The long-awaited luxury hotel, which arrived on August 17, has been revealed in some of its first images.
The hotel landscape in New Orleans used to be dominated by large, brand-name hotels catering to corporate and convention travelers, as well as smaller inns and boutique hotels with varying degrees of charm (and comfort). Windsor Court, Roosevelt New Orleans, and Ritz-Carlton New Orleans were mainstays on the luxury front, but there were not many true five-star hotels.
As a result of the influx of upscale (and mostly independent) properties over the past few years, things have changed; think Hotel Peter and Paul, Hotel Saint Vincent, and the Chloe, among others. As a result of these arrivals, the city has gained a new type of discerning traveler (even prompting some old favorites to renovate) and increased its level of hospitality. A new Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences will open in New Orleans on August 17, taking things to another level.
“We’ve all been patiently waiting for life to return to this landmark on the Mississippi River, but this will be better than anyone dreamed,” Mark Romig, senior vice president, and chief marketing officer at New Orleans & Company, the city’s tourism and economic development bureau, tells Robb Report. “We’ve been fortunate to have so many new hotels built or renovated over the past few years that attract a variety of travelers to the city, and the opening of the Four Seasons will certainly be a culmination of our luxury hotel evolution.”
In 1967, noted modernist architect Edward Durell Stone designed the hotel in the former World Trade Center, which also houses Radio City Music Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This 34-story tower, which was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 after undergoing a three-year, nearly $500 million renovation, now has an additional level dedicated to Vue Orleans, a cultural exhibit and observation deck with 360-degree views (the only part of the building not operated by Four Seasons).
CambridgeSeven and Bill Rooney of Bill Rooney Design, who saw an opportunity to blend historic architectural elements with modern design elements, transformed a 1960s office building into a contemporary hotel. Currently, there are 341 guest rooms and suites in the building, as well as 92 private residences with views of the river or city. An elegant plaster wall relief depicting magnolia flowers is the focal point of each guest accommodation, and the décor is crisp, with materials such as white oak and white Carrara marble and furnishings influenced by mid-century modern design. Over their 2,439 square feet, the Presidential Suites include things like a private office, a gym, a dining table with 10 seats, and Riverview bathtubs. Kate Chertavian Fine Art curated the hotel’s extensive collection, which adorns both the rooms and public spaces.
It is impossible to be a serious hotel competitor in New Orleans without bringing your food and beverage game, and the Four Seasons has shown its commitment by hiring two of the city’s top chefs for its in-house eateries. Alon Shaya’s Miss River lobby-level restaurant features a collection of regional favorites paired with local art, photography, and ceramics, creating a love letter to Louisiana. A few of the elevated dishes on the menu include whole carved buttermilk fried chicken with dipping sauces, clay pot dirty rice with seared duck breasts, Louisiana oyster patties with flaky puff pastry, and duck and andouille gumbo with Louisiana rice.
When the restaurant opens in the fall, chef Donald Link will serve specialty steaks, ceviches, and Gulf-harvested seafood at Chemin a la Mer, a restaurant on the fifth floor whose menu is inspired by his southwest Louisiana upbringing. With its signature fixture embellished with 15,000 crystals, the Chandelier Bar accents the two eateries. Classic New Orleans cocktails, premium Champagnes, and upscale nibbles like caviar are available at the glam hangout, which has a bar, lounge, and terrace. PJ’s Coffee has partnered with the hotel to create Four Seasons Signature Blend with beans grown in Honduras, so you’ll probably need some coffee after a night there. Room service and private events offer a mix of medium and dark roasts, and from next year onwards, single-serve cups will be available in rooms.
The hotel also features a 24-hour fitness center designed by Harley Pasternack with Peloton bikes, cardio machines, weights, and a crescent-shaped infinity pool measuring 75 feet, the largest in the city. There are loungers, cabanas, a hot tub ringed by loungers, underwater lighting, and music, and it is heated or cooled according to the season. In addition to a sauna, steam room, and Jacuzzi, the spa has a boutique that stocks French products, lifting facials and collagen-boosting massages. This is New Orleans, so there’s also a rye whiskey-infused massage for men called the Southern Gentleman. It caps off with a Sazerac cocktail and some bar snacks.
