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Windsor Court Hotel
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The Pontchartrain Hotel
A 14-storey hotel from 1927 on St Charles Avenue, where Tennessee Williams wrote part of A Streetcar Named Desire, with the Jack Rose restaurant and a rooftop bar.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic boutique hotel
- Area
- Garden District, New Orleans, United States
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- thepontchartrainhotel.com
Good to know
- Rooftop bar
- Restaurant
- Patio
- Streetcar on the doorstep
Why we recommend it
The Pontchartrain Hotel has stood on St Charles Avenue, at the corner of Josephine Street, since 1927. E. Lysle Aschaffenburg completed the project his father had planned, and it opened as a residential hotel before most of its units were converted to regular hotel rooms from 1941. Its best-known guest was Tennessee Williams, who wrote part of A Streetcar Named Desire while staying here. In 1948 the hotel created the Caribbean Room, which became one of the city's well-known dining rooms.
After a major renovation the hotel reopened in June 2016, and it is now part of the Aparium Hotel Group. The building is 14 storeys high and has around 106 guest rooms and suites.
The hotel's flagship restaurant, Jack Rose, opened in 2018 in the space once occupied by the Caribbean Room, the dining room created in 1948. The Mile High Pie Club, the Living Room and the Rose Garden Patio give guests other spaces to eat and relax. On the 14th floor, the rooftop bar, Hot Tin, has views towards the French Quarter.
The Pontchartrain suits couples, literary fans and travellers who prefer a quieter neighbourhood base to the French Quarter. Staying here puts you in the Garden District, while the city centre is a ride away on the streetcar. Families and groups who want the bustle of the Quarter on their doorstep may prefer a hotel downtown.
Because the hotel is away from the French Quarter, evenings here are generally calmer, and the rooftop bar and Jack Rose mean you do not need to travel far for dinner and a drink. Taxis and ride-share are the simplest way back from the Quarter late at night. It is a good choice for a second stay in the city, once you have seen the French Quarter and want to experience another neighbourhood.
The St Charles streetcar runs past the hotel, so it is easy to reach Canal Street, the Central Business District and the French Quarter, and to travel the other way to Audubon Park and the zoo. Commander's Palace is also in the Garden District, making it an easy dinner choice during a stay here. Check the hotel's website for current room types and dining hours before you book.
The Pontchartrain Hotel FAQs
Where is The Pontchartrain Hotel?
On St Charles Avenue at the corner of Josephine Street, on the edge of the Garden District.
When did the hotel open?
In 1927, as a residential hotel.
Did Tennessee Williams stay here?
Yes. He wrote part of A Streetcar Named Desire while staying at the hotel.
Is there a rooftop bar?
Yes. Hot Tin is on the 14th floor, with views towards the French Quarter.
What is the hotel restaurant?
Jack Rose, which opened in 2018 in the former Caribbean Room space.
How do I get to the French Quarter?
The St Charles streetcar runs past the hotel to Canal Street.
How many rooms are there?
Around 106 guest rooms and suites.