The Best Room At: ... Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
The Best Room At: … Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
Where to stay in the big tower in the Big Easy.
New Orleans has long been a top travel destination, but when the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans opened there in 2021, it added a new, high-end place to stay in the Big Easy.
The hotel is housed within a modernist tower that was dedicated in 1968 as the World Trade Center. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, and its location—right along the Mississippi River, between the French Quarter and the Warehouse District—provides incredible views. The property includes 341 rooms and suites, and the amenities are abundant: a 34th-floor observation deck, a 75-foot infinity pool, and a 5,525-square-foot spa with eight treatment rooms.
The restaurants and bars are the real draw, though. Upon entering the hotel, it’s impossible to miss the stunning Chandelier Bar in the lobby (the namesake custom ceiling fixture is made up of 15,000 crystals). Opt for a classic cocktail like a Sazerac or the more modern Cocktail Orléans, which blends aged American whiskeys, Italian liqueurs, and bitters. Also on the ground floor is chef Alon Shaya’s restaurant, Miss River, which recently launched a weekend jazz brunch and features a menu inspired by classic New Orleans cuisine (don’t miss the whole carved buttermilk fried chicken). Chef Donald Link’s fifth-floor restaurant, Chemin à la Mer, offers Louisiana fare executed with French technique.
What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?
Our guests can’t get enough of our elegant One-Bedroom Suites. With a lavish corner-view bedroom, separate living area, dining table for four, private bar, and powder room, these expansive suites are perfect for entertaining. When the party is over, the pampering begins—guests rave about our marble bathrooms, free-standing oval tubs, and signature Four Seasons beds. We love that these suites wink to our historic destination with curated local artwork, white shiplap walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the majestic Mississippi River and French Quarter.
How much does it cost per night?
Our One-Bedroom Suites start at $795 per night.
How would you describe the guests that stay at the hotel and the general atmosphere/vibe?
At the hotel, we love bringing people together and helping them unlock the rich culture of the destination. There’s a sense of discovery walking through our landmark building with its historic bones and impressive art collection of local and internationally celebrated artists. Chandelier Bar, the gathering point and energy center of our first floor, has quickly become the center of New Orleans’ social scene. With a variety of spaces to gather in, from oyster hour in Chemin à la Mer overlooking the Mississippi River to an afternoon spent in one of our cabanas, there is no shortage of opportunities to connect and create “only in New Orleans” memories inside the hotel.
What are the best things to do in the Hotel?
When visiting the hotel, there is the unmistakable sense of being in New Orleans with our local food, music, art, and culture woven throughout, and complemented by our concierge team who can arrange authentic off-property experiences from private concerts to cooking classes. Grammy-nominated trumpet player Branden Lewis performs weekly at Chandelier Bar. Celebrated New Orleans chef Alon Shaya, a two-time James Beard Award winner, pays tribute to the city’s culture of grand dining at Miss River restaurant—his love letter to Louisiana. At our fifth-floor Chemin à la Mer restaurant, guests enjoy unparalleled views of the Mississippi River while enjoying Louisiana flavors prepared with classic French technique from James Beard Award-winning chef Donald Link. Our spa weaves in the local penchant for “joie de vivre” through rejuvenating treatments designed to help guests look and feel their best before heading out to explore the destination.
What feeling about the region do you hope to impart to visitors?
New Orleans is the most vibrant intersection of music, food, and hospitality. Not only is this what we love about living here, it is what we hope to convey to guests – that every day is a celebration. It doesn’t need to be your birthday or anniversary to order caviar on top of ice cream at Miss River, to book a private streetcar experience with our concierge, or to spend the afternoon indulging at our spa.
What is a local attraction that you always recommend to guests?
We’re thrilled to show guests a new “vue” of the Crescent City from Vue Orleans, a new cultural attraction and observation deck located right on our rooftop. Positioned just steps from the French Quarter, Arts District, sporting arenas, and more, there is no shortage of activities to explore nearby. We always recommend spending an evening at Preservation Hall to discover the enduring legacy of local jazz. For those looking to get off the beaten path, a short streetcar ride away is the 1,300-acre City Park where guests can take in the natural beauty of the South, stroll through the Sculpture Garden or spend the afternoon in the New Orleans Museum of Art.
What do you think sets Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans apart from its peers in the area?
As the only AAA Five Diamond Hotel in the state, we are proud to have set the bar for luxury service and accommodations in the area. Our incredible location inside the lovingly restored, 1968 World Trade Center building is truly unique—no other hotel in the region can boast the same attention to detail and modern improvements in their restoration. The result is an urban oasis that both inspires with its historical touches and delivers an effortless stay for today’s high-expectation travelers.