Four Seasons New Orleans
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. From the food to the culture and overall vibe, it’s a place that has a little piece of my heart. It also helps that my husband was born and raised there. We decided to visit this Cajun city around the holidays, and I love seeing how cities transform for this magical time of the year.
THE PROPERTY
We stayed at the Four Seasons New Orleans, which is in such a great area at the edge of the French Quarter in Downtown New Orleans. You get the best of both worlds: you can see different parts of the city on foot, or hop on the trolley, which stops right outside the hotel. The hotel is right by the water, with easy access to the Riverwalk, a lovely stroll along the Mississippi River. I absolutely love how they designed the hotel. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of city hotels, but they really did this one right. It gives a resort feel, but right in the heart of the city. There are two on-site restaurants, both amazing, and a gorgeous bar in the lobby area that attracts lots of patrons on weekends. It was extra special to be there around Christmas time with all the beautiful decor.
THE ROOM
We had a river view room, and the view was so beautiful. They went above and beyond, providing a crib for our little one, stuffed animals for both our girls, and even putting up a teepee in the room for the kids to play in. When you walk into the room, you’re met with a living room with a pull-out bed (where our oldest slept), a small dining table, a TV, and a coffee nook. Then you walk to the back, where our room was, with the comfiest king-size bed and TV. Through the room, you find a walk-in closet and a large bathroom in the back. It truly was a beautiful room. I loved the added touches of the automatic blinds, which you could open and close with a touch of a wall-mounted button. I also loved that you could order anything you needed for the room right on the tablet they provided.
THE FOOD
There are two restaurants on the property, and Miss River. Both were absolutely amazing. The food in New Orleans never disappoints, and the restaurants at the Four Seasons were no exception. Everything we ate was 10/10. Our favorites from Miss River were the Green Juice, Sweet Potato Brioche, and Half Dozen Roasted Oysters. Our favorites from Chemin à la Mer were Cajun Spiced Black Drum and Maggie's Mushrooms.
Also, during the holidays, Miss River does a “Beignets with Santa” on the weekends, where you can take pictures with Santa, and each kid gets a beignet with brunch, where they can decorate in their own decorating station. There is even live music, and the decor is so fun and festive for Christmas. The beignets were obviously a hit with the girls.
THE POOL
I was pleasantly surprised by the pool. Most city hotels have a generic pool, but Four Season New Orleans created an oasis on their property. It truly feels like you're in a resort once you’re up there. There’s an outdoor bar and cabanas, and I enjoyed the black-and-white umbrella decor. I also really loved the pool beds right on the edge of the pool. The view is gorgeous, and the best part is that the pool is heated, so you can use it year-round. We were there in December and really enjoyed our time in the pool.
THE AQUARIUM
Right across the street is the Audubon Aquarium, which is perfect for bringing the kiddos. The aquarium also has an insectarium on one side, too, so there is more to see. The kids really enjoyed it, especially the play stations set up around the Aquarium. They have an area where you can pet the sting rays. I especially love this option of going to the aquarium if you hit some inclement weather, so it’s an easy place to entertain the kids for an afternoon.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The hotel is right on the edge of the French Quarter and Downtown New Orleans, and right on the river, making it the optimal location. You can walk along the river and take in the views, walk right into the French Quarter, and emerge into downtown life. If you want to venture further into the French Quarter or different neighborhoods, the trolley stops right outside the hotel, giving you so many options. It’s also fun to ride the trolley. We headed over to the French Quarter for the day so we could go to the famous Cafe Du Monde and get some beignets. A must visit.
Overall, we loved our stay and really enjoyed being in New Orleans during the holidays. I can’t imagine staying anywhere else, as the Four Seasons really outdid themselves.
See pricing and availability for Four Seasons New Orleans HERE and use code MISSENOCHA for $$ off.