New Orleans, Louisiana
The Windsor Court
Bastion of urbanity in the Big Easy
What it is
A genteel high-rise that seems far from the madding crowds of Bourbon Street—though it’s merely blocks away.
What it isn't
Party central. Windsor Court guests may well head to the Quarter for dinner at Antoine's, but they’re coming home to hush-hush tranquility.
What we think
Raucous revelry is only fun for so long—eventually, even the Vampire Lestat must get his rest. And for those whose New Orleans indulgence is sophisticated rather than sophomoric, the just-renovated Windsor Court is the place to rest one's head. The hotel's long-held reputation for excellence extends from the guest rooms (decorated in French country style) to the spa (where you can hit reset with a ginger oil detox massage). Don’t miss the proper Southern afternoon tea in Le Salon, where the Cajun Milk Punch cocktail is, as they put it down here, Slap-Yo-Momma-Good. But as one so perfectly put it, this hotel’s most luxurious amenity is one money can’t buy in this city: silence.
You're here because
You can’t bear to stay in a faceless corporate chain when you’re in the heady, ever-romantic atmosphere of the South; Windsor Court is stocked with antiques and art at every turn, not to mention a cobblestoned courtyard with babbling fountains. Plus: there’s a year-round saltwater pool up on the roof.
The Moment
As much as you admire Preservation Hall, some of the city’s best jazz can be found right here in the British-inspired Polo Club Lounge. You pull up a leather club chair—and a Gone Pecan cocktail, with Louisiana pecan syrup—to take in the live crooning of Robin Barnes, a.k.a. "The Songbird of New Orleans."
Restaurants & Bars
The Grill Room - Contemporary Southern dinning
The Polo Club Lounge featuring nightly entertainment
Location
In the Central Business District, a two-block stroll from the French Quarter and the sternwheelers bobbing on the Mississippi River.