What it’s like staying at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

The Big Easy might conjure up images of sipping Hurricane cocktails on Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras debauchery and delicious food. But New Orleans is also home to a luxury hotel scene that's rapidly expanding with the recent arrival of brands like Four Seasons and the soon-to-open Nobu Hotel.

I was curious to see how some of Crescent City's more established luxury hotels are faring with the new competition, so I decided to check into The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans this summer during a trip with my mom.

After two nights at this 24-year-old property, I could see how the hotel is working to "laissez les bons temps rouler" (a French phase meaning "let the good times roll," which doubles as the city's mantra) while also striving to stay current ahead of its quarter-century birthday next year.

Here's what it's like to check into The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.

Related: The first-timer's guide to New Orleans: Everything you need to eat, see and do

What is The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans?

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans commands a presence with its full-block beaux arts facade along bustling Canal Street. The hotel, formerly the Maison Blanche department store, evolved over much of the 20th century as a hub for retail — it even housed the city's first radio station — and offices before its ultraluxury hotel transformation.

The hotel is mere steps away from Bourbon Street but is removed enough to give guests a respite from the late-night revelry happening just around the corner. Choose your own adventure and enjoy the pampering, we say.

How to book The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

My stay was complimentary, but cash rates for The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans during my time in the city started at $300 per night (it was the late August slow season — very humid). Marriott Bonvoy members will want to book directly through Marriott to earn elite-qualifying nights and enjoy all the perks associated with their loyalty tier.

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Alternatively, those with The Platinum Card® from American Express can book via the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts platform, which gives guests elitelike benefits like noon check-in, availability-based upgrades, daily breakfast, guaranteed late checkout and a $100 food-and-beverage credit to use on-site.

When booking The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Platinum Elite status; and 25 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The location

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is on the southwestern edge of the French Quarter and a block from Bourbon Street. If you're flying into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), it's about a 20-minute drive from the airport to the hotel, depending on traffic.

While the French Quarter is literally at the hotel's front door, guests can also channel their inner Tennessee Williams and hop aboard a New Orleans Regional Transit Authority streetcar, which run along Canal Street. The St. Charles Streetcar, the oldest line, starts a block south at the intersection of Canal and Carondelet Streets and can whisk you away into the city's lush Garden District (which is as popular with architecture buffs as it is with savvy shoppers on the hunt for boutiques).

The rooms

My mother and I were upgraded to a Studio Suite, a kind gesture that gave us a little more elbow room to get ready for dinner each evening. The Studio Suite was a little more dated than club-level rooms and some of the hotel's more opulent suites (more on that soon), but it was a well-maintained space with two queen-size beds, a spacious living area, views of the city and plenty of room to get ready.

The suite's blue and gray hues made it feel even more spacious, and a partition between the sleeping area and living room allowed me to take a work Zoom meeting while my mom read her book without getting in each other's way.

There was a separate vanity area where someone could put on their finishing touches of makeup or inspect their outfit in the mirror by the closet while someone else could get ready in the spacious bathroom. The studio suite bathroom had a double vanity, a soaking tub and a walk-in shower. Guests will find Diptyque bath products in larger dispensers meant to stay in the room, but you could also take one home for $70 per bottle.

The entry to the suite was also slightly removed from the hallway in a small vestibule shared by the suite next door. This was a nice detail that also added a little more soundproofing to the room at night. Housekeeping came by twice daily, and turndown service is included in the cost of a stay. Bottles of water and robes were set out for us each night.

I also very much appreciated the hotel's warm welcome, which included a chocolate replica of the property, take-home dog treats and a printed photo of my dog, Pimm, so we wouldn't forget the four-legged member of my family who wasn't along for the trip. (My husband, Parker, very much wanted to know why there weren't any printouts of him.)

The hotel also recently renovated its club-level guest rooms and higher-end suites. Guests who stay in these rooms can frequent The Ritz-Carlton Club throughout the day for light bites and cocktails. One thing to keep in mind is that these rooms are the nicest accommodations at the property but require a circuitous route to access. Guests must take a separate elevator from the lobby on the third floor to their room or suite, no matter where they are staying.

Club-level guests, on the other hand, need to head to the fourth floor, enter The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge and then take a second elevator from a removed lounge area in the club. The layout gives club-level rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans a distinct hotel-within-a-hotel vibe.

Guests staying in these rooms can expect an elevated design scheme with canopied beds, freestanding soaking tubs and crystal chandeliers. The floral wallpaper, mix of hardwood floors and mosaic tiling give the club-level rooms a modern luxury getaway ambience — and one can't help but feel that this is the Ritz-Carlton's response to the Four Seasons, which opened down the street in 2021.

Those looking for even more of a splurge (perhaps the professional athlete or A-list celebrity in your life?) can check out the Residence Suite or Ritz-Carlton Suite, both of which offer two bedrooms as well as extras like private terraces, fireplaces and plenty of space to entertain and luxuriate.

The dining and drinking options

Restaurant and bar options at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans include M Bistro (located off the lobby) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Directly in front of the M Bistro, visitors can find The Davenport Lounge, a cocktail lounge named after the hotel's resident musician Jeremy Davenport. Since we visited during a slow time of year, M Bistro was closed for dinner during my stay, but we were still able to enjoy the M Bistro menu in the elegant Davenport Lounge.

Highlights from the M Bistro menu included the smoked duck breast ($41) served over a farro ratatouille as well as the bone-in chicken with mushrooms and a marsala sauce ($37). Since it was a mother-son trip, we indulged in a slice of carrot cake ($15) and an espresso martini ($19) to round out the meal. Service was friendly and attentive, and it was a great spot to enjoy catching up with my mother, thanks to its relatively quiet atmosphere. I imagine things get much more lively around Mardi Gras.

But our personal favorite was The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, the secluded fourth-floor retreat that felt like wandering into a stately Garden District pied-a-terre with its bright marble kitchen area, wood-paneled library and crystal chandelier-adorned dining area.

While it would be easy to get a little intimidated by the elegant decor, the Club Lounge staff were among our highlights of the whole stay — as evidenced by my mother asking for everyone's Facebook information so she could friend them as we made our goodbye rounds before checking out.

Team members in the Club Lounge were extraordinarily affable and clearly proud of where they worked, pointing out meal-specific specials like a grits bar at breakfast and etouffee sandwiches for light supper nibbles. Guests could order wine, beer and cocktails, and everything is included in the more expensive nightly rate associated with Club Level guest rooms and suites (we maintained Club Level access despite getting upgraded to the studio suite).

My mom even asked for the recipe for a Mediterranean cracker served in the Club Lounge, and the chef handwrote it out for her. Now, that is what you call above-and-beyond service, my friends!

Wellness amenities

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans has a robust health and wellness offering in a tucked-away corner of the sprawling building. The fitness center is comprised of a series of rooms with a wide variety of equipment, such as TRX bands, rowing machines, treadmills and other cardio equipment, strength training machines and free weights. There is also a pool and a hot tub for those who would like a leisurely dip in the water.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans is similarly spread out, with separate men's and women's relaxation areas and changing rooms that also feature saunas, steam rooms and showers.

I enjoyed an 80-minute, New Orleans-inspired "Voodoo Ritual" (basically an enhanced full-body massage with voodoo drumbeats piped in from the sound system and more flickering candles than you'd find during a "normal massage") as part of my stay — this treatment costs $290. But don't let the drums deter you: The massage was very relaxing and added a fun, local flourish to the process of kneading out one's knots. However, it was also just as nice to enjoy a glass of Champagne and read my book in the men's relaxation room for a few minutes after the "ritual."

The spa facility also features a salon, boutique and a cafe that serves healthy meal options (though it didn't appear open during my stay).

Reasons The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans might not be for you

While I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, some travelers to New Orleans might be interested in a different kind of Big Easy experience. Here's who might be better off looking elsewhere:

• Offseason rates weren't bad for The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans — and I found some dates where they dipped even lower. But it is among the most luxurious hotels in the city, so better bargains can be had elsewhere.
• Those looking for a more intimate stay in the heart of the action will want to search for boutique hotels sited more deeply in the French Quarter.
• This is a classy establishment, especially if you're staying in a club-level room. It will probably not be the best choice if you're bringing a rowdy bachelor or bachelorette party to town and want to spend most of your time on Bourbon Street.

Accessibility

This Ritz-Carlton hotel has numerous accessible features and several accessible guest rooms. There is valet parking for vehicles outfitted for drivers who use wheelchairs. The property has wheelchair-friendly elevators, which you have to use to access the lobby. From there, travelers have to utilize a different set of elevators that give them access to guest rooms and suites.

Small ramps and wheelchair-friendly corridors provide accessible routes from the front door to the spa, fitness center and meeting spaces on the ground level. These routes also lead to the lobby, the hotel's bars and restaurants and the guest rooms and suites.

The Residence Suite and the Executive Suite, as well as certain club-level, city view and deluxe guest rooms, are accessible.

Within accessible rooms and suites, guests will find adjustable hand-held shower wands, bathtub seats and guard rails, as well as accessible vanities — guests can also request for bed heights to be lowered. Accessible rooms also have lowered deadbolts, electrical outlets and lowered night guards and viewports on guest room doors. These rooms can also feature roll-in showers and toilets at wheelchair height. Hearing-accessible rooms and kits are available upon request.

Checking out

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans wowed from check-in to checkout with its friendly, fun-loving team. Everyone seemed to be in great spirits, which put my mom and me in great spirits, too, for the duration of our stay.

I might seem like a snooty hotel reviewer by pointing out minor things like dated curtains, but I knew the hotel team was knocking it out of the park when I overheard my mom mutter to herself one night, "Well, it doesn't get much better than this."

My suggestion? Splurge on club-level access to enjoy The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans to its highest potential.

Related reading:

• Marriott Bonvoy: Complete guide to the hotel loyalty program
  
• Best Marriott credit cards
• Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it
  
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
  
• Best hotel credit cards