The Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, a new, 202-room boutique hotel on the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Poydras streets, is opening it’s doors next month on Tuesday, May 11th. Formerly the Staybridge Suites, the hotel has been completely transformed by New York architecture and design firm MARKZEFF, featuring “artful, bold and sophisticated interiors.”
Named after Canray Fontenot, the famed Creole fiddle player, the hotel’s motif is intended as a tribute to the vibrant musical history of New Orleans. Custom artwork such as Austrian artist Georg Bauss’ hand-painted violins and an installation composed of trumpet and trombone mutes (an homage to King Oliver and Louis Armstrong) help reinforce this design concept.
The Hotel Fontenot will also be adding two unique dining destinations led by Executive Chef Chris Lusk and Restaurant & Bar General Manager Jessica Retif. Chef Lusk has worked in kitchens all over the city, from Restaurant R’evolution and The Caribbean Room (now Jack Rose), to The Steakhouse at Harrah’s. At the sophisticated and elevated Peacock Room, guests will enjoy craft cocktails and shared dishes such as Crawtator Crusted Oysters with jalapeno sriracha, a “jambon” plate of house made hams with fig cane syrup, blue crab pimento cheese, and “fruits de mer” pho with cashew hoisin Gulf fish and crab boulette.
The hotel will also offer and more casual drinking and dining option, what I believe (if it’s good!) will be hugely successful due to the sometimes oppressive New Orleans heat, is Gospel Coffee & Boozy Treats. Along with plenty of grab-n-go options like pastries, salads and sandwiches, visitors will be able to score adult-themed sweets; Irish Coffee with Jameson Whiskey and cafe au lait custard; “Voodoo Malt” with Kahlua, fudge, ice cream and Zapp’s Voodoo Chips or a Cointreau praline.
So when are y’all coming to visit?
*Photos by Cris Molina