A trip to the Big Easy has never been so hugely fabulous as it can be now with new hotel NOPSI. NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans has illuminated the city’s luxury lodging landscape. Located in the vibrant Central Business District, the nine-story brick building was originally constructed in 1927 as the headquarters for New Orleans Public Service Inc. (NOPSI), the city’s former utility company and transit operator. Now, nine decades after it originally opened to service the city’s needs, the historic landmark has been re-imagined as a luxury hotel with a community spirit.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, NOPSI Hotel features 217 refined guestrooms – including seventy- six suites; a lively and regionally inspired restaurant called Public Service; 14,000 square feet of architecturally significant indoor and outdoor meeting space; and a sophisticated rooftop pool and bar. The hotel is dedicated to providing an authentic experience inspired by the rich history of the destination it proudly serves again, NOPSI Hotel underwent a meticulous restoration, which returned the grand dame to its original splendor, including the building’s street facades, cast iron rails and stone panels. Inside the sweeping lobby, guests can discover faithfully renovated vaulted ceilings, graceful arches, ornamental columns, brass grills and stone terrazzo flooring.
“At NOPSI Hotel, service is more than just a word, it’s part of the building’s fabric and complements Salamander’s authentic approach to hospitality,” says Sheila Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the hotel’s management company. Sheila is also one of America’s top entrepreneurs and the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television. “NOPSI Hotel will become known as one of the finest city hotels in America, and we look forward to reflecting the unique spirit of New Orleans,” she says.
The property was originally designed by Favrot and Livaudais, a Louisiana-based architectural firm that designed many other historically significant buildings. Woodward Design + Build from New Orleans served as the hotel’s architect of record and general contractor during the renovation process. The project’s development team has also worked closely with Louisiana’s State Historic Preservation Office to ensure the architectural integrity of the building was preserved.
Within a short walk of The French Quarter, the Warehouse District and the Garden District, NOPSI Hotel is located near Lafayette Square and close to major attractions like the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the World War II Museum. Thousands of manhole covers still bear the NOPSI name, which inspired the hotel’s unique circular logo, adding a sense of nostalgia to a walk down many of The Crescent City’s streets.
Guest room design presents the highest level of luxury highlighted by refined furnishings and décor, all uniquely inspired by the building’s industrial history. The luxury suites include additional living space, some of which feature spacious terraces with sweeping city views. The ninth-floor features four Spa Suites with spacious terraces that can be utilized for an extraordinary in-room Salamander Spa experience.
Architecturally unique. Industrially elegant. Timelessly refined. NOPSI is the first luxury hotel to open in New Orleans in a generation, the impressive and dramatic Grand Lobby featuring vaulted ceilings and stone terrazzo flooring, is highlighted by inviting, polished furnishings. A lively signature restaurant, architecturally stunning boardrooms, breakout rooms and meeting space and a shimmering rooftop pool and bar provide an inspiring, one-of-a-kind guest, event or business experiences.
NOPSI Hotel offers an impressive backdrop for any meeting or special event. The hotel’s immense and expansive ballroom, with floor-to-ceiling arched windows and a soaring thirty-foot ceiling, epitomizes the original architecture of this iconic building. The meticulous renovation has retained the room’s twenty-four-foot high crane and tracks, which formerly transported transformers to storage vaults for repair. Five vaulted breakout rooms with historic architectural features provide an impressive setting for corporate meetings, dinners or teambuilding events. Additional event spaces include a charming and regal outdoor patio and PS Reserve, a unique private space above our signature restaurant.
Uniquely situated in New Orleans’ bustling Central Business District right on the corner of Baronne Street and Union Street, the hotel is just minutes from the vibrant energy and excitement that is quintessentially the Crescent City. Just steps away, guests can experience one of the world’s most iconic and culturally diverse destinations — the historic French Quarter. Lined with fabulous architecture, wrought-iron balconies, cobblestone side streets and colorful courtyards, this romantic neighborhood is a mecca for foodies, music aficionados and antique lovers. Additional attractions include the artsy Warehouse District, filled with refined art galleries, eclectic music venues and theaters, outdoor concerts at Lafayette Square and the massive Mercedes-Benz Superdome, host to six Superbowls, the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, concerts, conventions and shows.
The Central Business District’s most dynamic community gathering place, Public Service is a casual-yet-sophisticated restaurant which respects the civic spirit of the former New Orleans Public Service Inc. With a menu that honors the Gulf Coast’s hard- working fishermen and farmers, we prepare contemporary cuisine in an open-display kitchen highlighted by a modern raw bar and open-flame rotisserie. The vintage design features a two-story glass façade, exposed brick and a custom-built craft bar.
NOPSI Hotel’s shimmering rooftop pool and bar, Above the Grid, offers a hot spot for hotel guests, visitors and locals alike with a unique view of the city’s skyline. By day, the pool is a peaceful oasis for hotel guests with indulgent cabana service. In the evening, the energy level increases and the setting transform into one of New Orleans’ most exclusive establishments with private cabana tables, live entertainment and one of the coolest scenes in the city.
Located in the hotel’s classic lobby, underCURRENT Bar & Patio features iconic vaulted ceilings as the quintessential backdrop for light snacks and an afternoon cocktail experience. Step into true casual elegance on the patio where guests can enjoy “life as a local” in lush surroundings with wrought iron accents reminiscent of a quiet hideaway deep in the French Quarter.
Spring is a perfect time to visit the Crescent City! Schedule your next trip to and plan to enjoy all this amazing city has to offer while also taking advantage of one of its newest treasures in fine accommodations, dining and history.
317 Baronne Street
New Orleans, LA 70112 504.962.6500 NOPSIHOTEL.COM
