A longstanding go-to option for luxury travellers visiting The Big Easy, The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, is a grande dame but no fading beauty. The hotel doesn’t, in fact, rest on its laurels, and instead continues to enchant guests with immersion in the countless cultural facets of one of America’s most unique urban destinations.
The old cliché goes that in Europe, 100 miles is a long way and in America, 100 years is a long time. It generally holds true. American buildings refurbished to what they looked like in 1930 raise barely an eyebrow for Europeans who grew up with castles around the corner. But while staying at The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, we felt very aware of its 130-year history. Not because it’s down at heel – nothing could be further from the truth – but because the hotel feels like the Grande Dame of this storied city: a historic centre point evoking the glamour of the jazz age.
The property is a twenty-minute drive from the airport and a five-minute walk from the French Quarter, just enough distance from the madness to still get a quiet night’s sleep. Its location meant we could walk everywhere (sweltering heat permitting), and the classic frontage communicated that this was a reassuringly old-fashioned establishment. Red carpet and gold columns lead you to a grandiose lobby; the type you know from an old movie, which announces clearly that you’re not checking into a boutique hotel. This is partly owing to the large ornate clock in the lobby (you’ll find one in each Waldorf Astoria hotel), once the subject of a bidding war involving the actor Nicolas Cage.
Rooms at The Roosevelt New Orleans are well-appointed with understated decor and high ceilings. As you’d expect, the beds are comfortable and the bathrooms feature marble finishes and upscale toiletries alongside flat-screen TVs, coffee machines, ample storage, and, in some rooms, views of the city or rooftop pool. With Waldorf Astoria being part of the Hilton brand, the hospitality giant’s app works here and you can check in at any time with little fuss. The app even has a key function, which will come in handy if arriving late or after a delayed flight.
The hotel’s character comes to the fore in the shared spaces with their pendulous chandeliers, art deco mosaic flooring and the lavish wall carvings and murals full of easter eggs (we spotted a cherub with the face of Teddy Roosevelt). During the winter holidays, the property buzzes with festive cheer and the lobby decorations are a sightseeing mainstay, but whatever time of the year you visit, the overall atmosphere is refined yet relaxed, making The Roosevelt New Orleans a fine choice for travellers wanting both comfort and a sense of the local history.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Culturalist | MSY | GMT -5 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Take a morning walk to Cafe Du Monde for coffee and some delicious but oh-so-health-hazardous beignets, while listening to live jazz from a ramshackle band right outside on the street. What more could you ask for? |
The hotel’s dining outlets are all off the main lobby. Teddy’s Café is a casual spot to start the day, with fresh coffee, excellent fried chicken and the ever-present beignets, while the Fountain Lounge is more formal and open for an à la carte menu, including a full breakfast. Meanwhile, lunch and dinner services offer a mix of contemporary American and international classics, and Domenica’s Italian menu attracts both locals and guests, with the restaurant boasting a daily happy hour.
There’s also the Sazerac Bar, a local favourite, whose lively atmosphere and attentive service we loved. Our bartender served us the eponymous Sazerac house cocktail, a bold blend of cognac and absinthe that will put hairs on your chest. The bar’s huge mural from 1938 by artist Paul Ninas as well as a bullet hole behind the bar add to the charm of the venue. Sazerac is also the location of the longstanding Ladies’ March, which originated in the mid-20th century when it was considered taboo for women to gather at bars. Every holiday season, a group of local women would march to The Roosevelt New Orleans to claim their space at the bar, marking an informal takeover. This tradition has become a beloved part of the city’s culture, with women dressing up and continuing the march each year, especially around the holidays.
On the occasion when we required the services of the hotel’s concierge, we were very pleased with how quickly and efficiently they arranged our trips, not least thanks to their encyclopaedic knowledge and reassuring air required of the role. The Roosevelt New Orleans might be a 130-year-old grande dame but she’s no fading beauty. We found the hotel to be the perfect base for our trip, plugging us into local culture while offering all the modern conveniences discerning travellers could need.
www.therooseveltneworleans.com
Photography courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
