Taking up the space that was once the Trolley Stop Cafe, the super chic Warbler Hotel is an architectural feast for the eyes and a playground for every other sense. The 58-room hotel immediately signals the curves inside through large arched windows that make viewing St. Charles Avenue feel like looking at living art. The lounge and bar/restaurant Mildred's on the ground floor throb with activity from locals who love getting an after-work martini and catching up with neighbors; visitors will love getting into this mix. Verdant green is pulled throughout the spaces in wall color, curtains, and the terrazzo floor bejeweled with jagged-edged green marble; curved walls and lovely arches that transport you to the Art Deco era. There may be more curved edges than straight ones.
The rooftop pool features its own dining experience with small plates and pretty cocktails. The gorgeous infinity-edge pool looks like a piece of glass in the ground. Hand-painted murals and scenic views of the city make you feel transported to another place. For the locals, the pool area is open to public starting at 4 PM daily. While the view here is immaculate, the views from the rooms and suites are just as nice. Texture is in; from the velvety couches to the plush beds to the colorful tile bathrooms that evoke memories of your grandma's mid-century bathroom.
Back on the ground floor, Mildred's begins to fill with the dinner crowd as the happy hour guests leave for the night. Cool jazz and rebellious, yet chic old French pop lightly plays. This is a perfect sound environment, in my experienced opinion. The room doesn't boom; the plush furniture and round corners soak up unwanted noise so that you can have that deep conversation.
I sat by the arched window watching passersby stroll and the streetcars rattle up and down. An Obituary seemed like the perfect drink for Halloween, and it's one of Mildred's Martinis. I was told that the menu descriptions were to die for, and I had a giggle at Obituary's: "The quintessential New Orleans martini: a healthy dose of London dry gin and a bit of dry vermouth, improved by the scent of absinthe and lemon, as New Orleanians are wont to do."
Speaking of vermouth, the special Vermouth Service here will be a huge hit. I am chagrinned to say I didn't know that vermouth was something to be had by itself, but I was informed that this is a Spanish tradition. Once the Obituary had run dry, the lovely server sauntered by with a pour of Lustau Vermut Rose. To my untrained palate, it was reminiscent of bubblegum which slowly turned into a more tart taste. The service is rounded out with salty bites of potato chips, nuts, and the biggest green olives I've ever seen (mercifully pitted). With the saltiness of the snacks, the vermouth's sweetness mellowed into fruitiness like peach.
Mildred's aims to bring new twists to tapas. The Tomato Bread starts off with exceptionally thick toast that holds the weight of the diced tomato like a champ. I was told that this bread can stay crisp overnight, and I believe that. The tomato mixture is moist yet shockingly cohesive for the minced size. A not-shy amount of shaved cheese, parsley, and olive oil on top does not sink through the tomato into the bread, so it retains its own character.
The Boquerónes and Avocado dish was just as green as the decor. The sliced baguettes were piled with fresh avocado slices, green onion, and green herbs, all mysteriously and miraculously held together with moisture so that crumbling wasn't a concern. The fluffy, crunchy Clam Toast had all the goodness baked in. Rather than being piled up, the warm bread loaf had minced clam and Calabrian chilies cooked right in.
The Warbler Hotel is a welcome and incredible property to the historic St. Charles Avenue corridor. I certainly recommend stopping by for a cheeky vermouth or sherry and a sit by the pool.
