The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

"The palatial Maison Blanche building was an elegant department store for most of its existence, redeveloped in the 1980s as the New Orleans outpost of the Ritz-Carlton. Today it's a popular stop for visitors of note, from politicians to professional sports teams—one that delivers the brand's signature quality, hospitality, and luxury. The City View King Rooms are as traditionally luxurious as you might expect. Period-inspired décor is sophisticated without feeling dated—embroidered headboards, elaborate curtains, and velvet armchairs. As this is New Orleans, the hotel has its own resident jazz musician; every weekend in the Davenport Lounge, trumpeter Jeremy Davenport plays his way through the classic American songbook." - Paul Oswell