Address: 98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Overview
The Four Seasons in downtown Austin is an upscale hotel that features unbeatable proximity to Lady Bird Lake. While much of the hotel has been renovated in recent years, it has been a downtown staple since 1987. The lobby's rustic Texas décor is contrasted by the colorful, modern restaurant a floor below. Because the hotel serves so many business travelers, rates are less expensive on the weekends, greatly benefiting leisure travelers!
The Feel
There are Four Seasons hotels from Boston to Bali. According to Kerri Holden, Director of Public Relations at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, they used to all look like the same nondescript hotel. After a while, they decided to switch things up and customize each hotel by bringing in some local flavor of the destination. When I walked into the Austin Four Seasons, that was the first thing I noticed -- it felt distinctly Texan and did not feel like a chain hotel.
The lobby is decorated with replicas of old Texas flags, maps, and documents in frames (bought from a nearby gallery that guests can visit), which is very relevant with the Texas capital just blocks away. You will also find cowboy statues, deer heads, and even a large cowhide couch, which is one of the most popular seats in the Lobby Lounge. The lounge serves cocktails and light fare in addition to afternoon tea, so at any time you can find a large variety of patrons. Holden said Four Season Austin's Lobby Lounge is called "Austin's living room" since everyone can feel comfortable here. It definitely did have a classy but relaxed feel. During the right time of year, the Lobby Lounge and its terrace offer a great view of the Congress Avenue Bridge bats emerging. Four Seasons serves a drink called the Batini that you can sip while you're waiting.
While the hotel rooms themselves are modern, they also have tastes of Texas, such as the brown, leather headboards in most rooms. Four Seasons updated the rooms in phases from 2007 to 2009, which now feature large wooden credenzas with granite countertops and flat-screen TVs. I am picky about bedding, and I slept very comfortably with the hotel's plush white pillows and comforter. The suites feature four-post beds along with couches that fold into beds, a balcony, and a bar area. Some of the lower-level city view rooms do not have very good views due to so many recent building developments. While the lake view rooms cost more, they are worth it if you can spend the extra cash -- I was in a lake view room on an upper floor and it offered a breathtaking view of Lady Bird Lake.
Food & Drink
Holden told me that the café used to be a traditional hotel restaurant with muted colors and basic American fare. In 2007, they remodeled it with vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red and renamed it TRIO. Holden says one of the reasons for the transformation is they wanted a place that locals - not just hotel guests - would enjoy visiting.
The restaurant's slogan is "Steak, seafood, and wine." Their sommelier was voted Texas' best in 2007, and they are the only restaurant in Austin that offers three kinds of prime USDA steak.
The hip restaurant overlooks Lady Bird Lake and has an outdoor terrace with a stellar view. "The lake view really sets us apart," Holden said. The popular happy hour, held every Monday through Saturday from 5-8 p.m., features half-off appetizers.
While you can order from a separate room service, you can come downstairs to TRIO and have the full restaurant experience. "There are so many great items on the menu," Holden says. If you're thinking happy hour, my favorite items are the tuna tartare, lamb sliders and the truffle rosemary fries. For dinner, if you enjoy meat, our steaks are amazing and even better accompanied by truffle mac 'n cheese or one of our vegetables. I like the pork tenderloin as well."
Other Amenities
The basics: Four Seasons has an extensive in-house dining menu. While the pricing is quite steep, you can order anything from sweet corn crème brulee to PB&J at any time of the day or night. They offer wireless Internet in the rooms; it costs a hefty $11 per computer per 24 hours, but is convenient if you can afford it.
The pool: The hotel has a swimming pool located right alongside Lady Bird Lake, so it has a view that's hard to beat. They offer complimentary sunscreen, and there are pool toys that are free for kids to use. You can order cocktails and light fare from the pool, and during summer months, staff can be found handing out cool treats such as popsicles.
The spa: When the elevators opened to the spa level, I saw a soothing water wall behind the front desk. One of the spa walls is decorated in beautiful green ceramic pieces that look like vines (made by a local artist). The treatment rooms have floral themes and overlook the lake. I was impressed when saw that the large womens locker room features lockers with digital keypads. Holden said their signature scent is a lavender lemongrass that was custom-made using local lavender.
Fitness: I was very impressed with the modern gym at Four Seasons. There is a plethora of cardio machines, all of which had a personal flat-screen television on them. They also have free weights and weight machines. Ice-cold water and fresh fruit is always available for free, which is a nice touch. The hotel offers free water aerobics classes in the pool. In the summer, you can pay to go on an urban trekking class that features two miles of intense walking; Holden says they are like "fitness sightseeing walks."
Four Seasons Residences
Next door to the hotel, the Four Seasons Residences building is going up and will open in 2010. Residents will have their own pool, fitness center, and other amenities found at the hotel, but they won't have to share them with hotel guests. However, residents will have access to the hotel's services - they can use the valet, room service, and housekeeping if they choose, and they can also have charging privileges.