"Houston's Living Room" Ready for Sipping and Socialising as Four Seasons Hotel Houston Unveils Massive Multi-Phase Renovation Project with Bells, Whistles and Brand-New Lobby

Four Seasons Hotel Houston is unveiling Phase II of its massive and extensive yearlong renovation project and will open to the public on Saturday, January 21, 2017. The announcement follows the completion of Phase I of the project – the launch of the Rottet Studio-designed Spa & Fitness Center, which ushered in an unparalleled level of luxury pampering in downtown Houston when the state-of-the-art facility opened in April of last year.

As Phase II of the project nears completion, Four Seasons Hotel Houston is rolling out exhilarating new amenities that will adeptly convert the downtown fixture into a one-stop-shop for social gatherings, meetings, recreation and relaxation.

International restaurateur Richard Sandoval announced his collaboration with the Hotel in November to launch a chic bourbon bar lobby concept christened Bayou & Bottle. The world’s first-ever Topgolf-branded simulator – Topgolf Swing Suite – will accompany the new bar and adroitly complements the upscale aesthetic of Bayou & Bottle, home to the longest bar in Houston. A stylish men’s boutique from Maris Collective will also open in late January 2017.

Award-winning design boutique Meyer Davis was tapped to re-envision the 35-year-old Hotel’s new look, which includes the exterior façade and entire lobby area. The new design bathes the ground floor in natural light from the three floors above with a grand central staircase serving as a dramatic centrepiece.

“The completion of Phase II of the extensive renovation project at Four Seasons Hotel Houston represents the culmination of hard work on the part of multiple parties and a vision that places Four Seasons firmly at the forefront of downtown Houston’s future,” comments General Manager Tom Segesta, a 28-year Four Seasons veteran. No stranger to Texas, Segesta previously spent eight years at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, where he directed the renovation of the Spa and launched the Hotel’s restaurant TRIO, which became an overnight success.

Bayou & Bottle was seamlessly woven into the Hotel’s design aesthetic during construction, led by Turner Construction, and perfectly complements the existing visual elements while also enhancing the re-energised lobby.  With a focus on vibrant bourbon and whiskey selections and quality cuisine, Bayou & Bottle’s design will match the ambient lobby components that are infused with rich walnut, European grey oak, Carrara marble, smoky onyx, decorative brass, and fluted, antique glass – taking the total experience to the  consummate level of chic design and comfort.

Bayou & Bottle

Bayou & Bottle is an American bar destination complete with vintage bar wear, exquisite whiskey flights and vibrant classic artwork, even offering custom bourbon lockers for the most select connoisseur.  Bar Manager Judith Piotrowski (Pax Americana and Weights & Measures) and Bourbon Stewardess Olgi Katona (Four Seasons hotels in Chicago, Vail and Las Vegas) will help perfect the beverage program, which includes more than 100 bourbons and whiskies. Specialty cocktails will include Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, Campari, Dolin Rouge, Black Betty – Bayou & Bottle’s unique twist on an Old Fashioned – and the Koval “Bayou & Bottle Series” Bourbon.  

Select cocktails will be offered as a Decanter Service in large cocktail format from hand-selected barrels of house bourbon, and Boulevardier will be offered on tap.  The beer list will focus on local craft breweries, and Bayou & Bottle will round out its beverage offerings with an extensive wine list that offers both lighter and bolder-style wines, covering most wine regions around the world. Chef de Cuisine Alejandro Di Bello (Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara) will oversee the kitchen with unique offerings such as rib eye chicharron guacamole; spiced candied Benton’s bacon; beef fat fries; bone marrow and oxtail marmalade; stone fruit mostarda and brioche; and dayboat scallops with brown butter, sunchokes and pear.

Topgolf Swing Suite

Four Seasons also brings the first Topgolf-branded simulation experience of its kind anywhere in the world to the downtown destination. Topgolf Swing Suite includes two golf simulators – which can be sectioned off into separate areas or rented together – and can accommodate up to eight guests each. Guests can expect an immersive and all-encompassing golf simulation experience that can be enhanced with exceptional food and beverage service from Bayou & Bottle.

buttonhook

Maris Collective will also debut buttonhook – the first men’s fashion-focused boutique at Four Seasons Hotel Houston – offering a tailored shopping destination for the modern gentleman complete with an active shoeshine stand, foosball table and a humidor.

As a single brand concept shop, Maris Collective will bring Houstonians and Hotel guests a quarterly rotating selection of some of the most sought after names in men’s fashion. buttonhook will open by showcasing famed New Zealand contemporary brand Rodd & Gunn, which will offer authentic and timeless collections of men’s tailored shirts, high quality sweaters, denim, polo shirts, Italian leather shoes, bespoke leather luggage and stylish accessories.  The luxury retailer will also offer within the boutique a permanent collection of women’s fine jewelry and exotic leather pieces for men from Parisian designer Anne Sisteron, whose timeless pieces combine a classic yet forward style.  

Spa and Fitness Center

Last spring, the Hotel debuted its fourth floor Spa & Fitness Center, which includes three newly built treatment rooms, a relaxation room, a couples’ suite, a nail bar and top-of-the-line treatments.  The Fitness Center features the most powerful equipment on the market, including Matrix, Woodway, and Life Fitness machines along with Pavigym flooring and tastefull;y appointed amenities including locker rooms, steam rooms and a designated room for fitness classes.

The contemporary, crisp space features white marble, dark travertine tile, natural eucalyptus and oak burl wood, all of which result in a richly appointed, layered environment. The locker rooms take spa design to a modern level with marble-clad bathing and grooming areas accented by floating vanities that feature art-glass panels with metal fabric, custom mirrors, and elegant wallpaper, creating a soft, smoky accent wall.  Plumbing fixtures from the acclaimed company Waterworks provide a polished look, with shower hardware and sink faucets supplying an inviting guest experience.  The perfectly designed Spa was featured on the cover of American Spa magazine in August 2016 and was praised by the publication for its eye-catching features.