Baldwin Ho enjoys a luxury stay at this upscale hotel with a prime location in the Texan city.
Despite its size, Houston is a relatively hidden gem for the tourist market with a wealth of museums, quirky bars and restaurants, as well as world-class hotels. Situated in a prime position downtown is the recently-renovated Four Seasons Hotel. LLM travel writer Baldwin Ho checked in to find out more.
Having completed a multi-million dollar renovation in 2022 to celebrate their 40th anniversary, the hotel still delivers its customary Texan charm but with a degree of upscale modernity. They’ve added Topgolf Swing suites as well as the hip bourbon and whiskey bar, Bayou and Bottle. You won’t miss their longest bar in Houston, a 30-seat marble showpiece. The chic interior finds the perfect balance between having an open plan layout, yet still contains intimate nooks and crannies.
What you might not expect at the hotel is an apothecary-style perfumery from renowned Krigler. They’ve been making perfumes since 1904 and are still run by the great-great-grandson of the founder, Ben Krigler. They even offer workshops, where you can make scented candles and perfumes on-site. Secondly, hotel guests have access to Vivrelle’s on-property collection of luxury accessories. You can borrow from renowned brands like Dior, Prada and Gucci, so you can look glamorous on your nights out in Houston without having to overpack your suitcases.
With over 400 rooms and suites and an abundance of different categories, it might seem a puzzle at first to select your ideal accommodation. However, it is safe to say, there are no bad rooms at the hotel. Even at their entry-level downtown room, you will get 29 m² of space along with a king-sized bed. It goes up to a very commodious 1,935 m² of space for the penthouse suite. As the adage goes, everything in Texas is bigger.
With the renovation, they’ve gone for warm undertones with brass features and leathered seating, whilst the blue carpeting and couches are reflective of the magnificent Texan skyline. The furniture has been custom-made by Houston-based designer Eric Brand. They have fully marbled bathrooms and luxury amenities from Diptyque.
There is an embarrassment of riches in this area. Both their restaurants, Bayou and Bottle and Toro Toro, have been conceptualised by world-famous chef Richard Sandoval. The former is the more casual offering, and you can catch your favourite sporting fixtures over a drinks menu that features over 200 whiskies. Their bourbon tasting flights are ideal for those who want to explore high-quality, yet unfamiliar spirits. You will find exciting Texan dishes such as wild boar sausage with bacon-morita jam.
Toro Toro is their fine dining Latin American steakhouse. Steaks are served with Argentinian chimichurri and grilled shishito peppers. You will find jaw-dropping portion sizes here, including a 52-oz prime tomahawk, which is meant to feed three people. They also offer sushi rolls and ceviche for those who want to dine on lighter dishes.
Finish off your evening with a digestif at their speakeasy, Bandista. The 1920s style lounge is well-hidden behind a stylish bookcase and has seating for around 20 guests, making advanced bookings essential. Their innovative, ground-breaking cocktails delve very much into molecular biology. You can enjoy a futuristic version of a piña colada with their colada cosmico cocktail, which comes with coconut space dust.
The spa area is an oasis of urban calm with sand-coloured hues and sheer curtains that transport you to a beachside retreat. Their signature treatment is the Southern scrub and sip. Their body scrub is Texan-made using bourbon and brown sugar and scented with gingersnap-pecan. You will finish off the experience with a glass of limited-batch Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength bourbon whiskey. They also have a soothing rooftop pool for those who want to cool down in the Texan heat.
As the fourth largest city in America, Houston has a plethora of attractions to offer. A great way to explore the city is with a Houston CityPASS. We used it to visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science. They have a world-class collection of dinosaurs, as well as more modern immersive science exhibitions, which are great for the whole family.
Likewise, the Downtown Aquarium combines its marine-life collection with an amusement park, which is very family-oriented. Art lovers will rejoice at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. You will find exhibits from Kusama to Hirst. The only downside is that the museum is so expansive, you do need at least half a day to see a decent number of exhibits.
If you are looking to savour art in an even more immersive environment, then make sure you visit Art Club at POST Houston. Think huge furry installations from Shoplifter, think of a digital version of Kusama’s infinity rooms, think laser shows inside a nuclear bunker.
They even host chic club nights for those who want to perfect their moves surrounded by new media artwork. The whole POST complex is also worth exploring, especially their independent food halls with well-respected restaurants like ChòpnBlọk that offer tantalising West African food.
Finally, if the weather isn’t great and you just want to find an entertaining location near the hotel, a short walk from Four Seasons is Puttshack. Their high-tech mini-golf courses are great for bonding with friends and family. The venue is fully air-conditioned, and they offer great street food dishes like Korean barbecue bao buns and Puttshack poutine. They have four vibrantly-coloured courses for you to challenge your skills. On Sundays, a visit is even better, as they offer an all-you-can-putt experience.
Four Seasons Hotel Houston offers rooms from $550 per night.
Address: 1300 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010, United States
Phone: +1 713-650-1300
Email: four.houston@fourseasons.com
Website: fourseasons.com/houston
Sign up for one of our free newsletters to receive the latest on travel, high-end fashion and ultimate luxury straight from LLM – Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
LLM – Luxury Lifestyle Magazine is operated and run by Luxury Lifestyle Media Group Limited.
Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy 
