Review: Caesars New Orleans Hotel & Casino
Paul Oswell
In case you hadn’t noticed, the old Harrah’s casino is now a Caesars property. November 2024 saw the completion of a huge, $435 million refurbishment, including the construction of a brand new hotel tower right in the casino building. This brings the number of rooms and suites across the two towers to 450, and the city also gets a new Nobu Restaurant (read our review here) and an exclusive, ‘hotel within a hotel’ Nobu Hotel, spanning two floors of the new tower.
if you've been to Las Vegas, you're likely already familiar with the Caesars’ brand. I had stayed at the old Harrah’s a couple of times, and cursed my “strategy” at the casino's roulette tables occasionally. The main building is…still a casino, with all the flashing lights and noise that that entails, but you can see the money that’s been spent on the spruce-up. Harrah’s was looking a little worn towards the end, and since the upgrade, it just feels generally more upmarket. There are also some more conspicuous additions, the Nobu Restaurant being one, and a huge, imperial statue of the eponymous emperor another. On the casino floor, there’s also a new bar, Octavia, which shines underneath a huge, gleaming chandelier, a striking fibre optic sculpture that really elevates the space.
I checked in soon after opening, when it still had that new hotel smell. The operation was impressively up and running, though, the front desk staff were relaxed and friendly, as if they’d worked there for years (and maybe they had - I ran into several Harrah’s veterans). The lobby is an escalator ride up, and its balcony overlooks the casino floor giving you a birds-eye view of the action.
The Casino Tower has its own bijoux but chic bar, as well as a general store and coffee shop, which saves having to wander into the Quarter every time you want something. Off to the side of their reception, the Nobu Hotel has its own, discrete little check in desk. If you’ve been to Caesars Palace in Vegas, you’ll recognise the golden wreaths and whatnot of the branding.
The newly-built rooms are a world away from the old Harrah’s product. Bright, airy and sleek, the light woods and neutral tones deliver a contemporary, upscale aesthetic. Rugs and armchairs in deep blue accents that really pop. Subtle motifs adorn the frieze above the bed, and together with the marble walk-in shower and fashionable lamps, Caesars really set out what a modern casino hotel room can look like.
The entry-level guest rooms come in at 400 sq ft, a good size for the price, and with some good options for premium rooms and suites. Get high enough and there are handsome views out over the river, or some rooms have a dramatic viewing angle straight up Canal Street - rooms that are going to be clutch come Carnival season.
If you’re a local and you haven’t been since the Harrah’s Days, I recommend at least just walking through and taking a look, if not booking in for a self-contained stay that’s a good option for home-town tourism.
Caesars New Orleans Hotel & Casino website
Paul Oswell
In case you hadn’t noticed, the old Harrah’s casino is now a Caesars property. November 2024 saw the completion of a huge, $435 million refurbishment, including the construction of a brand new hotel tower right in the casino building. This brings the number of rooms and suites across the two towers to 450, and the city also gets a new Nobu Restaurant (read our review here) and an exclusive, ‘hotel within a hotel’ Nobu Hotel, spanning two floors of the new tower.
if you've been to Las Vegas, you're likely already familiar with the Caesars’ brand. I had stayed at the old Harrah’s a couple of times, and cursed my “strategy” at the casino's roulette tables occasionally. The main building is…still a casino, with all the flashing lights and noise that that entails, but you can see the money that’s been spent on the spruce-up. Harrah’s was looking a little worn towards the end, and since the upgrade, it just feels generally more upmarket. There are also some more conspicuous additions, the Nobu Restaurant being one, and a huge, imperial statue of the eponymous emperor another. On the casino floor, there’s also a new bar, Octavia, which shines underneath a huge, gleaming chandelier, a striking fibre optic sculpture that really elevates the space.
I checked in soon after opening, when it still had that new hotel smell. The operation was impressively up and running, though, the front desk staff were relaxed and friendly, as if they’d worked there for years (and maybe they had - I ran into several Harrah’s veterans). The lobby is an escalator ride up, and its balcony overlooks the casino floor giving you a birds-eye view of the action.
The Casino Tower has its own bijoux but chic bar, as well as a general store and coffee shop, which saves having to wander into the Quarter every time you want something. Off to the side of their reception, the Nobu Hotel has its own, discrete little check in desk. If you’ve been to Caesars Palace in Vegas, you’ll recognise the golden wreaths and whatnot of the branding.
The newly-built rooms are a world away from the old Harrah’s product. Bright, airy and sleek, the light woods and neutral tones deliver a contemporary, upscale aesthetic. Rugs and armchairs in deep blue accents that really pop. Subtle motifs adorn the frieze above the bed, and together with the marble walk-in shower and fashionable lamps, Caesars really set out what a modern casino hotel room can look like.
The entry-level guest rooms come in at 400 sq ft, a good size for the price, and with some good options for premium rooms and suites. Get high enough and there are handsome views out over the river, or some rooms have a dramatic viewing angle straight up Canal Street - rooms that are going to be clutch come Carnival season.
If you’re a local and you haven’t been since the Harrah’s Days, I recommend at least just walking through and taking a look, if not booking in for a self-contained stay that’s a good option for home-town tourism.
Caesars New Orleans Hotel & Casino website