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- Stays at Virgin Hotels put you within walking distance of wellness gems like The Daily Beet and Now Massage.
- Virgin Hotels channels NOLA energy with vibrant design, spotless rooms, and a makeup-ready vanity with perfect lighting for flawless looks.
- On-site wellness series with Amber Mortensen, a great gym, and live music sets keep the wellness and nightlife vibes strong.
The Essence Festival of Culture 2026 is happening July 3 – July 5. Don’t miss out—tickets here: Get Tickets
Going on three years at ESSENCE, New Orleans is starting to feel something like a second (or maybe third, since I’m a Chicagoan living in NYC) home. And I’m not complaining at all.
It’s slowly becoming one of my favorite cities in the states. Not just because of the delicious food and joyous nightlife, either. Shout out to Café du Monde and Bourbon street!
But, I’ve also really come to love its wellness and beauty destinations. These include, but are not limited to, Freedom Apothecary, a Black-owned wellness and community space, and Spyre Center where I took one of my favorite-ever yoga classes. Additionally, I even love that they have a Now Massage center, one of my favorite places to get a massage when I’m traveling. And it certainly helps that it’s walking distance from my favorite wellness cafe in the area, The Daily Beet.
As for the perfect place to stay, to top it all off? Honestly, The Virgin Hotels. One, because it’s close to all the above places. Especially closest, specifically walking distance, to The Daily Beet and The Now Massage place.
Not only this, I just love the interior design. The hotel itself has so much character that I feel embodies the spirit of New Orleans, thanks to all the vibrant colors and textures of the look and feel.
The rooms are so clean and also match this energy. My favorite part? The vanity, sink, and beauty area. The vanity comes with the perfect lighting to do your makeup with. In fact, when I was there a few weeks ago for my friend’s wedding, I was able to execute a makeup look that I was really proud of (more on this later!), thanks to the set up.
When it came to hair, I did a bubble ponytail, using hair and products that I bought from a local beauty supply, walking distance from the hotel, called Crystal Beauty. Having that close by is also a beauty lover’s dream.
I also noticed that, recently, the hotel hosted a wellness series led by Amber Mortensen that included a 60 minute guided yoga flow, cocktails, light breakfast offerings, and more. I hope I can catch something similar the next time I’m in town. And, if not, there’s always the incredible gym in the building!
Aside from all of the wellness and beauty excursions that make this beauty editor’s heart sing every time I stay on the property, the hotel also has a lot to offer in terms of musical performances and night life. And, if you know, you know how passionate I am about music—another reason I absolutely love NOLA!
For example, when I was staying there most recently, they had a Friday night set featuring musical artist Nell Simmons Bradley, a NOLA-native rising Jazz vocalist. So, to get a feel for the sounds of the city, you don’t even have to leave the property. Although, of course, I recommend exploring as much as possible. But there’s nothing wrong with an easeful, cozy night, either. Or a pre-game Jazz moment before hitting the streets.
All that to say, I look forward to staying there any chance I get. And, if you’re attending Essence Festival this year—be it on a solo trip, with your bestie, or boo thang—I highly recommend checking out The Virgin Hotels NOLA.
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