Dining at Hotel Monteleone: Criollo, Carousel Bar & Acqua Bella
Hotel Monteleone’s on-site dining centers on Criollo Restaurant (breakfast, lunch, dinner with a weekend Jazz Brunch and the Le Petit Chef immersive dinner), the historic rotating Carousel Bar & Lounge for cocktails, and the rooftop Acqua Bella Poolside Bar for daytime drinks and light seafood beside the heated rooftop pool.
In this guide
Dining overview at Hotel Monteleone
Hotel Monteleone serves guests from three main outlets: Criollo Restaurant, the Carousel Bar & Lounge, and Acqua Bella Poolside Bar. Meals are not included with room rates; Criollo offers cooked-to-order breakfast for a surcharge.
The hotel welcomes families and children of all ages; dining venues have differing atmospheres (family-friendly daytime dining at Criollo and Acqua Bella, a more adult evening vibe at the Carousel Bar & Lounge).
- Address: 214 Royal Street, French Quarter, New Orleans.
- On-site spa (Spa Aria) and heated rooftop pool adjacent to Acqua Bella.
- Complimentary high-speed Wi‑Fi throughout the property.
| Venue | Primary service |
|---|---|
| Criollo Restaurant | Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Dinner |
| Carousel Bar & Lounge | Cocktails, evening live entertainment |
| Acqua Bella Poolside Bar | Poolside cocktails and light seafood |
Criollo Restaurant — what to expect
Criollo is the hotel’s signature restaurant serving Louisiana/Gulf Coast dishes with Creole and Cajun influences. It operates on a schedule that covers breakfast, lunch (including a weekend Jazz Brunch), and limited dinner service.
Dress is Smart Casual. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made through OpenTable or Resy; two private dining rooms are available and named in tribute to Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner.
- Breakfast hours: 6:30 AM–10:30 AM (cooked-to-order; sample items include beignets, Eggs Sardou, Eggs Benedict).
- Lunch hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM; Jazz Brunch Saturday & Sunday 11:30 AM–2:00 PM.
- Dinner: Thursday–Monday evenings, typically 6:00 PM–9:00 PM; reservations recommended.
| Sample menu notes | Details |
|---|---|
| Breakfast specialties | French Market Style Beignets; Monteleone Breakfast; Eggs Sardou |
| Le Petit Chef | Immersive 3D-projection five-course dinner offered Thu–Mon (reservations required) |
| Private dining | Two private rooms for larger parties (Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner) |
Carousel Bar & Lounge — the rotating cocktail experience
The Carousel Bar & Lounge is a historic, 25-seat revolving bar installed in 1949 and is the only rotating bar in New Orleans. It completes one full revolution approximately every fifteen minutes.
It serves classic cocktails and offers live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday. Food for the bar is prepared by Criollo’s kitchen.
- Hours: Daily 11:00 AM–12:00 AM.
- Seating is limited; expect a bar-centered, linger-for-a-drink atmosphere rather than full-table dining.
- Historic literary associations include past patrons documented at the bar; the bar rotates on steel rollers pulled by a motorized chain.
| Practical tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Arrive earlier for a seat | There are only 25 revolving seats and space fills quickly in evenings. |
| Bar food comes from Criollo | Full kitchen support—expect similar flavors to the restaurant though service style differs. |
| Live music schedule | Entertainment runs Wed–Sun; check the hotel or call ahead for nightly lineup. |
Acqua Bella Poolside Bar — daytime pool dining
Acqua Bella sits beside the heated rooftop pool and serves seasonal cocktails, seafood, and light fare during daytime hours. Pool access is reserved for hotel guests only.
The bar operates seasonally (hours listed by the hotel vary between 11:00 AM–6:00 PM and 11:00 AM–7:00 PM in places); confirm current hours with the hotel at check-in or by phone.
- Typical hours: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM (seasonal); the rooftop pool itself is open daily 6:00 AM–10:00 PM year-round for guests.
- Menu examples: starters, tacos/rolls, handhelds, flatbreads, salads, popsicles — casual poolside fare.
- Pool and Acqua Bella are for registered guests; rooftop views include the Mississippi River and surrounding French Quarter rooftops.
| Poolside hours | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pool: 6:00 AM–10:00 PM (daily) | Heated and guest-only |
| Acqua Bella: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM (typical/seasonal) | Confirm seasonal times with hotel |
Reservations, timing, and practical tips
Reservations are recommended for Criollo Restaurant and for Le Petit Chef seatings (Le Petit Chef requires bookings via Resy). The Carousel Bar seats are limited and fill fast in the evening; plan accordingly.
If you need to call the hotel for dining questions or reservations, BookResorts agents are available 24/7 at +1 (888) 605-1350; the restaurant phone on the hotel site is (504) 681-4444.
- Check Criollo hours before you arrive—dinner is not served every night of the week (typically Thu–Mon evenings).
- Le Petit Chef has fixed seating times for the dinner show; reservations and any associated fees are handled separately from room charges.
- If traveling with children, Criollo and Acqua Bella are family-friendly during daytime service; Carousel Bar tends to be more adult-oriented after dark.
| Contact | Use |
|---|---|
| Hotel general (BookResorts agents) | +1 (888) 605-1350 (24/7) |
| Criollo reservations | (504) 681-4444 or OpenTable/Resy |
| Confirm pool/bar hours | Ask at check-in as seasonal hours may change |
Dietary needs, family dining and accessibility
Criollo provides Southern and seafood-focused dishes; if you have dietary restrictions (allergies, vegetarian/vegan needs), mention them when you make a reservation or tell your server. The hotel does not publish a full allergen policy online, so direct communication is best.
Children are welcome at the hotel and may dine at Criollo and Acqua Bella. The property provides family-friendly amenities elsewhere (e.g., rooftop pool), and Spa Aria requires children under 18 to be accompanied by an adult for treatments.
- No full allergen menu is posted publicly—contact the restaurant ahead to discuss restrictions.
- Criollo’s weekend Jazz Brunch is a good family midday option; evening dining at Carousel may be quieter and more adult-focused.
- Hotel public areas and certain dining spaces are wheelchair-accessible (Bienville Street accessible path).
| Family access | Notes |
|---|---|
| Children 17 & under | Stay free using existing bedding (hotel policy) |
| Spa access for minors | Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult |
| Wheelchair access | Accessible path via Bienville Street; accessible meeting and dining spaces available |
