Virgin cocktail: the aesthetic mix in the Funny Library
Virgin Hotel New Orleans
I met Sir Richard Branson once. One of my luckier gigs, reviewing the inaugural Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Kingston, Jamaica, along with a press pack of about 20 journalists. We stayed in town for a few nights, and one afternoon, we were bussed to Goldeneye, the oceanfront mansion where Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels. SRB had just almost done himself some damage while abseiling down the side of a building in Las Vegas, so we laughed about how good (or otherwise) a spy he might have been.
Even then, back in 2007, Sir Richard was excited about space travel, and though Virgin Galactic’s space adventures tend to grab the headlines, his company have steadily been building properties here on Earth. The New Orleans outpost of Virgin Hotels opened in 2021, and is one of five in the U.S.. It’s an addition to the CBD’s steadily-increasing portfolio of boutique-style hotels, with a design-forward aesthetic that sits somewhere between Old World and contemporary via Art Deco and Southern residential. Let’s call it ‘esoteric’. It’s less chaotic than it sounds.
I like hotels that feel accessible and immediately welcoming, and the ‘Funny Library’ living-room-style space just past the front desk, is exactly that. There’s a cute coffee stand that has a tasty breakfast menu and plentiful tables to stretch out and work on. It’s framed by strikingly colorful local art, books of course, and the centerpiece: one of Alex Podesta’s instantly recognizable bunny men, hunched over a chessboard, mulling his next move. The instagram content practically creates itself.
Though the interior design has a playful, even mischievous feel to it, there are intelligent choices that even the entry-level Chamber King rooms enjoy. Of course, the ‘Virgin red’ accents pop as soon as you enter, from the fabric-lined bed frames to the SMEG refrigerators and artwork. Hardwood floors and a love-seat-laden window nook set the elegance levels high, but the room is reassuringly tech-friendly, too.
There are at least a couple of outstanding features, in my humble opinion. The no-nonsense, fairly priced minibar, is a rare feature in this day and age. I don’t want to have to check my bank balance before cracking open a beer, and I want to eat snacks in bed without even thinking about it. There’s also a sliding pocket door that’s also a lovely touch. It gives you added privacy, separating the bedroom from the bathroom, and if you’re, say, a solo traveler ordering room service, you can keep the door closed during the delivery and not change out of your (great quality) bathrobe. It’s a small thing, but it sets the room apart.
Showbiz-style lights surround the in-room sink and there’s a dressing table with a long mirror for gussying up. The shower has its own small wetroom and the toilet has its own space - again, considerate choices that really make a difference.
Hotels in New Orleans know there’s strong competition for entertainment right outside their doors, and the Virgin Hotel makes an impressively valiant effort to distract you from the fact. For starters, there’s a rooftop pool (The Pool Club) that was relatively tranquil and chill while I was there. Add a bar and classy, conservatory-style lounging areas and you’ve got a spot where you could stay all day quite happily.
Downstairs, the bar and restaurant of the Commons Club are equally easy to spend time in. Some hotel dining options are a swing and a miss, but James Beard-nudged Chef Alex Harrell is doing fine work in a sophisticated space.
There’s an assuredly grown-up feel to sitting around the beautiful bar, and I was two cocktails deep before I knew it. Luckily, dinner is just a few steps away, with tables grouped into intimate, cozy spaces. Two of my favorite ingredients combined to make the clams and chorizo a memorable starter, and the chilled pea soup was a winner in the late summer heat. A rabbit leg on a fermented greens spatzle stood out in the entrees, and my companion’s hangar steak with a tomato and goat cheese tart also hit the spot.
The hotel feels youthful but not immature, colorful but not gimmicky, elegant but egalitarian. The prices, even beyond the minibar, offer good value and I loved both a rooftop beer in the sun in my swimming trunks and a besuited evening spiced mule. In short, there’s enough variety in the spaces and experiences to keep you around, and they’re not fleecing you for the privilege.
I was lucky enough to also experience one of the Penthouse suites - Sir Richard’s Flat - but that needs its own review. For now, explore this Virgin territory - it’s a fun, considerately-designed addition to the Warehouse District’s growing portfolio of hotels.
Paul Oswell
Virgin Hotel New Orleans website
I met Sir Richard Branson once. One of my luckier gigs, reviewing the inaugural Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Kingston, Jamaica, along with a press pack of about 20 journalists. We stayed in town for a few nights, and one afternoon, we were bussed to Goldeneye, the oceanfront mansion where Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels. SRB had just almost done himself some damage while abseiling down the side of a building in Las Vegas, so we laughed about how good (or otherwise) a spy he might have been.
Even then, back in 2007, Sir Richard was excited about space travel, and though Virgin Galactic’s space adventures tend to grab the headlines, his company have steadily been building properties here on Earth. The New Orleans outpost of Virgin Hotels opened in 2021, and is one of five in the U.S.. It’s an addition to the CBD’s steadily-increasing portfolio of boutique-style hotels, with a design-forward aesthetic that sits somewhere between Old World and contemporary via Art Deco and Southern residential. Let’s call it ‘esoteric’. It’s less chaotic than it sounds.
I like hotels that feel accessible and immediately welcoming, and the ‘Funny Library’ living-room-style space just past the front desk, is exactly that. There’s a cute coffee stand that has a tasty breakfast menu and plentiful tables to stretch out and work on. It’s framed by strikingly colorful local art, books of course, and the centerpiece: one of Alex Podesta’s instantly recognizable bunny men, hunched over a chessboard, mulling his next move. The instagram content practically creates itself.
Though the interior design has a playful, even mischievous feel to it, there are intelligent choices that even the entry-level Chamber King rooms enjoy. Of course, the ‘Virgin red’ accents pop as soon as you enter, from the fabric-lined bed frames to the SMEG refrigerators and artwork. Hardwood floors and a love-seat-laden window nook set the elegance levels high, but the room is reassuringly tech-friendly, too.
There are at least a couple of outstanding features, in my humble opinion. The no-nonsense, fairly priced minibar, is a rare feature in this day and age. I don’t want to have to check my bank balance before cracking open a beer, and I want to eat snacks in bed without even thinking about it. There’s also a sliding pocket door that’s also a lovely touch. It gives you added privacy, separating the bedroom from the bathroom, and if you’re, say, a solo traveler ordering room service, you can keep the door closed during the delivery and not change out of your (great quality) bathrobe. It’s a small thing, but it sets the room apart.
Showbiz-style lights surround the in-room sink and there’s a dressing table with a long mirror for gussying up. The shower has its own small wetroom and the toilet has its own space - again, considerate choices that really make a difference.
Hotels in New Orleans know there’s strong competition for entertainment right outside their doors, and the Virgin Hotel makes an impressively valiant effort to distract you from the fact. For starters, there’s a rooftop pool (The Pool Club) that was relatively tranquil and chill while I was there. Add a bar and classy, conservatory-style lounging areas and you’ve got a spot where you could stay all day quite happily.
Downstairs, the bar and restaurant of the Commons Club are equally easy to spend time in. Some hotel dining options are a swing and a miss, but James Beard-nudged Chef Alex Harrell is doing fine work in a sophisticated space.
There’s an assuredly grown-up feel to sitting around the beautiful bar, and I was two cocktails deep before I knew it. Luckily, dinner is just a few steps away, with tables grouped into intimate, cozy spaces. Two of my favorite ingredients combined to make the clams and chorizo a memorable starter, and the chilled pea soup was a winner in the late summer heat. A rabbit leg on a fermented greens spatzle stood out in the entrees, and my companion’s hangar steak with a tomato and goat cheese tart also hit the spot.
The hotel feels youthful but not immature, colorful but not gimmicky, elegant but egalitarian. The prices, even beyond the minibar, offer good value and I loved both a rooftop beer in the sun in my swimming trunks and a besuited evening spiced mule. In short, there’s enough variety in the spaces and experiences to keep you around, and they’re not fleecing you for the privilege.
I was lucky enough to also experience one of the Penthouse suites - Sir Richard’s Flat - but that needs its own review. For now, explore this Virgin territory - it’s a fun, considerately-designed addition to the Warehouse District’s growing portfolio of hotels.
Paul Oswell
Virgin Hotel New Orleans website
