagining a city emerging from a verdant landscape and shaped by generations of cultural influences from around the world. Mid-century references nod to the decadence of the 1970s oil boom era, while layered textures, saturated colour, local flora, and globally influenced patterns bring a contemporary interpretation of New Orleans design, balancing old and new, polished and playful, and vibrant and restful.
Image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
The hotel’s lobby serves as its social anchor and a cultural living room designed to welcome both visitors and New Orleanians throughout the day. Guests arrive beneath a mirror-clad monumental stair that reflects a three-story magnolia flower and Spanish moss-inspired chandelier. Custom brass relief panels from Italy frame the check-in and concierge desks, while the Lobby Bar pairs handmade Italian lava-stone tiles with a floor mosaic composed of six marbles in a distinctly 1970s pattern. The Lobby Bar’s cocktail-focused beverage program and live entertainment encourage guests and locals to linger from day into evening.
“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Fairmont New Orleans and for our city,” said Eric Overstreet, General Manager, Fairmont New Orleans. “From the moment guests enter our lobby to an evening at Delmonico Steakhouse, the hotel was designed to feel distinctly of New Orleans, while offering the service and experience Fairmont is known for. We’re proud to welcome travelers and our local community into these spaces and look forward to seeing Fairmont New Orleans become part of the city’s next chapter.”
Image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
Fairmont New Orleans’ 250 guest rooms and suites are conceived as personal retreats with residential warmth, eclectic finishes, curated furnishings and layered materials designed to feel collected over time. Three-dimensional entry mosaics reference classical European flooring, while large, panelled artworks evoke the rich flora of Louisiana’s bayous. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping city views, while custom artwork and details reference the cultural and natural history of New Orleans. In select king rooms, ‘faux balconies’ with café tables offer a playful nod to the city’s beloved porches and terraces.
Image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
Delmonico Steakhouse marks the celebrated concept’s debut in New Orleans and its first location outside of Las Vegas, bringing Chef Lagasse’s grand American steakhouse to the city that has long inspired his culinary career. Open for dinner, the restaurant pairs timeless steakhouse traditions with his signature bold New Orleans flavours.
Open for breakfast and lunch, The Café by Emeril offers a more relaxed brasserie-style experience, combining French-inspired classics with Creole accents and Southern influences. From chicory-laced coffee to thoughtfully prepared breakfast and lunch favorites, the café flows seamlessly into the lobby, creating an inviting gathering place for hotel guests and locals alike.
“I’m thrilled to bring Delmonico Steakhouse to New Orleans alongside The Café by Emeril, creating two distinct dining experiences that reflect what I love about cooking and bringing people together,” said Chef Emeril Lagasse. “We’re proud to be a part of Fairmont’s return to the city and look forward to welcoming both locals and visitors to experience the bold flavors, genuine hospitality, and unmistakable New Orleans spirit that defines everything we do.”
Image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
Forthcoming dining and drinking venues, set to open in early December also, include the property’s rooftop pool and Bleu Perdu, along with Third Measure cocktail bar. Located 31 floors above New Orleans, the forthcoming rooftop is designed to transition effortlessly from day to night. Bleu Perdu will open directly onto the pool terrace, pairing panoramic city and Mississippi River views with bistro-style dining, sun loungers, cabanas, lush foliage and Spanish-inspired black-and-white tile.
Nearby, Third Measure, an intimate late-night cocktail bar developed in collaboration with Neal Bodenheimer, founder of New Orleans’ acclaimed Cure, will draw inspiration from the city’s lost cocktail traditions and musical heritage. Guests enter through wardrobe-inspired double doors into a richly layered space, where custom fan-shaped marble mosaic flooring inspired by clouds, a white marble bar, pearlescent railings and an immense custom Lasvit chandelier nod to the building’s 1970s origins, all framed by commanding sunset views.
Opening in early December is a 900-square-metre spa and fitness center to further expand the guest experience with three private treatment rooms, a couples’ suite, dry sauna, steam room and dedicated relaxation lounges, including a sauna overlooking the New Orleans skyline.
Image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
Continuing Fairmont’s legacy as the backdrop for milestone moments, Fairmont New Orleans debuts with over 1 800 square metres of meeting and event space, accommodating gatherings ranging from intimate events of 10 to grand celebrations of up to 500 guests. Nine primary venues include two ballrooms, six meeting rooms and an executive boardroom, complemented by three dedicated foyers.
The second floor, originally built as the Bank of New Orleans’ main lobby, has been refurbished to honour its original character and now houses two foyers and two grand ballrooms. The ballrooms preserve the building’s local cypress wood ceiling, while original bronze paneling has been restored and custom chandeliers were designed to feel as though they have always belonged to the space.
Main image credit: Fairmont New Orleans / Matias Vargas
