At ease: The Higgins Hotel, New Orleans pays tribute to a bygone, wartime era
The Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Curio Collection by Hilton
review by Paul Oswell
This hotel is a real one-off. There aren't many 'museum hotels' in the world, and this is one of them. It's a complementary property to the neighboring National World War II Museum, and it commits to the era with all the modern comforts you'd expect.
The Higgins is hard to suss out at first. The building exterior has a stark, almost modern Gothic look, which gives way to an Art Deco and retro aesthetic inside. The lobby is huge, with a floor-to-ceiling mural looming over the reception area. Period chandeliers and myriad tastefully arranged artifacts complete the look. Even if you're not fully transported back in time, you're very aware of the serious respect being paid. The hotel is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. In stride with the museum next door, designer Kay Lang conjured up a worthy tribute to wartime history and the generations that experienced it.
My King Room had a modern, standard-issue, 1940s-inspired look, all clean lines and military-grade tidiness, with royal blues and golds keeping up a pleasing, formal palate. Also featured: wartime-inspired artwork, including some delightfully kitschy posters in the bathroom, panoramic city views, a walk-in shower, and overall excellent toiletries and amenities. If you’re on the executive floor or are a high-enough member of Hilton Honors, you can take advantage of the lounge, which has a piano that once belonged to General Patton.
There are a few dining and drinking options, each with their own style. Kilroy’s, the lobby bar, has period-appropriate music playing over the sports games on the TVs. The space is awash with wartime knick-knacks, including replica infantry helmets as lampshades. Next door is Cafe Normandie, a rustic French menu that includes some local Creole and Cajun classics. After-dinner digestifs are best taken at Rosie’s on the Roof, a bar that celebrates the women of the homefront—and offers great views of the CBD to boot. There’s also Provisions, a general store-come-cafe that serves hot drinks, pastries and casual snacks.
The service is up to scratch; in fact, the staff is boot-camp efficient. When I visited, there was a huge museum event in town and the high occupancy numbers and large event didn’t throw them one bit. As for your fellow guests, expect an older crowd, many of whom who are here to pay their respects and relive memories of a bygone era. The hotel fits perfectly well into the main complex of the WWII Museum. Visiting couldn’t be easier, especially with coordination between the properties.
In short: Come for the nostalgic style, and to stay in one of the world's only museum hotels.
Higgins Hotel website
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