The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

The Hotel

The Roosevelt New Orleans opened in 1893 and has been through more incarnations — the Grunewald, the Roosevelt, the Fairmont, the Roosevelt again — than any other hotel in the city. Under Waldorf Astoria management since 2009, the property operates as the most historically significant luxury hotel in Louisiana, with a 300-foot main corridor that has been described as the most opulent hotel interior south of New York.

The Sazerac Bar, off the main corridor, claims to be the birthplace of the Sazerac cocktail — the rye whiskey, Peychaud's bitters, and absinthe rinse that became New Orleans's official cocktail in 2008. The claim is disputed but the bar is indisputable: its 1949 Paul Ninas murals of Louisiana plantation life and its bar programme, which treats the Sazerac with the respect it deserves, make it the finest hotel bar in the South.

The 504 rooms occupy the original 1893 building and a 1965 tower addition. The tower rooms are larger and have the better views; the original building rooms have the architectural character. Domenica restaurant on the ground floor serves a Roman-influenced Italian menu that is the most acclaimed hotel restaurant in the CBD.

Best for Anniversary

The Roosevelt's combination of Louisiana history, the Sazerac Bar, and the Waldorf Astoria service standard makes it the anniversary hotel for guests who want New Orleans at its most historically saturated. The Governor's Suite — where Huey Long actually slept — is the most storied hotel room in Louisiana. See all anniversary hotels →

Best for Bachelor/Bachelorette

The Sazerac Bar, the proximity to Bourbon Street (two blocks), and the Roosevelt's capacity to handle group bookings at scale make it the most logistically capable bachelor/bachelorette hotel in New Orleans. The hotel's group events team has managed more Mardi Gras groups than any other property in the city. See all bachelor/bachelorette hotels →

From $300/night. Check availability.