An imposing statue of Winston Churchill welcomed us to the city’s biggest hotel, the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans. With nearly 130,000 sq ft of banquet and meeting space and more than 1,600 guest rooms, this Hilton outpost was practically its own zip code. It’s no surprise that it occupies the length of multiple city blocks, from the foot of Canal Street on one side to the Riverwalk Marketplace on the other.
If you thought this was another run-of-the-mill chain hotel, think again, for we were pleasantly surprised. On the inside, it was all about soaring atriums and courtyards with natural light, excellent hospitality, and splendid views of the mighty Mississippi, all of which added to the grand feeling. It might harp about its capable business facilities, but the amenities and atmosphere were more that of a resort than a conference center. Here’s a detailed guide to staying right on the banks of the mighty Mississippi at Hilton Riverside in NOLA.
Table of contents
Excellent location
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside sits in the Warehouse District near the Port of New Orleans, right on the northern banks of the Mississippi River. You’d think having a riverside location is the Hilton hotel’s only selling point, but that’s not the case. Firstly, the neighborhood melds with the Central Business District, which is home to the Superdome and the city’s convention center, besides many offices. What’s more, the road outside the hotel boasts the streetcar line that directly skirts the French Quarter. So, most of the attractions and restaurants of the French Quarter are a stone’s throw away. Finally, the hotel is right next to the Riverwalk Marketplace, so there’s always lots of foot traffic around it, especially near the streetcar line and closer to the river. So, we could walk around at night on the main thoroughfares around the hotel and felt safe, too.
“We were thrilled that not only were we staying at one of the best five-stars in the city, but we were within walking distance to practically everything!”
WOW Travel
Check Rates on:
Connection to the Riverwalk Outlet
One of our main agendas in New Orleans was to shop and gorge on NOLA’s delicious food. It wasn’t by chance that we chose to stay at this Hilton Hotel, which is connected to the Riverwalk Outlets shopping mall. It’s home to some of the city’s best stores and has many places to eat. You can just walk to the mall for exercise. In fact, whenever we were too tired to head to the French Quarter for NOLA delicacies like gumbo and beignets, we’d head straight to the mall. In fact, after we were done shopping at Riverwalk, we could even take an air-conditioned walk all the way up to the Port of New Orleans. Don’t miss digging into French delicacies like beignets, chicory coffee, and cafe au laits at Cafe Du Monde, which has been a portside institution for a long time.
Check Rates on:
Dining delights
This Hilton outpost has not one or two but four dining options on the property. They included Drago’s, one of our favorite restaurants ever, which served some of the best oysters in the city. In fact, they’re known for inventing charbroiled oysters, which was our standard order here. Plus, they even had a huge projection screen TV for sporting events. To the left, the Spirits Bar is the perfect sports bar, and during football season, they even had NFL tickets. Despite having a limited food menu, Drago’s charbroiled oysters are on the list. The best bit, though, is that they have Bloody Mary on tap here!
On the other side of the Spirits Bar was Le Croissant, where we would have breakfast every day. Even though it was not included in the room rate, we did like the spread. The Public Belt is up the flight of stairs, a piano bar serving high-end cocktails and different kinds of bourbons. Finally, the River Bends Cafe across the front desk served both grab-and-go breakfast items and Starbucks coffee.
Check Rates on:
Fulsome fitness facilities
The star of all facilities here is the HealthClub by Hilton, a 90,000-square-foot space that is a fitness lover’s dream. We’d head to this fantastic space when we wanted to work off all the calories we’d put on due to the excellent New Orleans fare. It sits on the sixth floor of the parking garage and features the only indoor basketball, volleyball, squash, racquetball, pickleball, and tennis courts in all of New Orleans!
What’s more, the fitness center also has fitness classes, whirlpool spas, certified personal trainers, and access to two outdoor pools. Besides the free Wi-Fi throughout the club, we also enjoyed complimentary towel service, showers, keyed day lockers, and cardio, strength, and yoga kits to rent to take to our room, all for a daily USD 12 hotel guest fee. While racquetball sports require everyone to pay a court fee, we can get a multi-day discounted pass for USD 10 daily. Finally, Hilton Honors Diamond, Gold, and Silver guests enjoyed complimentary access everywhere. The Health Club was open between 5:30 am and 9:30 pm on Mondays and Fridays and between 7 am and 7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Check Rates on:
A Superb Stay
The city and river views are hard to beat, but the guest rooms come very close. The rooms and suites are divided across three buildings, of which buildings 1 and 3 have river views available. Building three is the prettiest one with many courtyards, like the Mark Twain Courtyard and the river-facing poolside one. Nevertheless, we had a variety of room locations and sizes available, both overlooking the Mississippi River and the city. Despite the old-world charm and style, they have many mod-cons, including mini-fridges, tea/coffee-making facilities, pillowtop mattresses, iPod docks, and plush beds. If you want to indulge, the Executive rooms can access the 29th-floor Executive Lounge with personal concierge service, free hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and free breakfast.
Check Rates on:
Pros
- The rooms are comfortable, with a host of mod-cons, and have the option of Mississippi River views.
- The recreation options are fantastic.
- There are not one but two pools, as well as treatment rooms and a beauty salon.
Cons
- There’s a daily fee for guests to use the fitness center, with only Hilton Honors guests being exempted.
Conclusion
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside might bill itself as a conference center hotel, but it felt more like a resort with its fantastic lineup of amenities and killer riverfront location. If you wanted to pick a modern riverfront hotel that wouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket, this hotel near the French Quarter is perfect.
Read Also
- Travel Guide: Best Time to Visit New Orleans, LA
- 11 Best Marriott Hotels in New Orleans
- 11 Best Cheap Hotels in New Orleans, Louisiana
- 11 Best Cheap Hotels In French Quarter, New Orleans
- 11 Best Family Hotels in New Orleans
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Hilton Riverside New Orleans have a shuttle service?
A: While they don’t have a shuttle service per se, they can easily make any arrangements if you contact them in advance.
Q: Which floor and room has the best view of the river?
A: Although they cost more, the 29th-floor rooms offer panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the city. Call and ask when you book.
Q: How far is Hilton New Orleans Riverside from Cruise Port?
A: The Hilton is right in front of the Port of New Orleans. It’s a 1.3-mile distance by car, but it takes only 2 minutes.
Check Rates on:
