Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

This grand old hotel on the outskirts of the French Quarter was a Fairmont for many years (since 1965) before Hurricane Katrina four years ago. But New Orleans old-timers always knew it as the Roosevelt. The hotel, once the Grunwald, was renamed in 1923 in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. My memories if the Fairmont all revolved around the holiday season, when the entire lobby was transformed into a snowy winter wonderland where Santa and Mrs. Claus hosted their annual Teddy Bear Tea. In July 2009 Waldorf=Astoria started a new chapter in the hotel's history, opening it once again as the Roosevelt. Take a photo tour of Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

Santa wasn't the only celebrity associated with the Roosevelt throughout its history. Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles were among the performers seen at the famous supper club, The Blue Room. Elvis stayed here while filming the movie King Creole.

I checked into the Roosevelt to see what old traditions were restored at this beautiful grand hotel, and what was new. After pulling up to the main entrance and checking the car with the valet ($38 a night for parking, ouch), I stepped inside.

The lobby is still a stunner, stretching a full city block. The floor is lined with marble and mosaic tile, a replica of the original flooring found when the carpets were removed. Impressive crystal chandeliers hang the entire length of the lobby, and a cheerful staff member was polishing each until they shined even more brightly. The Roosevelt follows a tradition of all Waldorf=Astoria hotels with a unique antique clock in the entryway. It dates back to the 1800s, and is wound in a weekly ceremony.

On the rooftop, the old tennis courts were replaced with a small swimming pool and poolside bar. Construction was still going on below when I visited and the landscaping wasn't yet complete, but I was still ready to jump in and enjoy the downtown views.

The Guerlain Spa wasn't open yet when I visited. Only the third location in the U.S., it will be full-service and include a 2,300 square foot fitness center.

I checked into a corner King Suite on the third floor. Despite a few small opening-day kinks in the room -- the plant in the corner still had its tag, the bedside lamp was unplugged -- the room was opulent. Two large flat-screen TVs, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, plus a smaller one mounted in the bathroom, stayed off as we enjoyed the Bose iPod docking station on the desk. The color scheme was cream, burgundy and yellow, with rich patterns, layered window coverings, and leather chairs and accessories all adding to a luxe, almost royal feeling.

There was plenty of room for the kids to sleep in the living room, with a pull-out sofa and a crib easily sharing space, and room to walk around. (Of course, they always end up sleeping in the King bed anyway, but that's another story.) I was looking forward to enjoying the shower the next morning, with no less than four shower heads. A large closet in the bedroom provided plenty of space for suitcases so nothing was underfoot.

The hotel has high-speed Internet access through out, and while we could see a strong wireless signal and connect from our room, we couldn't get out to any web sites. A phone call yielded no results but a promise of a call back, which we never received.

The Sazerac Bar and Restaurant (where you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner) opens off the lobby. The dinner menu was mouth-watering - from seafood gumbo to fois gras. Open October 2009 is Chef John Besh's latest, Domenica, featuring rural Italian fare using local ingredients. There's also a small coffee shop in the lobby, with snacks and ice cream. Local favorite PJs Coffee created a special Roosevelt Hotel coffee blend, which you can get by the cup or the bag here.

We stopped in on a Monday night, when the crowd was small but lively, to try the Sazerac's two famous drinks. The Ramos Gin Fizz not only won out, it might be my new favorite drink. Creamy and tall like a pina colada, but with a tangy lemon-lime kick, it was a drink I could get into trouble with. The Sazerac, while I could see it was a great summer drink (cold, but no ice to melt, and a light fruity aroma) had a strong alcohol-and-licorice taste that was a bit much for me.

The Roosevelt also has 60,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom. I imagine this is going to be a popular wedding spot -- imagine putting "Waldorf=Astoria Ballroom" on your wedding invitations. One of the oldest Catholic churches in New Orleans, Immaculate Conception, is across the street. (Reviewed 9/1/2009)

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Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans is located In downtown New Orleans, walking distance from the French Quarter..
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 USA
Phone: (504) 648-1200; Reservations: (800) 925-3673
Email: info@therooseveltneworleans.com
Web site: Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

^{As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.}