Ritz-Carlton
Years in the making, the Ritz-Carlton, in a former department store, immediately set a new standard for service in the city. It has a great traditional Louisiana restaurant called Victor's, a happening bar with live music, as well as the biggest, plushest spa in all of New Orleans (921 Canal St.; 504-524-1331). 

Maison Orléans
The tiny, tony Maison is the Ritz-Carlton chain's first boutique hotel. And the pampering is taken to even greater extremes than usual, with personal butlers, Frette linens and a minibar stocked only with your preselected favorites (904 Iberville St.; 504-670-2900). 

Hotel Monaco New Orleans
This 250-room hotel, in a former Masonic temple, has a fresh take on New Orleans style: primitive art in the lobby, bathrooms with black granite and pistachio walls and beds draped in mosquito netting. And don't miss the lobby restaurant, Cobalt (333 St. Charles Ave.; 504-561-0010).