When Building and Land Technology and Salamander Hotels & Resorts announced they were renovating the old New Orleans Public Service Inc. (NOPSI) building in the heart of The Big Easy’s Central Business District (CBD) — turning the 1920s-era structure into luxury accommodations — there was a chorus of reminisces. Many New Orleans residents had worked in or visited the nine-story building to pay their electric bills and receive transit information —they had even purchased appliances there, since it was once also a retail store. In fact, when I mentioned that I was writing about NOPSI, as if on cue, my mother recalled her first job in the building.
NOPSI Hotel opened in July 2017, and though it is no longer part of the Salamander group, the property’s attention to detail honors New Orleans’ history. Its dramatic columns, vaulted ceilings and restored terrazzo floors provide an impressive entrance, and give visitors an appreciation for the beauty of government buildings of a bygone era. In keeping with the theme, a counter located in the middle of the lobby contains NOPSI memorabilia such as old brochures and transit times.
The hotel’s 217 guestrooms, which include 76 suites, feature luxury furnishings and local artwork, much of which contains images from NOPSI’s past. Bathrooms are large and lush, with oversize bathtubs and showers and high-end bath amenities. A complimentary basket of Louisiana-made products such as Zapp’s Potato Chips, candies from the hotel restaurant and a Mardi Gras mask is a nice touch. Plus, all rooms are dog-friendly.
When it comes to dining, NOPSI offers several options. Undercurrent, the elegant lobby bar, provides guests with comfortable seating inside or on the nearby patio — one of the few outdoor spaces within the CBD — and Public Service restaurant serves up Cajun and Creole favorites.
Undercurrent offers indoor and outdoor seating.
Credit: 2019 Chere CoenWhile the hotel occupies the NOPSI building, Public Service resides in what used to be an old savings and loan, and it carries on the electric theme with vintage glass transformers that accent the tables. The menus at Public Service, Undercurrent and rooftop bar Above the Grid focus on New Orleans cuisine, utilizing fresh seafood and the best products from local Louisiana farms.
Above the Grid, which offers a stunning view of the city skyline, serves cocktails, beer and wine, as well as small dishes. The small rooftop pool is better suited for a refreshing dip than as a place to exercise, although there’s now a Sunday Swim Society that meets there. Both Undercurrent and Above the Grid are perfect for informal gatherings and small groups.
Special events can be held in the 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces and the Dryades Ballroom. A former NOPSI warehouse where transformers were repaired, the room features 30-foot-high ceilings and it incorporates the building’s industrial history with unique touches such as crystal chandeliers that hang from steel beams. But it’s the view of New Orleans from the room’s two walls of arched windows that make the space extra-special.
Visitors can also enjoy NOPSI’s recently launched weekly programming, including a Public Service Jazz Brunch on Sundays, as well as “Fashionably Late Thursdays,” an event with local designers.
With so much going on, future generations of visitors will surely create their own NOPSI memories.
The Details
NOPSI Hotel
www.nopsihotel.com
