As the transformation of the old Harrah’s casino into the new Caesars in downtown New Orleans has been a long time coming, and now some of the final pieces are landing in dramatic fashion for food and drink.

August saw the arrival of Nobu, a luxury restaurant from one of the biggest names in global cuisine. And this week, the casino raised the curtain on its new lounge, Octavia, an Art Deco-inspired showpiece in the center of the casino, and adjacent to Nobu.

Octavia replaces the former Masquerade, a dark, clubby “ultra lounge” that was a hallmark of the old Harrah’s. The new lounge makes a distinctive departure.

You walk through any one of eight entrances to find a soaring space with games along the perimeter, clusters of lounge seating and a large bar in the center, with a striking glass installation descending from the ceiling two stories above. That piece alone was estimated to cost some $750,000.

The bar’s specialty cocktail menu ($17-$20) has drinks riffing on New Orleans themes, including a hurricane, a take on the Pimm’s Cup, and a nitro-infused hurricane.

There’s also the “paper fortune teller Sazerac.” Order this and the bartender will bring you a special gaming die to roll at the bar; whatever number comes up to decide how many times the bartender will shuffle that paper fortune teller, the origami school kid game; and this will reveal the style of Sazerac you get. Or you can hedge your bets and just order the classic.

The name Octavia was chosen for its intersection of different meanings. The female form for the Latin word eighth, it was the name of Julius Caesar’s grand-niece. Eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture, a signal of prosperity. The casino’s address happens to be 8 Canal St. And New Orleans has an Octavia Street running Uptown from the riverfront.

Octavia doesn’t serve food, but it is close by the casino’s restaurants. That includes Nobu and the casino’s food hall concept, with fast casual options from local chef Nina Compton and Food Network stars Bobby Flay and Buddy Valastro. Emeril’s Brasserie is across the casino, by the Canal Street entrance.

Octavia’s hours are Mon.-Thu. 4 p.m.-midnight, Fri., Sat. noon-2 a.m., Sun. noon-midnight.