"Why book? It feels like Four Seasons has been on a quest to drop a sleek, high-design tower into the downtown area of every interesting, up-and-coming American metropolis, and this is one of its best marriages of city and hotel in a town that really needed the brand. As at some of its other recent urban offerings in the U.S., Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis immediately became the premier place to stay in the more fun of the Twin Cities. The glassy, 36-story building offers an appealingly down-to-earth, accessible, community-minded style of luxury that’s right at home in a city renowned for its food, culture, and friendliness. Set the scene Four Seasons has explicitly set out to create a community-friendly space, and you can feel that the moment you step off the streets of the North Loop and into the spacious, art-filled lobby and the other public areas, including the cheerful, clubby Mara Restaurant and Bar and the fourth-floor Riva Terrace, instantly one of the city’s top al fresco hangout spots in the summertime. When my family ate there, a rehearsal dinner on the far side of the terrace had brought out an array of well-heeled Minnesotans in their Sunday best; the hotel also has an array of flexible gathering spaces on the second floor for weddings and corporate events. The centerpiece of the lobby is a thousand-pound bronze sculpture by local artist Bill Mack, a testament to the hotel’s commitment—also on display everywhere from the restaurants to the spa—to showcase the Twin Cities’ creative community, an appropriate mission in the city that is home to museums like the Walker, the Weisman, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The backstory Local developer United Properties approached Four Seasons about occupying the new $480 million tower it raised at one end of Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis’s downtown pedestrian shopping thoroughfare. In addition to the hotel, the city’s first five-star address, the mixed-use building contains retail, office space, and 39 Four Seasons residences. When ground broke in 2019, nobody had ever heard the word COVID, but by the time Four Seasons Minneapolis opened in June of 2022 the hotel was actively positioning itself as a leader of the city’s comeback by providing much-needed new gathering spaces, promoting economic recovery, and becoming involved in important local causes. The rooms There are so many things to love about the guest rooms, but their best trait is the floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the Twin Cities. My suite, on a corner of the 29th floor, was particularly amazing, with views of a long stretch of the Mississippi River, Twin Towers architect Minoru Yamasaki’s Northwestern National Life Building next door, a swath of downtown Minneapolis, and the city of St. Paul, including the capitol dome, on the horizon. But all of the 222 guest rooms, which occupy the 23rd through the 30th floors of the towers, offer stellar, unimpeded sight lines. The decor is chic and modern without sacrificing comfort; many of the brand’s familiar nature-derived shapes and textures have found their way inside, from the carpets to the wall art. The in-room tech is helpful and unobtrusive, and the bathrooms (with the same floor-to-ceiling views in the immense showers) are a dream. Food and drink Four Seasons Minneapolis’s premier dining establishment is the ground-floor Mara Restaurant, whose chef is Gavin Kaysen, a local star who returned to his native city after working for Daniel Boulud to open the popular spots Spoon and Stable, Bellecour, and Demi. His local, seasonal pan-Mediterranean menu is soulful and occasionally a bit playful (try the chicken shawarma “Spam” at brunch). The interiors by AvroKo have all of the prolific interior architecture firm’s trademark qualities: they’re warm and sophisticated, eclectic but polished. A unique calling card is the kitchen’s temperature-controlled Chocolate Room, with windows that allow passersby to watch artisans preparing the confections offered throughout the hotel. Upstairs, Riva Terrace is a super-fun warm-weather spot for Italian small plates and progressive cocktails like First Light (a pineapple-run creation infused with ginger and ginseng) overlooking the outdoor pool and the office buildings of downtown. Accessible directly from Hennepin Avenue, Socca Café is a solid grab-and-go option with delicious pastries. The spa As befits a Four Seasons, the wellness offerings are comprehensive: the tranquil, full-floor facility, which has a long and varied treatment menu, includes seven treatment rooms and a generous relaxation lounge; a sauna, steam room, and cold plunge; and, critically for Minneapolis, a large indoor pool and hot tub—which come, naturally, with more stellar urban views; across the corridor, a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center has another perspective on skyline and outdoor pool plaza. The neighborhood/area The hotel sits in the North Loop area of Minneapolis, blocks away from the iconic Hennepin Street Bridge with easy access to the riverfront parks along the Mississippi, with their great cycling and walking trails and varied perspectives on the city. Downtown and the Warehouse District are close by, and numerous prime destinations are within walking distance—including the Walker Art Center, amazing restaurants like Union Hmong Kitchen and Owamni by the Sioux Chef, Target Field (home of the MLB’s Twins), and U.S. Bank Field (home of the NFL’s Vikings). The service From the valets to the front desk, the wait staff to the receptionist at the spa, the service was consistently warm and responsive without being uptight. Particular kudos for being able to respond swiftly and smoothly to special needs and impromptu requests. For families As someone who stayed at the hotel with my family, I can say unequivocally that the indoor pool was an enormous hit with my kids; there’s even a little pantry with snacks and pool toys available. The in-room teepee, excellent kids’ menus, and friendly but never patronizing demeanor of the staff are all further reasons for them to remember this stay. Adjoining rooms can be easily combined to create larger private suites. Eco effort Special acknowledgement needs to be made toward the hotel’s approach to conservation through the lens of community, an extension of Four Seasons’ corporate philosophy. As with many of its peers, the hotel strives to consume and waste less, avoids single-use plastics, prioritizes biodegradable and compostable packaging, and so on; one particularly notable program of creative reuse is the Floral Forever Project, in which botanicals and living arrangements from throughout the hotel are dried, pressed, and used in the spa. But what sets the hotel apart is its people-centric concept of sustainability, from its emphasis on local purveyors to its role in the civic life of Minneapolis, including issues like housing stability and social justice. Accessibility Four Seasons Minneapolis offers ten accessible guest rooms in all, each with wider, wheelchair accessible doors and lighting controls and thermostats within reach. Routes to reception and the concierge are also accessible, and hotel staffers receive comprehensive training on the requirements of the ADA and Human Rights Code. The spa also offers accessible treatment rooms, including roll-in showers, and the hotel pools are outfitted with lifts and accessible transfers. Anything left to mention? Want a coveted reservation at nearby Owamni, the 2022 James Beard Award winner for Best New Restaurant? A private tour of Paisley Park, Prince’s suburban mansion and recording studio? A wintertime ice-fishing excursion? Talk the concierge about what experiences you fancy—they are pros at facilitating experiences to help you get the most out of the Twin Cities while you’re visiting." - Jesse Ashlock
