If you’ve ever traveled to New Orleans, chances are you’ve walked or driven past the Harrah’s New Orleans Casino. Perched on the corner of Poydras Street in the heart of downtown, the sprawling property has been a mainstay in the French Quarter for more than 25 years.
While it’s been a go-to for Big Easy visitors for a quarter century, it’s recently ushered in a new era with big changes to boot. For starters, the rebrand included nixing the original name. Goodbye Harrah’s, hello Caesars New Orleans. The hotel/casino has always been owned by Caesars Entertainment, so embracing the Caesars name was a sensible, cohesive move.
The $435 million transformation doesn’t stop there—updates and upgrades abound. From the addition of a boutique hotel within the hotel to new restaurants led by some of the most prolific chefs on the planet, Caesars New Orleans is ready to welcome and wow guests in more ways than one.
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Admittedly, I’ve visited the Crescent City multiple times, but I’d never stayed at Caesars New Orleans until now. Over the years, I’d stop inside the lobby to cool down after exploring the area or leaving the nearby Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where I often attend the annual Essence Festival of Culture.
A Hotel Within a Hotel
Since I’d never been a guest at the popular hotel, I was excited to finally get the chance. Luckily, I got the opportunity to stay in the new Nobu Hotel, which is in the new Caesars Tower that opened in October 2024 and is located on Canal Street. Needless to say, it’s the crown jewel of the property.
Located on the second floor, the hotel lobby is sleek and modern with subtle Japanese design influences peppered throughout. The relaxing neutral tones complement the lobby’s white marble floors, creating a minimalistic yet sophisticated vibe.
If you’ve ever dined at Nobu, the popular Japanese restaurant franchise, you’re likely already familiar with the upscale aesthetic. The brand’s hotel offerings are no different. While the lobby has a bright and airy ambiance, some of the hallways leading to the guest rooms and suites are a bit on the dark side, evoking masculine energy.
The Rooms
Between the new (Caesars) and original (Harrah’s) hotel towers, there are 800 hotel rooms for guests to stay and play.
Again, I stayed in a standard king guest room within the Nobu Hotel (starting rate $299/per night) in the Caesars Tower. It's the luxury hospitality brand's first hotel in Louisiana and has 54 guest rooms.
I loved how the sunlight came through what would be my “home away from home” for the next three nights.
Upon entering my guest room, I was delighted to find a strikingly gorgeous wooden origami box filled with ornate sweets perfectly placed inside tiny drawers. It was one of the most unique (and delicious) amenities I’ve ever received.
That thoughtful amenity set the tone for what would be an elevated hotel experience.
While I had the pleasure of staying in a standard Nobu Hotel room, some of the suites within the tower had more of a modern, contemporary look and feel. For example, one of the suites had beautiful artwork honoring the hotel’s namesake gracing the walls.
What I loved the most about my room was that it had a nice view of the street below where I could see palm trees swaying in the breeze. Plus, it was quiet. I didn’t have to worry about noisy neighbors because the room was virtually soundproof.
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Restaurants, Bars and Lounges
If there’s one thing New Orleans is known for, it’s the city's Creole cuisine. As a lover of seafood, gumbo, crawfish and red beans & rice, New Orleans is my all-time favorite food destination. So, it’s only right that Caesar’s New Orleans has some of the best restaurants in town.
Guests visiting the hotel and casino have plenty of dining options to keep hunger and thirst at bay.
Emeril’s Brasserie
Who else other than celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse can bring French-inspired Creole cooking to the masses in a tastefully authentic way? That’s why Emeril’s Brasserie was my first dining stop.
I ordered one of the chef's specials: Gulf Fish Court Bouillon with shrimp and lump blue crab set atop a bed of green rice mixed with a spicy red sauce. This dish was hands-down one of the best meals I’d ever eaten in all my years of visiting New Orleans. I ended my dinner with a mouthwatering caramelized vanilla ice cream dessert that perfectly satisfied my sweet tooth.
Other notable menu options include Lobster Pot Pie, Spaghetti Bordelaise and Herb-Crusted Salmon.
In addition to the main dining room, the restaurant also has a quick-service coffee shop and bakery that’s adjacent to the eatery and is open daily from 7 am to 4 pm. However, guests should note that it’s only accessible from the casino floor, unlike the main restaurant.
Nobu Restaurant
It goes without saying that Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is probably one of the best to do sushi. His first and only outpost in Louisiana is no exception.
The menu reflects a variety of fresh fish and seafood in the form of nigiri and sashimi. Signature dishes include Yellowtail Jalapeño, featuring delicately sliced yellowtail sashimi with touches of garlic puree, adorned with jalapeño slices, crowned with cilantro and served with Japanese citrus soy sauce.
I dined at Nobu on my last night at the property. To say that it was an unforgettable dining experience would be an understatement. I had a variety of delicious raw and cooked dishes that delighted my taste buds in every way. The highlight? The Black Cod Miso, which is prepared by marinating the fish in den miso sauce for two to three days to produce the unique sweet-savory flavor.
The Steakhouse
As the name suggests, this restaurant is the go-to for die-hard carnivores. Located inside the casino, it offers locally sourced seafood, steaks and a wide array of wines and craft cocktails, all set to the backdrop of Blue Dog art by local artist George Rodrigue.
I didn’t have the opportunity to dine here, but I did stop by the bar on a Saturday night to pick up a slice of chocolate cake. However, they didn’t have the one I wanted, so I didn’t end up tasting anything from the restaurant.
I noticed that the bar was buzzing and there wasn’t an empty seat in sight. I highly recommend making a reservation for weekends.
Celebrity Chef Food Hall
One of the things I loved the most about Caesars New Orleans was the food hall. I’d never stayed at a hotel that had a food court inside before. While this isn’t a sprawling food court like one you’d find at a shopping mall, it did have several quick-service options to choose from.
Guests craving a tasty burger could head over to Bobby Flay’s Bobby’s Burgers. In the mood for New York-style pizza or a fun dessert? Buddy Valastro, known as the “Cake Boss,” delivers with his PizzaCake outpost.
My personal favorite was Nina’s Creole Cottage by local chef Nina Compton. I had the pleasure of trying the chicken and sausage gumbo, fried catfish sandwich, red beans and rice, as well as a frozen piña colada. Everything was flavorful and filling. While I typically prefer seafood gumbo, this one was still good.
Octavia
If you like being in the center of it all, Octavia is the place to be. The 27-seat bar and 136-seat lounge is in the heart of the Caesars Tower. It effortlessly blends the grandeur of Ancient Rome with the bustling spirit of the Big Easy with thoughtful design and artisanal cocktails.
While the Art Deco decor was eye-catching, what really caught my eye was the stunning $750,000 chandelier glittering from above.
As I sipped on my refreshing mocktail concoction of pineapple and coconut, I marveled at the beauty of the focal point light fixture.
1931 Lounge
Just steps from Nobu Hotel’s front desk, guests will find a hidden gem on the second floor in the Caesars Tower. This modern and welcoming bar is a respite from the busy and noisy casino below. It also overlooks the end of Canal Street and the mesmerizing Mississippi River.
For pre-dinner drinks, I had a delicious daiquiri. It had just the right balance of sweet and sour flavors to make it memorable.
The Casino
If gambling is your jam, you’re in luck. The casino provides an extensive gaming experience with more than 150,000 square feet of upgraded gaming and dining space featuring more than 1,300 slot machines, 120 table games, a 20-table World Series of Poker Room®, three outdoor gaming courtyards and a 5,700-square-foot state-of-the-art Caesars Sportsbook.
Admittedly, I’m not a gambler, but I do enjoy watching folks buzzing about glued to their respective games. It’s fascinating to witness their commitment to winning. During my stay, I didn’t see anyone score a big win, but there were plenty of hopefuls planted in seats praying for a big payout.
Since the hotel is also a casino, of course, it’s an adult-only (ages 21 and older) property. Upon entry, guests are required to provide identification. Their IDs are then sent through a security system so every single person who walks through the Caesars New Orleans doors is documented. Guests dining at Emeril’s Brasserie or Nobu don’t have to go through the checkpoint process. However, those wishing to dine at one of the restaurants within the Celebrity Chef Food Hall would have to pass the casino prior to entry.
Caesars New Orleans Review: My Honest Thoughts
As someone who's visited New Orleans many times, I never thought that staying at a hotel with a casino would be the right choice for me. I prefer quiet, boutique-sized properties to be my respite from the hustle and bustle of the Big Easy. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Caesars New Orleans.
Staying at the Nobu Hotel changed my mind. The hotel-within-a-hotel concept is something that travelers should consider. It’s like the best of both worlds. It’s appealing because it boasts the benefits of a smaller hotel but with the amenities of a larger property.
For example, my room was tucked away from the casino in a quiet part of the tower. I was able to unwind in a peaceful space but still had a variety of restaurants, shops and other amenities at my fingertips.
Again, having so many food and drink options within steps from my room was one of the aspects that I appreciated the most.
I had such a wonderful time exploring the famous French Quarter with the peace of mind of knowing that I was only steps from the comfort of my hotel bed. Being conveniently located in the downtown area enhanced my overall experience. Plus, it’s only a short 20-minute car ride to the airport.
Comfort, convenience and quality are always my top priorities when choosing hotels. What you get in reality is always a gamble. Thankfully, Caesars New Orleans presented no risks, all rewards.
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