In April, the Four Seasons Hotel opened in New Orleans. The hotel has 341 rooms and suites in the historic World Trade Center. The hotel has sprawling views of the city and the Mississippi River.
Miss River at Four Seasons in New Orleans
The property offers a beauty-atelier spa, fitness center and outdoor pool deck, Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans provides the perfect gateway for anyone looking to experience the vibrant culture of the Crescent City.
The Four Seasons Hotel also provides world-class dining. While I was in New Orleans for the fourth of July weekend, I decided to finally indulge in a brunch at the Hotel’s signature restaurant Miss River.
The restaurant’s chef is James Beard Award-winner, Alon Shaya. Shaya has opened some of my favorite dining locations across New Orleans over the past few years.
The brunch menu was a bit pricey but the food was really amazing. It’s worth the splurge. My date had the crab omelet ($28) with a side of grits ($11). I chose the Pan Perdu ($20) with a side of praline bacon ($11). The omelet was a big hit and I loved the praline bacon. I respect any chef who transforms bacon into something salty and sweet.
During the weekend brunch, a live jazz band played in the restaurant as well which was a nice New Orleans touch.
On the way out I ran into Patti LaBelle, a celebrated cook in her own right. I couldn’t resist asking for a photo with the icon. I can’t guarantee a meeting with a music legend. But I can pretty much guarantee that you can have a relaxing tasty brunch any weekend at Miss River while visiting New Orleans.
The Vue at The Four Seasons
After visiting Miss River, we walked around the corner to visit VUE New Orleans. The VUE is located on the top of the Four Seasons. It offers one of the most breathtaking 360-degree views of the city from above. It has indoor and outdoor observation decks on the 33rd and 34th floors.
In addition to the aerial sights, one of the most enjoyable parts of VUE New Orleans was the two short films that are played on the 33rd floor.
The “City at Risk” explores New Orleans’ relationship to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. It also highlighted its’ vulnerability to flooding. The film showed the three critical ways the city has fortified itself against future flood damage since Hurricane Katrina. It showcased initiatives like wetlands development and protection, fortified floodwalls and pumping stations and overhauled levees and drainage systems.
“Rising Up” is a multi-screen film that explores French, Spanish, Haitian and African cultural influences on New Orleans. These cultural impacts led to a progressive, free Black community in 19th-century New Orleans. This community would become an incubator of the national civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
The film is hosted and narrated by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. He is the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and host of PBS’s “Finding Your Roots.”
The story of New Orleans history is captured in many interactive displays. It covers Mardi Gras, music and food traditions of the city’s past and present.
The VUE and Miss River are the perfect compliments to each other. For anyone who wants to see, taste and learn about the history, culture and flavors of New Orleans.