Last month I found myself in New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival. Not only was I excited to see live jazz and eat beignets, but I was eager to experience the delicious food and seasoned hospitality that New Orleans is known for. For my visit, I wanted to stay somewhere that was close to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street but not directly in the heart of the hustle and bustle. I ended up staying at Caesars New Orleans which is both a hotel and casino (shall I add the only one in NOLA) and in the perfect location.
This trip was hosted. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Pros:
- Spacious, clean, modern and affordable rooms at different price levels
- Excellent location just steps away from the Riverwalk, Bourbon street, the Superdome and the French Quarter
- Hospitable staff and impeccable housekeeping
- Safe; need a room key to access the floor and felt safe walking around the area nearby the hotel both during the day and at night
- Located in close proximity to the airport for easy travel and planning
Cons:
- It can be noisy outside the rooms at nighttime especially on the weekend
- Food on-site can be expensive compared to the surrounding area
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Accommodations
For some context, Caesars New Orleans underwent a multi-million dollar renovation which opened to guests in August of 2024. This renovation added new restaurants and bars, including the picturesque Octavia Bar in the lobby, to the space and a second tower with 340 rooms. Since the opening, the property has been well received by tourists and locals alike and continues to thrive in NOLA just steps away from the Riverwalk and minutes from the French Quarter.
The Caesars New Orleans rooms are modern, chic and have a Greek touch to them with sketches of Julius Caesar on the walls. I didn’t stay in this type of room, however, I was able to tour them. They were very nice, well lit and definitely fit the overall theme of the property. These rooms are best suited for those looking for a middle ground between Harrah’s and Nobu for their visit to New Orleans.
Nobu Hotel
For my visit, I stayed in the Nobu Hotel which is a wing of the overall Caesars New Orleans property that has 54 rooms across two floors. The Nobu Hotel has more elevated and luxurious rooms with neutral tones and Japanese accents. The room itself was very serene and peaceful as it was dimly lit and had floral accents on the wall.
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My room had two beds which were super comfortable and quite a spacious bathroom area too. The rainfall shower felt great after a long day at the French Quarter Festival. The housekeeper came multiple times a day and left the room looking like we just checked in — the service was top notch.
Harrah’s Hotel
Although Harrah’s is technically a separate hotel across the street from Caesars New Orleans, it’s still an option for guests who want to stay under the Caesars’ umbrella who are looking for a more affordable option. I didn’t stay in these rooms, but I did get to tour them. They are more simple and less lavish than Caesars or Nobu but are still clean, spacious and well set up. Most of these rooms have views of the Mississippi river too which is a great view especially for those first time visitors.
Room amenities:
- In-room Wi-Fi
- Coffee/tea maker
- Ironing board
- LCD TV
- In-room safe
- Refrigerator
- Free toiletries
Amenities
There are amenities for hotel guests to use including a fitness center and business center, but let’s talk about the elephant in the room — the casino is the hotel’s biggest and most notable amenity hence the name. There’s something for everyone who wants to gamble from slot machines to poker tables. There’s even outdoor machines so you can sit outside to play and enjoy the warm weather. The casino is on the ground level of the property and adjacent to the dining options. To access the casino floor, every person is required to show their ID before entering.
Dining
There’s a mix of fast casual and table service options at Caesars New Orleans. I tried a bit of both, however, my favorites were the sit down restaurants by far. Don’t get me wrong, the buffalo chicken pizza slice I had from PizzaCake was pretty good and same for the burger from Bobby’s Burgers. Oh, and the gumbo from Nina’s Creole Kitchen was delicious. I didn’t get to try all of the grab and go options but there was a little coffee shop, pho bar and hot dog joint.
In terms of sit down restaurants, some of the options include Nobu, Emril’s Brasserie, The Steakhouse New Orleans. It’s worth noting that Caesars Rewards can be used at the restaurants on property which is a great perk if you play a decent amount.
Nobu New Orleans
I’d describe my meal at Nobu New Orleans as life changing. Although I don’t eat sushi or fish, I ordered the vegetarian options on the menu and they were delicious. I tried what felt like a bit of everything on the menu — my recommendations are the crispy rice, wagyu dumplings and the eggplant spicy miso. Although I didn’t eat the raw fish or sushi, the other people at my table said it was the best they’ve ever had.
The food was just one part of the overall experience but the presentation was next level with some table-side preparation and fire. (Hint: order the baked Alaska for an Instagrammable and unique flambé experience.)
Emeril’s Brasserie
I’ve always wanted to eat at an Emeril restaurant and was grateful to have that opportunity during my visit to New Orleans. This was a more upscale restaurant with a menu filled with French classics with a creole flare. I highly recommend starting with the smoked turkey-andouille gumbo which was just the right amount of spicy. For my entree, I ordered the brasserie burger and a side of macaroni gratin. I kid you not when I say the macaroni gratin is on my list of top 10 bites I’ve had in my life. As a foodie, this macaroni gratin was gooey, cheesy and overall delicious.
Getting There
If you live in the south, then you could drive to New Orleans or take a plane to Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport (MSY.) Caesars is less than a 20-minute drive from the airport and you can either rent a car, take a rideshare service, or a limo like I did. Although it is a quick ride away, you’ll want to account for traffic as from my experience the supposed 20-minute ride turned into 40 minutes with traffic near rush hour. Plan to leave for the airport at least three hours in advance to make sure you’re not late for your flight.
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