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Introducing The Higgins Hotel: A Stay Steeped in History
Located just steps from The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA, the Higgins Hotel isn’t just a convenient place to stay, it’s an extension of the WWII experience. Designed to reflect the spirit and style of the World War II era, this upscale hotel blends elegant designs with wartime whimsy. If your trip to New Orleans includes a stop at the National WWII Museum, consider a stay at the Higgins Hotel in order to complete the immersion into this period of history.
In this review, I will break down everything you need to know about a stay at the Higgins Hotel, including dining, location, rooms and whether its worth booking for your next visit to New Orleans.
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Andrew Higgins, New Orleans and WWII
The Higgins Hotel is named after Andrew Higgins, one of the men responsible for U.S. victory in the war. Higgins designed the shallow-bottomed landing craft which would later bear his name. These Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or “Higgins Boats” were necessary for carrying out amphibious operations. Their low-lying bottoms allowed troops and equipment to be ferried directly ashore from the larger boats that rested in deeper waters. Higgins boats were used in amphibious landings across the Pacific as well as in the D-Day landings at Normandy.
The importance of these boats cannot be underestimated. In fact, President Eisenhower credited Andrew Higgins as being, “the man who won the war for us.” It was because of the impact Higgins had on the war as a whole, and the D-Day landings in particular, that the National WWII Museum was placed in New Orleans, the town where Higgins Industries created the famous boats. When the Higgins Hotel opened beside the museum in 2019, it was only fitting that the man who meant so much to the city, the nation and the war was honored as its namesake.
The National WWII Museum
As previously mentioned, The Higgins Hotel sits directly next to the National WWII Museum. Opened in 2000 as the National D-Day Museum, the facility has expanded over the past 25 years to include seven large exhibit halls, numerous restaurants and event spaces and, as of 2019, an onsite hotel. With the addition of the Higgins Hotel, the campus provides visitors with the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the WWII-era.
Due to the museum’s sprawling size and countless events held throughout the year, a visitor could easily book a stay at the Higgins Hotel and never leave the WWII bubble. In fact, this is something I have found myself returning to do time and time again.
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The Higgins Hotel: Location and First Impressions
The Higgins Hotel is located at 1000 Magazine St. in the heart of the National WWII Museum campus. While its location cannot be beat for any visitor hoping to spend their visit to New Orleans exploring the museum, it should be noted that the hotel is farther out from other city sites. The museum sits about 1 mile from Bourbon Street and the famous French Quarter. However, it is worth noting that the historic New Orleans streetcar can connect you between the museum (the closest stop is one block away at Howard Avenue) with other iconic New Orleans sites.
From the moment you step foot inside the lobby of the Higgins you know you are not in a typical city hotel. A towering picture behind the check in desk portrays riveters hard at work on the home front as a bomber flies overhead. This piece of artwork provides the first glimpse of the elegant yet immersive theming you should expect to see throughout your stay.
WWII-era details grace every corner of the lobby level. From blueprints for Higgins boats to bomber ball turrets which serve as light fixtures in the lobby bar, the attention to period details is unmatched. While the WWII theming is very present throughout the entirety of the hotel, it is done in such a way that allows visitors to feel immersed in a period of history while they still enjoy a stay at an upscale hotel. The Higgins is able to blend theming with style in a truly spectacular way.
The Higgins Hotel: Rooms and Suites
After taking the time to peruse the WWII touches throughout the hotel’s common spaces, it is time to head to your accommodations. The Higgins Hotel offers 230 rooms and suites. Guests can choose between rooms with 1 king bed or 2 queens. Upgraded rooms are also available and include features such as a corner view or balcony. The hotel’s suite options include the appropriately named Eisenhower, Truman and Roosevelt suites.
The WWII theming inside the guest rooms is understated but still present. Period photographs grace the walls and some of the rooms have been dedicated to Americans who served in the war. Despite their lack of heavy-theming, the rooms are beautifully decorated in an art deco style and provide all of the comforts you would expect from a hotel at this price point.
Dining at The Higgins Hotel
There are three sit-down restaurants at the Higgins Hotel along with a grab-and-go location and in-room dining. Each of the locations is beautifully themed to match the overall WWII feel of the hotel. Please note, I am only including restaurants located within the Higgins Hotel itself. There are a variety of additional eateries located within the museum as well as in the surrounding area.
Kilroy’s Bar & Lounge – Kilroy’s serves as the hotel’s lobby bar and restaurant. It is named for the Kilroy cartoon popularized by American troops during the war. The cartoon depicts a doodle-like sketch of a man with a comically large nose and bald head along with the inscription “Kilroy was here.” The wartime graffiti was engraved across the globe as American soldiers landed on beaches, captured airfields and liberated cities.
As you approach the classy lobby bar you will be met with a picture of its namesake behind the counter. Various pieces of WWII-style memorabilia grace the walls and tables. Decorative elements include helmet shaped lamps and chairs pieced together with scrap steel and rivets.
The menu at Kilroy’s features small bar bites, sandwiches and a handful of larger entrees. There are a variety of themed beverages as well as a fully-stocked bar.
Rosie’s on the Roof – Head up to the top floor of the Higgins Hotel for a themed cocktail and a stunning view of the National WWII Museum and the city of New Orleans. As its name implies, Rosie’s occupies the rooftop of the Higgins Hotel. It is themed to the hardworking women who took up jobs on the home front in order to ensure the wartime manufacturing needs could be met. Rosie the Riveter has become one of the most celebrated and recognizable symbols of the war. The Higgins celebrates this iconic figure with one of the best places to grab a drink and take in the views over The Big Easy.
The menu at Rosie’s features New Orleans-inspired light bites as well as themed cocktails such as “The Riveter” and the “Pistol Packin’ Mama.” Rosie’s is available to rent out for corporate functions and private events.
Café Normandie – If you are looking for a more up-scale dining experience at the Higgins Hotel, consider a visit to Café Normandie. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the centerpiece of this restaurant is a large picture of the cliffs of Omaha Beach.
The menu at Café Normandie is heavily French-influenced. Reservations are recommended, especially for peak mealtimes and busier tourist seasons. The restaurant also hosts special tasting menus and exclusive meals to correspond with events being hosted by the National WWII Museum.
Provisions – Stop into this grab-and-go spot to pick up a quick breakfast, lunch or sweet treat. The name of this marketplace references the supplies necessary for troops to continue operating, including food and water. Provisions is the perfect place to pick up a quick bite before continuing your exploration of the museum’s campus.
Pricing and Booking
The Higgins Hotel is a 4-star hotel located directly next to the top tourist attraction in the city of New Orleans. The price point for a stay reflects this. Standard rooms typically begin at $140 per night in the low season and increase depending on day of the week and date of travel. Upgraded rooms and suites will be significantly higher in cost. It is worth noting that the Higgins Hotel is a Hilton Hotels property. As such, rooms can be booked with points and special Hilton promotions may apply at booking.
If a visit to the National WWII Museum will be a part of your itinerary (which it absolutely should be) consider checking into one of the packages offered by the hotel which combine admission to the museum with your stay.
If you are ready to book your stay at the Higgins Hotel, please consider using the link below.
Is The Higgins Hotel Worth It?
Absolutely! The Higgins Hotel seamlessly blends refined elegance with WWII-era theming and modern comfort. The aesthetic of the hotel perfectly captures the feel of the 1940s without crossing into cheesy or over-the-top. The dining options manage to stay on brand without sacrificing quality and the rooms feel high-end but still cozy. The hotel sits directly on the campus of the National WWII Museum, making its location unmatched for visitors to the museum.
While a stay at the Higgins comes with a decent price tag, it is worth it for the immersive experience it provides. If you are a WWII traveler and your budget allows, combining a visit to a world-class WWII museum with a spectacularly themed WWII hotel simply cannot be beat.
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