New Orleans may have celebrated its 300th year in 2018, but it’s impossible to assess the city outside the prism of Hurricane Katrina. After August 2005, it was difficult to imagine such a devastated place ever returning to its former glory. But a decade on, it’s done that and more. The waters receded and young people flooded in — urban planners fresh out of college, people who had always wanted to live there, families looking for something different — all bringing their ideas with them. It was almost a startup mentality, if a startup could be a city. Best of all, they weren’t held back by what had been before; these newcomers helped unlock and broaden the scope of offerings.

Suddenly, not one but two Israeli restaurants would open and thrive. Po’boys would get the international treatment and gain a following. A barbecue scene would be born. Mardi Gras Indian culture would not only resurge but thrive. Tremé would be the inspiration for a popular TV show, and second-line parades would happen every Sunday in spring. With all this change has come a flurry of hotel openings sprinkled across the city, from Mid-City and Uptown to the Central Business District and the über-hip Faubourg Marigny. New Orleans is more exciting than ever. The old stalwarts are still there, thankfully, but there are plenty of new kids on the block. We decided to make a return trip to one of our favorite locales to see which hotels have potential for Hideaway Report members.

The Eliza Jane

Joining a string of recent openings in the Central Business District, just a few blocks from the French Quarter, The Eliza Jane opened in September 2018. This striking four-story property is part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, and while we knew it wouldn’t qualify as a hideaway — it has 196 guest rooms and suites — we thought it might be a worthy addition to our New Orleans roster.