The Best Luxury Hotels in New Orleans’s Central Business District

Complete with top-notch service, Maison de la Luz is the ultimate luxurious guest house, right in the heart of New Orleans’s CBD. It has 67 suites, each decked out with high-quality bed linen and luxury furnishings, giving it a Parisian feel. Breakfast is served on the first floor, with options such as the Louisiana crawfish and spinach benedict – it’s a house specialty. Enjoy nightly wine and cheese in the guest-only Living Room before going out to dinner.

Housed in a stately 1880s building, the St James Hotel has a warm, charming feel, complete with a cobbled courtyard and luxurious lobby. Each of the 84 rooms features hardwood floors and muted colors. Start your day with a complimentary European breakfast of croissants, jam and hot coffee, plus be sure to make a reservation at the Chophouse New Orleans next door for a succulent steak prepared Pittsburgh-style (charred exterior).

Le Méridien New Orleans is an upscale hotel that features more than 400 stylish and modern rooms and suites, a hip lobby bar, a fitness center and a rooftop pool with private cabanas. It’s the perfect luxurious option for those wishing to stay within walking distance of the historic French Quarter and Arts District. While standard hotel rooms at Le Méridien have large flat-screen TVs, wifi (for a fee) and mini-fridges, upgraded suites offer panoramic views of the Mississippi River.

Set in the Arts District, the Omni Riverfront is a historic luxury hotel offering elegant accommodation. Just steps away from top attractions – including the Ernest N Morial Convention Center and the Contemporary Arts Center – the hotel has a relaxed bistro and bar with an upbeat atmosphere, a fitness center and a courtyard with a fountain. Inside its stately traditional rooms and suites, you’ll find flat-screen TVs, wifi (for a fee) and coffee makers. And if you are traveling with kids, they get free backpacks with goodies and evening milk and cookies on the first night.

On the National Register of Historic Places, Le Pavillon is a luxury hotel that dates back to 1907. It features baroque decor, a beautiful ornate lobby with high ceilings, marble pillars and crystal chandeliers, fine-dining restaurants serving Southern-inspired fare, a rooftop pool and most importantly, free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every night. Le Pavillon’s elegant rooms have classical decor, flat-screen TVs and free wifi, while antiques, hand-carved fireplaces, four-poster beds and sculptures adorn its individually decorated suites.

The five-star luxury Windsor Court Hotel has been serving celebrities, royals and discerning travelers since 1984. This European-style building near the French Quarter not only houses big rooms with Italian marble baths, iPod docks and free wifi, but also a rooftop pool, a fitness center, several restaurants, a grand salon for afternoon tea, a lounge with live jazz and an impressive art collection. Lauded as one of the best – if not the best – luxury and most romantic hotels in New Orleans, the Windsor Court is the perfect choice for those who wish to enjoy high-end amenities within walking distance of the area’s main attractions.

Set inside a grand 19th-century building, the Roosevelt New Orleans is a five-star luxury hotel with a beautiful lobby and world-class service. It’s also home to a rooftop pool, a hot tub, loungers, cabanas, a full-service spa and a 24-hour fitness center. Only one block away from Bourbon Street, it features rooms and suites with traditional decor, flat-screen TVs and wifi (for a fee). Its culinary options include a dining spot serving Italian cuisine, a sophisticated lounge offering cocktails and small plates, a coffee shop and the historic Sazerac Bar.

Housed inside a converted bank building, which is also a National Historic Landmark, the three-star Whitney Hotel is in the heart of the CBD. Only minutes away from the historic French Quarter, it has impeccable accommodation and easy access to the St Charles Streetcar line, taking you to almost anywhere around the city. The Whitney Hotel also offers parking, laundry services, a fitness center and free wifi.