Is Virgin Hotels New Orleans worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Virgin Hotels New Orleans is a convenient, design-forward downtown option if you want easy access to the Warehouse District, French Quarter and local museums plus an included rooftop pool and on-site restaurants. It’s best for travelers who value a lively on-site bar/restaurant scene, a heated 13th-floor Pool Club, and a two-chamber room layout; note the primary guest must be 21+ and valet parking and many food/drink costs are extra.
In this guide
Location and walkability
Virgin Hotels New Orleans sits at 550 Baronne Street in the Warehouse District / Central Business District, within easy walking distance of Lafayette Square, the National WWII Museum, and Bourbon Street.
The hotel is also steps from the St. Charles streetcar line, and a short walk from Caesars Superdome and the Smoothie King Center, making it useful for sightseeing, museums, and events.
- Lafayette Square: about a 5-minute walk
- National WWII Museum: roughly a 10-minute walk
- Bourbon Street / French Quarter: roughly 10–15 minutes on foot
- Union Passenger Terminal: around a 9–10 minute walk
| Nearby spot | Typical walk time |
|---|---|
| Lafayette Square | 5 minutes |
| National WWII Museum | About 10 minutes |
| Bourbon Street / French Quarter | 10–15 minutes |
Rooms and the two-chamber layout
All Chambers and suites use Virgin’s two-chamber layout: a sleeping area plus a separate dressing/lounge space. The property lists 238 Chambers across 14 floors, including several suite and penthouse options.
Room names include Room, 1 King Bed (Chamber); Room, 1 Queen Bed (Chamber); Room, 2 Queen Beds (Chamber); Room, 1 King Bed, City View (Chamber); Grand Suite, City View (Chamber, Balcony); Penthouse (Richard's Flat); and Suite (Crescent City Penthouse).
- Two-chamber design separates sleep and dressing/lounge spaces for more privacy and usable space.
- There are 11 suites and two penthouse suites among the 238 total rooms.
- City-view and balcony options are available on select room types (for example, Grand Suite, City View (Chamber, Balcony)).
| Room type (exact name) | Beds / Notes |
|---|---|
| Room, 1 King Bed (Chamber) | 1 King Bed; standard Chamber |
| Room, 2 Queen Beds (Chamber) | 2 Queen Beds; option for 4 guests |
| Penthouse (Richard's Flat) | 1 King Bed; penthouse-level suite |
On-site dining, drinks, and rooftop pool
Commons Club is the hotel’s main restaurant and bar, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with a Southern/modern American focus and live music at times. Reservations are accepted via OpenTable.
The Pool Club is the 13th-floor rooftop pool and bar (heated to 84°F) with terrace seating and skyline views; Funny Library is the ground-floor coffee shop serving La Colombe coffee and pastries.
- Commons Club hours: breakfast and lunch on weekdays and dinner nightly; weekend brunch hours apply (check current schedule).
- Pool Club: rooftop bar and swimming area on the 13th floor; swimming times and public access rules apply (see FAQ).
- Funny Library: morning coffee and light bites; hours have varied by season so check current times.
| Venue | What it serves |
|---|---|
| Commons Club | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails; live music at times |
| The Pool Club | Rooftop cocktails, light bites, heated outdoor pool (13th floor) |
| Funny Library | Coffee, pastries, light bites |
Amenities: pool, fitness and service
Key on-site amenities include a heated outdoor rooftop pool on the 13th floor (kept at 84°F), a 24-hour complimentary fitness center with Technogym equipment, complimentary Wi‑Fi throughout the property, and 24/7 front desk and concierge service.
There is no on-site spa or sauna; the Pool Club and fitness room are the primary on-site wellness options.
- Rooftop pool: open daily for hotel guests; non-hotel guest access rules and day-pass pricing apply.
- Fitness center: complimentary, room-key access 24/7 with Technogym equipment.
- Wi‑Fi: complimentary throughout the hotel with no extra bandwidth charges.
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rooftop pool (Pool Club) | 13th floor; heated to 84°F; swimming hours and guest access rules apply |
| Fitness center | 24/7 with Technogym equipment; room-key access |
| Spa / Sauna | None on site |
Events, meeting spaces, and weddings
Virgin Hotels New Orleans offers multiple event spaces including The Manor (1,860 sq ft, divisible), Dreamboat (indoor rooftop-adjacent venue), Founder's Room, The Sandbox, and The Lounge, with overall event capacities listed up to roughly 175–278 depending on the source and layout.
Dreamboat sits adjacent to the Pool Club on the 13th floor and can host events sized from small (about 15 guests) up to about 150 guests; The Manor is the largest single ballroom-type space.
- Dreamboat: rooftop-adjacent indoor venue; listed capacity up to 150.
- The Manor: 1,860 sq ft; divisible into Manor A and B for breakout sessions.
- Event rental offerings can include private dining, catering from Commons Club, and wedding packages — exact pricing and inclusions vary and should be confirmed with the hotel.
| Venue | Typical max capacity (source-dependent) |
|---|---|
| Dreamboat | Up to 150 |
| The Manor | Listed up to 278 by some sources; check event specs |
| Founder's Room | Smaller meeting capacities (see hotel for details) |
Practicalities: check-in, parking, pets and access
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM with a check-in window running until midnight; check-out is by 11:00 AM. Guests must be at least 21 years old to make a reservation and check in as the primary guest.
Valet parking is available 24/7 through the front driveway (no self-parking); the hotel lists an overnight valet rate per night. The property is smoke-free.
- Minimum primary-booker age: 21 years.
- Valet parking only (on-site), with overnight fee and in/out privileges.
- Pet policy: the hotel is pet-friendly and allows up to two pets per room with a one-time non-refundable pet fee; the property provides pet beds, bowls and a branded bandana.
| Topic | Quick fact |
|---|---|
| Check-in / Check-out | Check-in from 4:00 PM (window until midnight); check-out by 11:00 AM |
| Parking | 24/7 covered valet only (hotel lists a nightly fee) |
| Pets | Allowed (up to 2 per room) with a one-time non-refundable fee |
