As you approach Le Pavillon Hotel, it stands apart from the jungle of modern architecture that comprises Poydras Street. A gem of the French Renaissance Revival style, it has been a historic structure of the Central Business District since 1907.
Inside, a little after 9 p.m., the sounds of a jazz trio — piano, upright bass and female vocals — float over marble floors, under crystal chandeliers and across European and American art and antiques. You’ll see Bar 1803, a lounge with red velvet decor and guests sipping cocktails under the watchful eye of a large, masked Napoleon Bonaparte portrait.
Each detail oozes opulence, which is why you may be shocked to notice what’s on the plate of every satisfied bar patron: humble, nostalgia-inducing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in all varieties…