Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans

The wows kick in as soon as you walk through the doors at the Four Seasons New Orleans, the famed luxury hotel which at the foot of Canal Street facing the Mississippi River. That's because the first views are of a bar, fittingly in the city that claims to have invented the cocktail. But not just any bar, the Chandelier Bar across from the front desk, with its massive overhead light as art piece, dripping 15,000 twinkling Bohemian crystals above the u-shaped marble-topped bar bracketed by louvered wooden "shutters" that evoke one of the city's most iconic architectural element. Featuring a cocktail program from Hadi Ktiri, formerly of Arnaud's and Couvant, this gorgeous space transforms the 34 story World Trade Center tower into a hospitality bonbon outfitted with 341 rooms, 92 swank residences, a spa and curvy fifth floor rooftop pool, two locally flavored restaurants, Miss River from Alon Shaya and Chemin a la Mer from Donald Link, a heated pool and wrap around terraces with river views that cast a spell over the whole city.