Opening in late 2026, The Warbler Hotel will debut as a 58-key boutique hotel that will house Mildred’s, a martini bar and restaurant, and Upstairs, a poolside lounge, overlooking the lush canopy of St. Charles Avenue’s famed oak trees. Designed as a welcoming gathering place for locals and travelers alike, The Warbler embodies the enduring spirit of Old World New Orleans. Located at 1923 St. Charles Avenue, along the city’s most iconic corridor, The Warbler is poised to become a signature destination for discerning travelers from around the world.
The Warbler’s food and beverage program, developed in partnership with CureCo., the New Orleans hospitality group led by Neal Bodenheimer and Kirk Estopinal, whose collective experience spans over two decades designing internationally acclaimed, James Beard Foundation Award-winning, and World’s 50 Best-ranking bars. Andrew Zimmerman, who helms Chicago’s Michelin-starred Sepia, is a longtime collaborator of Estopinal, dating back to their time working in Chicago’s hospitality scene, and will work alongside CureCo. on all things culinary.
Rising six stories at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and St. Andrew’s Street, The Warbler is a 42,000 square-foot boutique hotel that revitalizes its site (formerly home to the Trolly Stop Cafe, which shuttered in 2021) while contributing to the architectural rhythm of one of New Orleans’ grandest avenues. Forward-looking in its vision, The Warbler marries architectural precision with a nostalgic harkening to the Jazz Age. Inspired by the bold geometries and fluid lines of the Streamline Moderne design movement, The Warbler’s rich, graphic interiors evoke the gracious service and unbridled revelry of that era’s social clubs. Guest rooms provide welcoming roosts from which to explore the cultural abundance of New Orleans.
Developed by Verdad Real Estate, led by Principal Joe Mann, The Warbler marks the firm’s first foray into hospitality. The project underscores Verdad’s commitment to New Orleans, with an additional mixed-use development soon to follow.
The project unites a robust team of creative partners with deep personal ties to New Orleans, including locally based and nationally recognized architecture firm EskewDumezRipple and Los Angeles-based interior design studio Jamie Bush & Co., helmed by Jamie Bush, a Tulane School of Architecture graduate and board member. The team of creative partners includes Sweet Olive, founded by cousins Dorothy Mann and Legier Goldsmith, who bring a design-driven approach to real estate development; project management led by fellow New Orleanian Martin Steib; and tapping Lark Hospitality for hotel management.
“As a team of native New Orleanians, we see an opportunity to reimagine this corridor of St. Charles Avenue with a space that reflects the warmth and convivial spirit that defines New Orleans,” says Joe Mann, Principal, Verdad in a statement. “We’ve assembled a deep bench of partners, each with a personal connection to the city, as well as a few family members, to bring The Warbler to life,” Mann continues.
“With The Warbler, Kirk and I were drawn to New Orleans’ storied European heritage, and spotlighting more of that influence through the hotel’s food and beverage experience,” says Neal Bodenheimer, managing partner, CureCo. “You’ll see this shine throughout the entire property, from the refined offerings of the martini bar, Mildred’s, to the more breezy and relaxed nature of the menus at the rooftop venue, Upstairs,” Bodenheimer continues.
The Warbler Hotel is slated to open in late fall 2026 at 1923 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130.
