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Why Hotel Monteleone’s Revolving Carousel Bar Makes Us Sing

Where: 214 Royal St. [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70130

Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar in one of it early incarnations, circa 1970

We’ve never denied our love for revolving restaurants, even in the face of risky business. But our love for revolving restos really extends to all things revolutionary at hotels, including bars (is there a better way to see all the liquor?). And our latest fixation took us to New Orleans where the Hotel Monteleone’s historic Carousel Bar and Lounge is now fresh as ever.

Earlier this year, the 63-year old Carousel Bar completed a huge renovation that basically blew out the dark and drab, and replaced it with fresh colors and updates, including a new pewter bar under a more brightly lit carousel top. It still rotates at a snails pace, but what are you gonna do? When drinking is involved, that seems just about the right speed.

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The W Hotel French Quarter Is Jazzing Itself Up

Where: 316 Chartres St [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70130

There's another jazzy reason to stay in New Orleans' famed French Quarter--the stylin' new rooms W Hotel.

The hotel just announced that rooms on the first floor of the hotel have been completed. The rest of the hotel will continue the $9 million renovations until the end of July.

Rooms have been designed around two important themes in the Crescent City--jazz and "the mystery of the tarot." So what you can expect are a "palate of clean lines and modern blacks and whites mixed with vibrant gold tones and rich primary colors." Also, pillows shaped like bowties!

The hotel is also redoing their hallways, putting new check-in desks in the Living Room/lobby and adding a new W Sweat fitness center. The hotel's modern Creole saloon, SoBou, got some makeover and reconstruction love too and will serve Creole dishes with classic cocktails alongside self-serve wine dispensing machines and a beer garden with beer booths

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Beet Juice Cocktails and Molton Brown Toiletries Make Us Smile

Where: 300 Gravier Street [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70130

We already showed you one of our favorite things from the Windsor Court New Orleans last week. But for those of you (like us) who don't have several grand to spend on a bottle of wine, there are a few more treats in store.

Downstairs, at the hotel's brand new cocktail bar (aptly named...Cocktail Bar), expert mixologist Christine Jeanine Nielsen whips up some pretty nifty tipples. According to her, the most popular is the Firm Handshake (above left, $10), which includes single barrel Bourbon, ginger root tea, maple syrup and bitters. But, crazy beet-loving folks that we are, none got us as excited as a pisco, agave and lemon concoction that's made with fresh beet juice (above right, $9). Sure beets the price of a cocktail in New York!

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Orbiting The Circular Lobby At The Saint New Orleans

Where: 931 Canal Street [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70112

We pricked up our ears at the opening of The Saint Hotel in New Orleans last fall, noting the building's history, as well as the fact that the owner is an American Airlines pilot.

But now that The Saint been picked up by Autograph Collection, we thought it might be worth popping our heads in. After all, for a hotel that's located in downtown New Orleans, just how ethereal can things get?

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For The Sake Of Hotel Art: An Indoor Sculpture Garden In New Orleans

Where: 700 Tchoupitoulas Street [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70130

Lots of hotel lobbies are trying to be hipper, cooler, and more action-packed these days. And while the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel is not necessarily any of those things, we were repeatedly lured out of our room to enjoy the hotel's indoor sculpture garden, an eclectic collection of local art nestled among plenty of plants and trees on the mezzanine level.

Housed under a giant glass ceiling, the entire atrium gets plenty of natural light, and all the rooms look down onto the garden. The open design means some guests can look out at the sculptures from their rooms, but why would you want to limit yourself like that?

With all the light pouring down from above, and all the leafage framing the art, strolling around the "garden" actually feels like being outside.

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What's The Most Expensive Bottle Inside the Windor Court's Wine Cellar?

Where: 300 Gravier Street [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70130

Just off of Canal Street in New Orleans, The Windsor Court is an opulent 23-story property that touts itself as "the only four star/four diamond hotel in New Orleans." And fresh out of a recent $22 million renovation of the rooms, suites, Club Lounge, lobby and pool area, things have gotten even more shiny and plush.

But it's the dining scene here that's really won the hotel recognition over the years. Plenty of in-the-know wine drinkers show up here to sample quality wines sourced from around the world—though first, they have to sort through the hotel's slightly intimidating menu. Or, if you're us, you'll get to physically walk through the wine cellar, having various bottles pointed out to you by the hotel's F&B director.

See some of our favorite finds below!

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Get Your Game Face On at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70113

We love us some Big Blue, but we have to admit: we really wanted to see the New Orleans Saints take on the Pats on Sunday. (And, duh, beat them.) Even without New Orleans in the Super Bowl, we wish we were there to get our Game Face on at the Hyatt Regency New Orlean's Vitascope Hall.

This is one of the best hotel sports bars we've ever seen. It's not a dive full of aggressive sports fans; it's actually quite sleek looking. But more importantly, it is designed with perfect game-watching functionality.

There are big leather bar stools with seat backs lining the bar with front-on views of the flatscreens and there are lots of leather couches in various configurations scattered around the room. The prime spots for football games, though, are these semi-private booths with their own flatscreens...

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Design Thursdays / Hotel Design / New Orleans Hotels / Hotel Lobbies / Hotel Furniture / Hotel Openings / → All Tags

A Sparkling Saint Descends On New Orleans Later This Month

Where: Burgundy and Canal Sts [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70112

In order to accurately represent the neighborhood's unique history, Saint Hotel owner Mark Wyant supposedly spent months scouring the archives at the Library of Congress for photos of the original Audubon Building, which first opened in 1910.

But Wyant wasn't only interested in pressed tin tiles and exposed brick—the hotel's design team also wanted to go for an "ethereal" feel, especially in the ground-floor lobby, which can be accessed from two entrances on Canal Street and Burgundy Street. Once inside, sheer drapes hang delicately from 22-foot high ceilings, and broad white columns punctuate the space like pillars in a church. Add in a gold-plated chandelier, cast in the shape of a giant bell, and you can practically hear the saints singing in jubilation.

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Hyatt Regency NOLA's GM Does Not Want to Gouge You With His Minibars

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70113

We already took you on a tourof the guest rooms at the back-in-business Hyatt Regency New Orleans--and told you all the gourmet tailgating goodness that can be found at the hotel's bars and restaurants.

As for the reason your minibar is empty, we decided to let the Hyatt Regency NOLA's GM explain. We caught up with Michael Smith at the hotel's 24-hour market Lagniappe Exchange, which factors heavily in his plans not to rip off his guests at the minibar.

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Indoor Tailgating at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70113

It's no secret that the eatin' and drinkin' in New Orleans is out of this world. Also, on game days, there is tailgating aplenty around the Superdome—and, now it's reopened, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. But inside? There's even more yumminess to be had.

Our gallery has a little visual sampling of what's on offer, and here are the important deets on where to eat in the hotel:

8 Block Kitchen & Bar: Named for the eight blocks of Upper Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, the Hyatt Regency NOLA's signature restaurant is helmed by executive chef Eric Damidot, who joined the hotel from Caesar's Palace in Vegas. His menu is farm-to-table driven and blends international foodie favorites with traditional New Orleans flavors. Breakfast options include Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict and Beignets. Lunch and dinner specialties include She Crab Soup, Rotisserie Coq au Coin Farm Chicken Gumbo, Garlic and Pepper Crusted Gulf Shrimp and a Muffaletta sandwich.

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Inside the Newly Reopened Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans , LA, United States, 70113

We love a new hotel opening. But what's even more exciting is a hotel reopening—especially when it's one as symbolic as this. On October 19, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans finally threw open its doors again, after a four-year top-to-toe refurbishment.

The hotel was badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina—and a highly visible sign of the storm, situated right behind the Superdome. Its return has locals beaming with pride and it couldn't come at a better time, with tourists back in force in Nola, and a slew of big events on the way, including the BCS National Championship in 2012 and the Super Bowl in 2013.

We checked in over the weekend, when the hotel was abuzz with Saints fans who filled up a large percentage of the 1,193 guest rooms. Here's our first peek at the hotel and an Executive Suite room. We'll have more on the hotel and its public spaces later this week...

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Hyatt New Orleans Still Set to Reopen October 19 at $239 a Night

Where: 601 Loyola Avenue [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70113

We've been waiting for the Hyatt Regency New Orleans to reopen for quite some time and the hotel, unlike many other hotels, is not keeping us waiting.

The hotel, which was damaged heavily by Hurricane Katrina (see these photos on MSNBC) is still going ahead with an October 19 reopening date to show off its $275 million redesign and restoration. Room rates are also holding steady at $239 a night for a queen bed, which hasn't changed since we last checked on it in May.

About the only gripe we have with this place now is that we just wish there were better photos up on the website but instead there are just renderings. We hope that changes soon.