What it is

A city hotel with the amenities of a boundless resort, including TopGolf Swing Suites, a sceney pool deck and spa inspired by the South, and five thronged bars and restaurants.

What it isn't

Hands-off. Even the pampering is bigger in Texas, and Four Seasons delivers; guests can expect 24-hour room service, valet parking; on-site luxury car rentals; dry-cleaning…shall we go on?

What we think

Proof positive that Four Seasons Hotel Houston is luxe: they have one of the few Krigler perfume boutiques stateside for the storied Cap d’Antibes, France, brand that was beloved by everyone from John F. Kennedy to Grace Kelly. No surprise that every whiff of the hotel is pure elegance, especially in the guest rooms—with their oversized bay windows, marble-lined bathrooms, and earthy color palette of supple tan leathers and serene blues. Rooms start at 315 square feet; to sprawl out even further, we love the 450 square foot Corner Rooms for their wide panorama over the cityscape from the 5th to 20th floors and the Cabana Rooms, which have a semi-private patio that’s the definition of splashy (it sits beside the al fresco pool). While you’re here, be sure to stop by the Deco-inspired cocktail bar Bandista; their unexpected tipples include a fancified Pimm’s Cup made with Japanese kumquat gin and local mango tea.

You're here because

Their kids' programs make you miss being a tween, and include cooking classes with a Four Seasons chef, welcome gifts and tot-ready toiletries, pint-sized bathrobes, children's menus, and more.

The Moment

You’ve spent the afternoon at the spa indulging in a bourbon and pecan scrub, and now it’s time to kick up your exfoliated heels even further with dinner at the hotel’s Pan-Latin steakhouse, Toro Toro. Your order practically sets your pulse racing: smoked guacamole with chips to start, and a South Texas antelope tenderloin. Drool.

Restaurants & Bars

Quattro - Italian & American

Bayou & Bottle - Traditional cuisine

Vinoteca

The Pool Deck Cafe

Location

Just across the street from Discovery Green, a lush 12-acre wonderland of rolling lawns and century-old live oak trees.