The Polo Club
New Orleans
At a glance
The Polo Club Lounge at Windsor Court is a celebrated cocktail venue nestled in the heart of New Orleans, renowned for its classic yet vibrant atmosphere. This elegant cocktail bar is reminiscent of a private English club, adorned with rich dark wood and plush leather furnishings, offering a timeless setting for both locals and visitors alike. Positioned adjacent to The Grill Room on the second floor of the hotel, the venue is noted for its extensive collection of spirits, including one of the largest Cognac selections in the city, which pairs perfectly with its elevated pub fare.
Serving guests from late morning to late night, The Polo Club features a menu that puts a New Orleans twist on classic pub dishes, catering to a range of tastes with options like charcuterie and artisanal flatbreads. The culinary offerings provide a delightful complement to the bar’s classic cocktail selections, creating a well-rounded dining and drinking experience.
Music is a highlight of the Polo Club experience, with live jazz performances filling the air nightly. Visitors can enjoy piano performances from talented local jazz artists during the week, and soulful band performances on the weekends. The club's warm and lively ambiance makes it ideal for anyone looking to relax with a pre-dinner cocktail, enjoy an evening meal, or wind down with a nightcap.
While The Polo Club welcomes anyone seeking a sophisticated night out, guests should be mindful of its age policy, as those under 18 are not permitted after 8:00 p.m. Despite being part of a hotel, the lounge is very much an open and inclusive space where locals and hotel guests can mingle, enhancing its status as a beloved local spot.
Reviews
TLDR: made to feel like an inconvenience during a birthday celebration, so wouldn’t recommend it for special occasions based on my experience. Long version: I want to start by saying that I’m genuinely open to updating this review if I return and have a better experience. This review reflects one visit, and I sincerely hope it isn’t representative of the Polo Lounge’s usual level of service. I stayed at the Windsor Court for a birthday staycation and my friends surprised me at the Polo Lounge to celebrate. We were all paying customers and ordered drinks and food throughout the evening. Our visit was on Tuesday, July 20, at around 8:00 p.m. The lounge was very quiet—we were the only group when we arrived, and only a few additional guests came in afterward. This wasn’t a busy evening. Unfortunately, throughout the night, our server made us feel like every request was an inconvenience. Simple questions were often met with visible frustration, to the point that we found ourselves apologizing for asking for things. We brought a birthday cake and asked for plates, and while they kindly brought some, there weren’t enough for everyone. They also provided forks, which we appreciated. When we asked if we could also have spoons for the cake and ice cream, our server again seemed frustrated. After leaving for several minutes, she returned and told us they couldn’t provide spoons because “that would be an extra service and cut into the service charge.” No alternative was offered, and we weren’t given the option to pay for them. It was a surprising response to what felt like a very small request during a birthday celebration. I eventually went downstairs to the front desk to ask for spoons. They immediately told me the Polo Lounge should be able to provide them. When I explained that they had declined, the front desk staff went out of their way to find spoons for us themselves. Their kindness and willingness to help stood in sharp contrast to the experience we had upstairs. Thankfully, I was surrounded by wonderful friends, so we still had a great evening. However, I wouldn’t recommend the Polo Lounge as a place to celebrate a special occasion based on this experience. At a hotel with Windsor Court’s reputation, I expected to feel welcomed—not like a paying customer whose requests were a burden. New Orleans has so many wonderful restaurants and bars, especially local businesses that make guests feel genuinely welcome. If you’re planning a celebration, I would encourage you to consider one of those instead. Finally, I do want to acknowledge that bringing our own birthday cake may not have been ideal for the staff, and if we created any inconvenience, I sincerely apologize. I simply wish those expectations had been communicated more clearly from the beginning. Had we known that accommodating a birthday celebration would be an issue, we would have happily chosen another venue. Side note, they don’t allow lighting of candles due an open flame rule so keep that in mind also for celebrations!
Very comfortable, cute, great atmosphere with the pianist playing. Some pretty annoying bro-ey customers, but not much you can do about that. The cocktails were on point.
