Rendez-Vous at the Pontchartrain Hotel
My flight arrived quite early in the morning. I made it safely to the Pontchartrain Hotel, barely escaping the sudden rainstorm that interrupted a sweltering day in early July. Still woozy from a red-eye, I was able to check-in a few hours early. Nestled in the garden district, the historic hotel sits along St. Charles street car line in Uptown New Orleans. Built in 1927 and renovated in 2014, the hotel was named one of the Best New Hotels in the World by Travel and Leisure in 2017.
Table of Contents
Check In
The front desk was flanked by curtains. The young woman at the front desk said that she “had been expecting me” and introduced me to her father, the bellman, who escorted me to the Clio King room. I was given an antique key, which they asked me to return to the front desk when going out. (I could imagine myself losing such a priceless piece of equipment on Bourbon Street). Throughout my stay, the staff remembered my name.
The Room
My beautiful room didn’t feel like it was from the twenty-first century. I snuggled onto a velvet chair to gaze at the chandelier, the antique cabinets, and peony pink curtains. I snuggled into my pink robe and bathed with Labo toiletry products in the flaw-foot tub. The medicine cupboard was filled with playful decoration.
At times, the cozy room felt more like an eccentric aunt’s mansion than a highly rated hotel.
The Restaurants
Downstairs, I sat beside a Lil Wayne portrait in the Living Room and ordered the signature The Jack Rose, a melange of whiskey, apple brandy, pomegranate, rose, citrus, and egg white on Happy Hour price. In August 2019, Jack Rose was named “Best Hotel Restaurant” in the United States by USA Today.
Finally, my fiancé arrived. Having known each other for only a few weeks at this point in our relationship, we were practically strangers. This hotel was perfect for such a rendez-vous. We were prepared to abandon the modern technologies and comforts, such as room service, for a sophisticated and romantic experience.
We took the old, creaky elevator to Hot Tin Rooftop Bar to sip on sparkling rosé while marveling at the views of the Mississippi River. The bar’s design was inspired by 1940s American playwright, Tennessee Williams, who lived at the hotel while writing A Streetcar Named Desire. The other dining options on the first floor included the Bayou Bar, a luxurious tavern with an extensive whiskey and beer list, and the coffee bar Silver Whistle.
We said goodbye to the valet and walked just a few steps to the St. Andrew & St. Charles Ave Station to catch a streetcar that would take us further into the Garden District. This area of New Orleans was a peaceful, quiet and romantic alternative to the French Quarter, though it was inconvenient from the Convention Center downtown.
