The Windsor CourtNew Orleans, LA

Best New Orleans Hotels: Stays Designed with Luxury in Mind

#8 Windsor Court Hotel

This uber luxe 23-story landmark hotel in the Central Business District turns 30 in 2014, and she's not showing her age a bit. Long the go-to spot for celebrities, athletes and corporate thought leaders, the Windsor Court Hotel underwent a stem to stern renovation a few years back and is in mint condition. Rooms feature Frette linens, oversized Molton Brown bath products, personalized turndown service, plush terry robes, iHome docking stations and flat screen HD TVs. The highly rated Grill Room restaurant features elegant modern cuisine from chef de cuisine Daniel Causgrove and wine pairings from sommelier John Mitchell. The Polo Club Lounge is a sophisticated live music venue sure to impress.

From the New York Times:
By AMY TARA KOCHJUNE 1, 2016

Sometimes rowdy parades, random eruptions of jazz and traffic jams involving cross-dressing belles on the way to a Krewe ball are just what a family vacation calls for. It is this unapologetic sass, in fact, that makes children fall head over heels in love with New Orleans.

Once they see rainbow-colored houses and adults sporting what looks like Halloween apparel (even outside of Mardi Gras season) without anyone so much as offering a querulous double take, they understand that this is no slog-through-museums type of trip. In fact, no need to enter a museum at all.

Though the city has many outstanding institutions, the best interaction with Nola’s curious brew of culture happens right in the street. It’s promenading past the historic homes of the Garden District. Weaving through the career buskers in Jackson Square. Locating — and dancing to — a brass band performance on Frenchmen Street after dark. Each neighborhood has a flavor, and exploring the various pockets, gritty, glam and everything in between, is the main event.

New Orleans’s reputation as the ultimate American party town is part of its charm, even to families with young children. But not in a knock-back-shots-on-Bourbon-Street kind of way. It’s the mood. The quirky mash-up of cultures — French, Spanish, Caribbean and American South — lends an exuberance to the tourist experience. It’s also an excellent jumping-off point for teaching moments. While children are spellbound by beignets and bowling to live “swamp pop,” a Creole/Cajun/rockabilly musical genre unique to Louisiana, parents can stealthily work in discourse on colonialism and position “Nouvelle Orleans” as a microcosm of the melting pot called America.

The 10 Best Hotels in New Orleans

Travel & Leisure has named the Windsor Court the number one hotel in New Orleans for the 3rd year in a row!

From editor-loved properties to T+L award-winning stays, we’ve got you covered.

By Lydia Mansel Posted March 15. 2024 While it has a reputation for live music, parades, and general merriment, New Orleans has a complex identity that blatantly refuses to be placed into just one box. Instead, it thrives on an energy fueled by its residents' creativity, passion, and love of a good story; the only constant is its dynamism and dedication to preserving the past. This spirited thrum also extends to its top-tier hotels. Outside of their commitment to providing the level of hospitality synonymous with the South, no two properties are alike.

Whatever your inclination, we’ve rounded up a list of the very best hotels in New Orleans, based on a combination of editor-loved properties, first-hand experience, and winners from T+L’s World’s Best Awards and It List. With each of these top-quality stays, you can expect sublime service, sumptuous accommodations, and eclectic dining options to suit every taste and style.

Whether you’re headed to the Crescent City for the first time or you simply can’t get enough of its unique brand of magic, read on for the best hotels in New Orleans.

01 of 10 The Windsor Court

What We Like

• The dining options within the hotel are destinations in and of themselves.

What to Consider

• It veers more toward traditional than trendy.

The Windsor Court consistently receives high marks from T+L readers in the World’s Best Awards, most recently in 2022 and 2023. It’s an elegant property — complete with an afternoon tea service — that checks nearly every box. Starting from the top: there’s the 65-foot saltwater rooftop pool and accompanying bar, which both act as excellent reprieves from the stifling summer heat.

As for dining, for larger, less casual meals, you have a few options. There’s The Grill Room, Le Salon (where the aforementioned tea is served), and the “elevated pub fare” at The Polo Club. Most travelers come to New Orleans for the music scene, and the latter location answers the call with nightly jazz performances by local musicians. The guest rooms and suites won’t leave you wanting, either; the decor exudes femininity without feeling too precious, and the Diptyque amenities provide an additional swanky touch to the setting.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Central Business District
• Distance from Airport: 15 miles from MSY
• Nearby Attractions: Riverwalk Outlets, Lafayette Square, Preservation Hall, d.b.a
• Accessibility: There are ADA-compliant guest rooms
• Rates: From $297 per night
• Parking: Yes, $53 (plus tax) per night