Roosevelt Hotel to Reopen in June

The Roosevelt Hotel Entrance

The Sazerac Bar

The Grand Lobby

The Blue Room

During its heyday, it was the Grande Dame of Southern hotels. For well over a century the Roosevelt Hotel (originally the Grunewald and later the Fairmont) acquired a near-mythical reputation for elegance and pizzazz, not to mention the storied history that unfolded within its walls for the entire duration of the 1900s.

The legendary “Kingfish,” Huey P. Long was a “regular” at the Roosevelt during the height of his career in the 1930s. Elvis Presley luxuriated there in the mid-1950s during his filming of King Creole. Thousands of people – the famous and the not-so-famous – made The Roosevelt their home away from home during their stays in New Orleans.

Taken out of commerce by flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Roosevelt is poised for a grand reopening in June, following an extensive $145 million restoration by the hotel’s new parent corporation, the Waldorf Astoria Collection. This historic landmark with its golden columns, plush carpeting and crystal chandeliers will once again combine elegant guest rooms, fine dining and entertainment venues, luxurious meeting spaces and new amenities and indulgences that will add to what promises to be a unique living experience.

Among the offerings of the Roosevelt are the following:

• The Blue Room: The storied nightclub whose walls once echoed with the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Bob Hope, and scores of other musical and comedic immortals will return to its former glory with Sunday Jazz Brunches featuring some of today's top musicians, along with great food and drinks.
• The Sazerac Bar: Named for what is widely believed to be the world’s first cocktail, the Sazerac was one of the best-known watering holes in the country. Home of the Ramos Gin Fizz and other famous alcoholic concoctions, it was the site of the 1949 “Storming of the Sazerac” by a group of women insistent on being accorded equal rights as the men. That notable event became a fun New Orleans tradition commemorated every year until the hotel’s forced closure after Katrina.
• The Sazerac Restaurant: Inspired by the history and vibrance of the legendary bar just steps away, the Sazerac Restaurant will offer signature creations to delight the palate and a perfect setting for breakfast with the family, lunch with friends or an intimate dinner for two.
• Domenica: New to The Roosevelt New Orleans, Domenica is the latest creation of internationally acclaimed chef John Besh. Combining the cuisine of rural Italy with Chef Besh’s insistence on using only the best local ingredients, the restaurant will offer homemade pastas, cured meats and wood-fired pizzas in a stylish atmosphere.
• Teddy’s Café: Just off The Roosevelt’s grand lobby, Teddy’s Café is an exclusive coffee and sweets shop committed to the time-honored, coffee-making tradition of New Orleans. It offers local favorites like coffee with chicory and café au lait, along with cappuccinos, espressos and frozen drinks.
• Pool Café: Adjacent to The Roosevelt pool and garden terrace, the Pool Café offers an open-air bar featuring a menu of light, delectable hors d’oeuvres and exotic drinks like Mai Tais, Margaritas, Mojitos and more.
• In-room Dining: For those who savor their privacy and tranquility, The Roosevelt offers first-class room service in all of their elegant guest rooms and suites for all meals or snacks.
• Guerlain Spa: One of only three locations in the United States, the prestigious Guerlain name carries with it 180 years of beauty and relaxation. It features a full line of spa services from massages and facial treatments to hand therapies and complete day spa experiences, each personally tailored to revive mind, body and soul, plus a 2,300 square foot, state-of-the-art fitness center.
• The “Snow Tunnel”: A great New Orleans Christmas tradition begun by The Roosevelt and continued by the Fairmont. The full length of the lobby, from the Baronne Street entrance to the University Place entrance, was covered with white fluff and colorful lights, simulating the effect of snow in a breathtaking yet tasteful, non-gaudy manner. The tradition is expected to resume for this year’s holiday season.

Room amenities include:

• High speed internet access in all guest rooms and public areas
• Flat screen TVs
• 24 hour in-room dining
• Concierge services
• Laundry and dry cleaning services
• Full-service Business Center
• Overnight shoeshine

For conventions, meetings and other large and small gatherings, The Roosevelt will feature more than 60,000 square feet of event space, including three grand ballrooms and a total of 23 individual meeting rooms. The hotel will also be available for weddings, receptions, private parties, Carnival balls, and other special functions.

For Reservations call 1-800-WALDORF; general inquires 504-648-1200; group sales 504-648-1200; or log onto their website info@therooseveltneworleans.com.