It’s been a while since I’ve been to a proper hotel lounge. I don’t know about you, but I love hotel lounges. Who needs a cash minibar when you have a well-appointed room with a free real bar? As much as I love hanging out in hotel rooms, I love having the option to go to a much better room and indulge in snacks and drinks and (usually) better views. Luckily, I got to experience a fantastic lounge at the Windsor Court Hotel this past weekend during my trip to New Orleans.
The Basics
The Windsor Court is a newer hotel that looks very old. That’s not to say it looks decrepit or anything — in fact, it’s quite well maintained. It’s just that it was built in 1984 and has a very classic old English style to it. The lounge fits this design motif, too. Picture a giant three room suite, but instead of a bedroom, you’ve got a tricked out library with a full buffet and bar. That’s the Club Lounge at the Windsor Court.
All the way up on the 22nd floor, you’ve got great views of the New Orleans riverfront where cruise ships dock to let eager pre-inebriates off into the Southern Sin City. While I enjoyed the Club Concierge service (basically a dedicated concierge just for club guests), the part I really enjoyed about the lounge was — what else? — the food.
What You Can Expect
The Windsor Court Club Lounge offers four different service periods and the buffet gets stocked for each one. In the morning, there’s a great breakfast that goes beyond classic continental with grits, smoked salmon, fruit, and your standard pastries, fresh fruits, coffee, and cereals.
The afternoon brings a condensed version of the High Tea that the Windsor Court is known for in their lobby. On Sunday morning, I saw a bunch of fancy ladies in hats sitting down to the real tea service downstairs and if I didn’t have a full schedule of eating in front of me, I would have gone upstairs for mini tea sandwiches, too.
After the afternoon service, there’s a Happy Hour with hot snacks like buffalo chicken spring rolls and shrimp casino as well as the full bar service. I was impressed to see such substantial plates set out for the happy hour. I mean, crab and crawfish mac & cheese? That’s pretty awesome. If you didn’t have dinner plans, you could easily eat a whole meal’s worth here at the bar.
The last service period is a dessert and cordial hour at the end of the night. I never made it up here during this time, but I’m sure it rivaled the other time periods in terms of sophistication and selection.
Overall, I was really impressed with the breadth of this club lounge’s offerings. Instead of tiny little bites, they really seem to go above and beyond in terms of what they’re offering.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a classic hotel lounge experience with excellent service in a comfortable setting, the Windsor Court would be a great choice.
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