After four years of construction delays, the renovation of the Caesars Hotel and Casino in New Orleans is finally complete. The $435 million project, which overhauled the former Harrah’s property, comes just in time for the influx of visitors expected for the 2025 Super Bowl.
The extensive renovations, which began with a construction fence bearing the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” have modernized the property, originally opened nearly 25 years ago. Despite rising costs due to post-pandemic inflation, the transformation is now ready to be unveiled to the public.
“It’s like changing the tires on a moving bus,” said Caesars general manager Samir Mowad, referencing the challenges faced during the project. The renovations experienced budget increases of over $100 million and faced inevitable delays, but the finish line has finally been reached.
This extensive overhaul is part of a broader revitalization of New Orleans’ hospitality district, further elevating the area as a prime tourist destination. “Just think about how this little corner of New Orleans has now been transformed over the last five, six years,” Mowad told NOLA.com, reflecting on the impact of the upgrades.
Among the most notable changes is a complete revamp of the 115,000-square-foot gaming area. The gaming floor now features a new World Series of Poker Room, a revamped Caesars Sportsbook area with a massive 147-foot wall of TV screens, and an exclusive High Limit gaming section for players placing minimum bets starting at $100.
For the highest rollers, private Salon rooms offer personalized table games and a chance to mingle with sports and entertainment celebrities. “At the point you’re in the Salon, everyone is a celebrity,” said Stacey Dorsey, director of security and facilities.
In addition to the gaming floor improvements, Caesars has added a 15-story, 340-room hotel annex along Convention Center Boulevard, featuring a “valet porte cochère,” or covered carport, at its entrance. The lower two floors of this new building have been fashioned into a “hotel within a hotel” and carry the exclusive Nobu brand. The hotel features 54 luxury rooms, including 12 suites, catering to the casino’s most exclusive clientele.
The new Nobu restaurant
The renovations also extend to dining, with a series of high-profile restaurant openings. The Nobu chain, co-founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, has opened a new Nobu restaurant on the casino level. The renowned Japanese fusion eatery is now open seven days a week, offering sushi, sashimi, and signature hot and cold dishes. “Sushi and sashimi are a big part of it, but there are a lot of signature hot and cold food dishes,” Mowad explained.
The new dining options don’t stop there. Emeril’s Brasserie, from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, has opened on the Canal Street side of the casino. Lagasse’s new brasserie concept is unique to New Orleans, and Mowad expressed excitement about the collaboration: “Emeril is not cookie cutter, and he wanted to open his first brasserie here.”
Further enhancing the culinary offerings is a new 12,000-square-foot food court featuring fast-casual options from notable chefs like Nina Compton, Bobby Flay, and Buddy Valastro, all of whom bring international and local flavors to the property.
In addition to these dining options, Caesars has opened a new lounge, Octavia, replacing the former Masquerade dance club. This venue boasts a $750,000 chandelier and features a dramatic design intended to impress visitors. “The volume of the space of Octavia is jaw-dropping,” Mowad said.
New lounge Octavia
Caesars New Orleans is now poised to serve as a premier destination for both gaming enthusiasts and culinary aficionados. Mowad emphasized the company’s focus on providing a high-end experience across all aspects of the property.
“We’ve literally touched every square inch of the preexisting property. We made a joke to ‘Caesarize it.’ When people come in, we want them to get that Caesars experience with gaming, the dining. It is all premium,” he said.
This transformation is part of a larger wave of development projects in the downtown area, including the $530 million Four Seasons Hotel and Condominiums, the $570 million Ernest N. Morial Convention Center upgrade, and the $41 million Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium renovations. These investments, totaling billions of dollars, are reshaping the city’s hospitality sector ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl.