I’m not sure about you, but growing up I never quite associated a hotel lobby bar with a glamorous night on the town. For years, I imagined them as places where a weary traveler might duck in for a mediocre drink, likely from a menu with only a few choices in a rather unremarkable setting.
Despite my early skepticism, hotel bars have always held the power to be far more than their modest reputation suggests. They possess a unique potential: the chance to pull out-of-towners from their rooms, turning a simple stay into a chance to connect, explore, and experience a city in unexpected ways. In recent years, I’d argue that hotel owners throughout New Orleans have identified this potential and seized the opportunity. Enter some of the Tulane student favorites, such as Bar Marilou or The Peacock Room. You would likely recognize these spots from your instagram feed, with their splashes of red velvet, cheetah print accents and gilded mirrors that one could easily mistake for a chic parisian speakeasy somewhere in the Marais.
More and more it seems this trend isn’t limited to hotel guests alone, locals and students are discovering the charm of these elevated spaces too. I’ve definitely joined that crowd: there’s nothing I love more than a night out with my girlfriends. In college, there seems to be a palpable transition that happens somewhere between sophomore and junior year. Late nights at F&Ms and excursions to the French Quarter start to sound less and less appealing. On the contrary, the idea of slipping into a cute outfit, hunting down the best happy hour near campus, and sharing a charcuterie board over wine—all while making it to bed before 11—has become my ideal Friday night. I don’t think I am alone in this new preferred lifestyle; I often see plenty of other Tulane students enjoying their half-off wine at Chais de la Chaise or a $8 espresso martini at Cure on Freret.
Somewhere along the way, hotel bars became part of that shift, a little more polished, a little more intentional, but still full of fun. Maybe it’s because they capture that feeling of being on vacation without leaving the city. Or maybe it’s because we’ve traded our vodka sodas at The Boot for something a little more refined. Either way, they’ve become the kind of places where growing up doesn’t mean growing dull. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only Tulane girl who loves a perfectly curated backdrop for cute photos while sipping a cocktail with liquor I can hardly pronounce. So, if you’re looking to trade cheap drinks for good lighting and great cocktails, these are the hotel bars to know.
Image via Pinterest
Paradise Lounge at the Hotel Saint Vincent
Location: 1503 Magazine Street
Veronica’s Pick: Saint Vincent Spritz, Birds of Paradise
You can’t go wrong with a trip to the Saint Vincent, which is tucked away in the eclectic Lower Garden District. Built in 1871 as the Saint Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum, the building’s historic architecture now houses an elegant, atmospheric space where history meets modern hospitality. As you turn the corner from the lobby on your way to the Paradise Lounge, you might catch the red glow from the Chapel Club, the hotel’s members-only lounge. With soaring ceilings and candlelit corners, the space exudes a hauntingly glamorous ambiance. The dinner menu highlights New Orleans flavors and finishes on a sweet note with an impressive sorbet and gelato selection, while the curated cocktails perfectly complement the intimate, exclusive setting.
Image via Hot Tin
Hot Tin at the Pontchartrain Hotel
Location: 2031 St. Charles Ave
Veronica’s Pick: Rita Hayworth, Pimm Possible
Who can pass up a drink with a view? This former luxury apartment building turned hotel boasts a rooftop bar with sweeping city views, a cozy jazz lounge, and the award-winning Jack Rose restaurant. Over the years, The Pontchartrain hotel has welcomed a star-studded roster of guests from Frank Sinatra and Jim Morrison to President Gerald Ford, adding classic Hollywood glamour to its already storied New Orleans charm. Start at the Bayou Bar downstairs for live jazz, where the music drifts through the lobby, the St. Charles streetcar glides by, and guests enjoy bites of duck and andouille gumbo between sets. Then ride the elevator up 14 floors to Hot Tin for a cocktail overlooking a 270-degree view of the city and Mississippi River. It’s worth noting that the rooftop tends to get packed on Friday and Saturday nights, so arrive earlier in the evening if you want to snap photos against the bohemian inspired backdrop.
Image via The Chloe
The Lobby Bar at The Chloe
Location: 4125 St. Charles Ave
Veronica’s Pick: Chloe Dancer #4, Violet Beauregard’s Revenge
While the name might seem unassuming, the Lobby Bar at The Chloe hotel on St. Charles is anything but. For years The Chloe has been a Tulane favorite, where students looking to skip class on a scorching 90-degree day can lounge by the pool with a daiquiri in hand. What sets this boutique hotel apart is its equally inviting daytime and nighttime offerings. The lobby bar is described as a jewel-box space and was designed by Sara Ruffin Costello to feature a mahogany parlour crafted by a local woodworker. If you’re not sunbathing in the afternoon, settle into the orange couch or one of the bar seats and sip their signature cocktail, the Dancer. Don’t leave without trying The Chloe’s signature ice cream sandwich, with brown butter ice cream from the local Creole Creamery sandwiched between two praline cookies, a dessert that has been deemed a “must-try” by reviewers.
The next time you’re planning a girls’ night on the town, consider skipping the sticky floors and mystery well drinks for candlelight, cocktails, and perhaps a view worth dressing up for.
