A hop off I-10 lies Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge, which completed renovations late November 2022. We visited while the hotel underwent renovations.

During our mid-afternoon arrival, painters were busy putting the final touches on a first-floor hallway.

Although it was too early for the restaurant and bar to be open, a hotel guest enthusiastically played the piano in the bar. We sat down to enjoy the short performance. This is Louisiana, meaning we are accustomed to impromptu concerts. When he finished playing, we stepped outside for a closer look at the outdoor pool.

© Jim Twardowski

We discovered the hotel has a newly opened, 1,800-square-foot outdoor fitness space sitting on artificial turf. The workout stations are by Move Strong. Guests can access the area from the indoor fitness center, which spans an impressive 3,000 square feet and features new cardio equipment and strength training equipment.

Our room was an Executive Level accommodation with two beds and a balcony. The bathroom was spotless, and the backlit mirror provided ample lighting for touching up makeup or doing a morning shave. Other amenities include a microwave oven, coffeemaker and mini fridge.

Drinks and snacks were available at the Concierge Club Lounge. For dinner, we ate a Mansurs on the Boulevard. Serving Creole cuisine since 1989, the fine-dining restaurant’s food and service were exceptional. The charbroiled oysters with spicy garlic Parmesan butter were a table-pleasing choice. You can’t go wrong ordering the dish that made Mansurs famous — cedar-roasted red fish served with seasoned Creole lemon butter. And for dessert, our table shared the decadent creme brûlée. Reservations are highly recommended — even on a weeknight — and the location is less than a five-minute drive from the hotel.

© Jim Twardowski

The 294-room Crowne Plaza Executive Center hotel is centrally located — just 15 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from LSU. The dog-friendly property makes a convenient choice, whether you are a family attending a football game or an executive needing a comfortable home base for an extended stay in Baton Rouge.

Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge

428 Constitution Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
tel 225 925 2244