We think of weekend getaways as spontaneous jaunts with a specific end goal in mind: rest and relaxation. They're less about non-stop excursions or long, sightseeing to-do lists - and more about local discoveries, timed at a slow pace. On a recent trip to The Big Easy, we got to do just that. We set up camp at the recently opened Ace Hotel, and soon came to realize that the ultra chic joint was more or less a one-stop-shop for all our getaway needs. Its decor emulated the spirit of the city coupled with an abundant array of tropical greens. Think of it as rustic-meets-Parisian chic. The original space was once a furniture store, dating back to 1928. Today, the hotel is just a stone's throw from the city's art and shopping district as well as the French Quarter. Situated in the Warehouse District, it's surrounded by up-and-coming galleries and musical venues, and riddled with the famed characteristics of Southern charm with its incomparable French influence.
One step inside and you'll be pleasantly overtaken by the famed qualities of the French Quarter. The staff more or less look as if they just stepped out of a music video from Solange's latest album. No single detail within the entire hotel has gone unnoticed or unplanned - from the retro-esque minibars to the all-black tiled bathrooms. A tropical twist on a Parisian brasserie, flanked by a touch of Southern charm.
Entertainment comes in a variety of forms at the Ace, but in the evenings, there's the rooftop pool that serves as a venue for cocktails and live music.
Each room's decor comes with a hint of variation, justifying an excuse to return again, and again. Though one element that remains consistent among each one, is the masculine-meets-retro vibe, coupled with an overpowering ode to New Orleans' musical scene. The lobby of the hotel connects to a Stumptown coffee shop, and taking up the corner lot through the reception area is Josephine Estelle, a Southern-inspired take on Italian cuisine. Grab a bite there before catching a show at the hotel's venue, where NOLA-inspired and soul music come at a nightly avail.
Josephine Estelle
600 Carondelet Street
EAT & DRINK
For pre-dinner cocktails and small plates, head to Oxalis, a whiskey-centric eatery located in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans.
DO & SEE
Head over to the Contemporary Art Museum, located in downtown New Orleans. From concert and visual arts performances to lectures and workshops, this multidisciplinary arts center emulates the historic characteristics of the city.
Don't miss our winter issue (on stands December 2016!) for a more in-depth look at New Orleans!