Windsor Court Hotel

Description

It's no secret that many celebrities make New Orleans their home. But when a who's who from Rod Stewart to Christopher Walken, Viggo Mortensen and every President of the United States from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush are visiting the Big Easy they make the Windsor Court Hotel their home away from home. 

Built from the ground up to be the Windsor Court Hotel, a luxury hotel destination, by New Orleans businessman James "Jimmy" Coleman Jr. in 1984, the Windsor Court was sold to Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. in 1991 and returned into the fold of local ownership in October of 2009 as a multi award-winning destination.

Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Celebrated Living, Southern Living, Zagat, New Orleans Magazine and Expedia have all lavished praise on the Windsor Court, but both Forbes and AAA have awarded the hotel Four Stars and Four Diamonds, respectively, for the last nine years in a row. In fact, The Windsor Court Hotel is the only Four Star/Four Diamond hotel in New Orleans and quite possibly the luxury hotel destination in the city.

In the center of the secluded entrance courtyard that creates a comforting privacy is a statue of St. George the Dragon Slayer -- an iconic medieval symbol of romance -- sculpted by renowned English sculptor John W. Mills. One-hundred-fifty signature roses accent the high-ceilinged lobby, rich with marble, intricate moldings and woven rugs. This British ambience weds with European antiques and reproductions from the 17^th and 18^th century and a stunning collection of royalty-inspired original art valued at over $8 million from such masters as Gainsborough, Huysman and Van Dyck to set the tone for your stay here reminiscent of an English manor house.

And what's an English mansion without afternoon tea?  Located in the lobby is Le Salon. Every Thursday through Sunday indulge in a classic afternoon English tea with seatings at both 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. Choose from an extensive selection of properly brewed teas served in Wedgewood china and enjoy tea sandwiches and scones with Devonshire cream and preserves, while listening to a harpist or string trio. If you favor bubbles, sip from a menu of champagne cocktails while the New Orleans afternoon melts into the Big Easy night.

Within the 23-story Windsor Court are 322 rooms, 266 of which are suites. All accommodations feature either a private balcony or bay window that wonderfully frames the stunning panoramic views of the Mississippi River or the city of New Orleans laid out like a decadent jewel. The finest linens and plush furniture are de rigueur. Suites are a generous living room separated from the bedroom by French doors, a petit kitchen or wet bar stocked with a European mini-bar, a dressing room adjoining the bedroom, an Italian marble bath and soundproofed walls. For those insisting on only the epitome of luxury the 22^nd floor offers a 2,000 square foot penthouse complete with private landscaped terrace, grand piano and original artwork.

The top four floors of the Court are dedicated to the Club Level, renovated in 2007, a private key access-only hotel-within-a-hotel. In addition to upgraded room and suite amenities like pillow-top mattresses, Bose CD stereos and uncompromising stellar views, this exclusive area offers private access to the Club Lounge where a dedicated concierge compliments two outdoor terraces, a fireplace and a baby grand piano with flat screen television along with an extended continental breakfast, all day tea and coffee service and evening hors d'oeuvres with cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks.

Other hotel amenities include 24-hour concierge, room service, valet parking, and business center, a multi-lingual staff, laundry valet, complimentary high speed wired and wireless internet, twice daily housekeeping, choice of daily morning newspaper, fitness center, outdoor roof-top pool with hot tub and an in-room spa service complete with aromatherapy candles and soothing music.

Experience both world class drinking and dining with the award winning Polo Club Lounge and elegant Grill Room, the only Forbes Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond restaurant in New Orleans. Chef Drew Dzejak serves a seasonal, ever-changing modern American cuisine -- complete with that distinctive New Orleans flair -- to reflect the freshest of available ingredients. Compliment your meal with a pairing from sommelier Sara Kavanaugh and the more than 600 label wine cellar that Wine Spectator gave their coveted, Best of Award of Excellence.

Listen to live jazz nightly in the adjacent and exclusive Polo Club Lounge. Mixologist Roger Blais, a veteran bartender of such legendary haunts as Studio 54 and one of Travel + Leisure's, World's Greatest Bartenders, will tempt you with a martini from his celebrated martini menu or, perhaps, a cognac from one of the city's largest collections. You will be in the finest of company. It was here one night when the guests were shocked and delighted with a rather surreal moment when Sir Paul McCartney sat down at the grand piano and serenaded Heather Mills. 

Located near the Canal Street edge of the Central Business District (CBD), The Windsor Court Hotel offers a geography close to where it happens in New Orleans. Directly across the street lies Harrah's Casino. The French Quarter, Canal Place,  Saks Fifth Avenue, and the River Front and Canal Street Streetcar Lines are but a block-and-a-half distant, while the St. Charles Streetcar Line is a mere three blocks away, offering that quick, quaint and quintessential New Orleans streetcar exploration of this Old World city. Additional near-by attractions include the New Orleans Convention Center, Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Insectarium, National World War II Museum, and The Ogden Museum of Southern Art all within a 15-minute walk.

The Windsor Court is also a favored business and wedding destination. In addition to all of its luxury ambience and amenities, the hotel offers up to 10,000 square feet of event/meeting space with a ballroom, executive boardroom, and breakout and meeting rooms that showcase the establishment's signature class with appointments ranging from Waterford crystal chandeliers to 18^th Century Brussels tapestry. For the bride and groom, consider also a preferred area for photographers, a personal attendant for the bride, groom and parents and a full catering staff that will assist in everything from creating your menu with wine pairings to arranging airport transportation.

A preferred establishment among celebrities, world and business leaders, Europeans and couples planning their wedding, the multi award-wining Windsor Court Hotel is the address for elegance and luxury in the Old World city of New Orleans.