For months, we watched as the downtown Minneapolis skyline slowly changed. Inch by inch, a new high-rise filled the sky. We eagerly – and regularly- drove by to see the progress on the brand new, shiny building and finally, earlier this summer, the Four Seasons Minneapolis opened its doors.
With incredible restaurants on nearly every block, dozens of breweries, a killer art and culture scene, world class museums and beautiful boutiques, a handful of major Fortune 500 companies, and a team for every major league sport right here (or just across the river in St. Paul), us locals like to think we sort of lured the luxury property here. Without a doubt, Minneapolis has earned the 5-star hotel and all the lovely things it brings with it.
The property overlooks downtown and the mighty Mississippi River; the views from the rooms are just lovely. The hotel is huge but in no way overwhelming. There are 34 residences, 222 rooms, and 39 suites –there’s even a suite aptly named the ‘Stadium Suite’ from which you can see three major sports stadiums. One of the first things I noticed when exploring the hotel is how much natural light comes in. The building is all windows- from the restaurant kitchen to the indoor pool- and it makes such a difference to guests, and I’d imagine to employees as well.
Whether you’re visiting from out of town or treating yourself to a staycation, you must visit the spa. It’s absolutely stunning. Dried florals are featured everywhere (often re-repurposed from the living arrangements in the lobby) and really makes you feel like you’re one with nature, even in the center of a city. The spa suites look divine and after your treatment, you can take a dip in the indoor pool and hot tub, which feels like a little oasis.
When the weather is warm, the outdoor pool deck is a real scene. For a moment, you’ll forget you’re smack in the heart of Downtown. Located on the fourth floor, the pool deck includes a sprawling pool surrounded by loungers, a perfectly sized hotel tub, and Riva Terrace, an alfresco dining and drinking space perfect for lunch or happy hour cocktails. In the evenings, the fire table will delight you and make you feel as though you’re worlds away from the chaos that city life sometimes brings.
Guest or not, you’ll want to make a reservation at Mara, the hotel’s prized restaurant helmed by local James Beard Award winning Chef Gavin Kaysen. He has several restaurants scattered about town (Demi, Spoon & Stable, Bellecour Bakery) and everything he touches turns to gold. At first open just for dinner, breakfast and weekend brunch, Mara recently added a lunch menu and you can’t go wrong no matter what you order or what time of day you visit. The space is breathtakingly beautiful and the menus showcase Mediterranean fare such as insanely good hummus, a somehow light but filling falafel pita, a bright tuna crudo, a hearty seafood stew, and flavor bomb of a lamb burger – just to breeze through some favorites.
The Four Seasons goes by the mantra ‘luxury is a love language’ and we certainly agree. And being able to enjoy this stunning property, right in our own backyard, might just be a new love language for us.
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