Four Seasons New York City, Downtown

Opened in September 2016, the new Four Seasons hotel represents a departure from the old-world, traditional identity of the brand.

• The stunning 75 sq. ft. indoor lap pool with high-tech speakers
• The spacious guest rooms (one-third are corner-facing)
• The buzzy new steakhouse, CUT, Wolfgang Puck's first restaurant in NYC

On the border of Tribeca and the Financial District, the 189–room property feels surprisingly tucked away from the hub of downtown activity. Guests are welcomed into a sleek and understated lobby (noticeably different from the grand, chandelier-adorned entrances of other Four Seasons) that feels delightfully intimate, as the front desk and concierge area have been combined to create one streamlined, seamless experience at check-in.

In keeping with this theme, the hotel’s interiors, designed by Yabu Pushelberg (the group behind numerous hotels including the London EDITION) are über-contemporary. The elegant, minimal design emphasizes different textures and materials, as public spaces incorporate soft fabrics like wool carpeting with industrial-style woven metal accents and metallic-printed wallpaper.

Accommodations are similarly appointed with a warm, inviting décor and are filled with sleek furnishings in muted colors of greys and light blues. One-third of the guest rooms are corner-facing, welcoming lots of natural light. The gorgeous bathrooms are a highlight, each with a deep soaking tub, luxurious walk-in showers and mosaic marble surfaces. Each room, including the property’s 28 suites, is also outfitted with an iPad Mini, high-tech lighting and control fixtures, plus Bose stereos and entertainment systems that allow guests to access their own Netflix and Airplay with ease. For spectacular views of the city, the Tribeca, Gotham and Royal Suites offer the best lookouts from the 23rd and 24th floors.

Guest rooms (and, in fact, the entire building) are insulated with material that blocks outside noise, so the hotel feels surprisingly serene, and guests are meant to feel like they are coming home to an intimate, comfortable space. The new restaurant, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, is sure to add an element of buzz to the downtown scene. The celebrity chef’s signature steakhouse (he previously headed the Michelin-starred CUT at the Beverly Wilshire) comes highly anticipated as Puck’s first restaurant in New York City that will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to Four Seasons guests (dinner is open to all). With menu specialties like Japanese Wagyu beef and pastries from acclaimed chef Zairah Molina, the 86-seat restaurant also has a sultry bar area and private dining room, which are guaranteed to be hot-ticket seats.

Among the property’s amenities is the luxurious seven-room spa, an utter oasis, that offers custom treatments from the Switzerland-based wellness expert Dr. Burgener. Guests can enjoy signature therapies with special products like detox purifying mud and hydrating milk. There is also a 24-hour, 6,000-sq.-ft. fitness center with a steam room and yoga studio that offer views of the Oculus and World Trade Center, plus a 75-ft. indoor lap pool and outdoor terrace.