In 1992, the Louisiana Legislature approved a land-based casino in New Orleans, the only one within the Bayou State. Harrah’s New Orleans won the contract and opened 115,000 square feet of gambling space at the foot of Canal Street in 1999. Then, its 450-room luxury hotel opened in 2016, located adjacent to the casino on Poydras Street. Both properties are within walking distance of the French Quarter.
Now, with Caesars Entertainment, Inc. becoming the parent company of Harrah’s, the hotel and casino will undergo a $325 million renovation to become Caesars New Orleans. The property will include a new hotel tower above the casino’s porte cochere with 340 guestrooms; development of an unoccupied area on the second floor of the casino; and changes to both the casino’s exterior and interior.
A Nobu hotel with 54 rooms will fill out two floors of the property, and a Nobu sushi restaurant will be located on the ground floor. The casino’s former Masquerade Nightclub will evolve into a center bar with open spaces and a bright and elevated aesthetic.
In addition to the upcoming changes, a celebrity chef-driven food hall opened in February, offering Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay, PizzaCake desserts by Buddy Valastro and Nina’s Creole Cottage by New Orleans’ own Nina Compton. Emeril Lagasse opened Emeril’s Brasserie in November — serving up French fare with classic Creole dishes — which includes a bar for classic and French cocktails such as the French 75 and Kir Royale.
The transformed casino and the new hotels are scheduled to open this Labor Day, said Kristina Kulp, marketing manager for Caesars New Orleans, although it’s likely the hotels will not be fully operational and accepting reservations until January 2025.
The adjacent AAA Four Diamond award-winning Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel on Poydras will be rebranded as The Harrah’s Tower, keeping the Harrah’s name, she added. The hotel offers dining options and meeting space in addition to guestrooms.
Until the grand opening, the casino will remain operational 24 hours a day during construction.
