Four Seasons Hotel Houston

The Four Seasons is the luxury address in downtown Houston, and its location makes it the best-placed full-service hotel for visitors who want to walk to the entertainment district. It sits at 1300 Lamar Street, about a two-minute walk from Discovery Green and around five minutes on foot from the Toyota Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center, with Daikin Park about eight minutes away. The hotel is classed as a five-star property and offers a full-service spa with massages, facials, body scrubs and nail services, and an outdoor pool with cabanas, loungers and umbrellas that hosts outdoor movie nights in summer. Dining is a strength. Toro Toro serves Pan-Latin cooking with churrasco steaks and a suviche bar, while Bayou and Bottle is a bar and restaurant with a hidden 20-seat speakeasy and a list of more than 125 bourbons and whiskeys. A poolside bar, rooftop terrace and coffee shop round out the options. Valet parking is charged per night, breakfast is an extra cost, and the hotel is pet friendly, with pets of up to 20 pounds staying free. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is about 33 minutes away by car, which makes arrival simple for most travelers.

The strength of this hotel is the combination of service and setting. You can step out of the lobby and be in Discovery Green in minutes, then walk to a ballgame, a concert or a convention without touching a car. For a city where most sightseeing requires driving, that is a luxury in itself. Rooms and public spaces follow the brand's polished, low-key style, and the pool terrace is one of the nicest places in downtown to unwind after a hot day of sightseeing.

Eating and drinking can easily be done in house. Toro Toro is a lively choice for a group dinner, and Bayou and Bottle suits an evening drink, particularly if you can find the speakeasy. Because meals and fees add up, compare the total cost when you check rates, including valet parking and breakfast. The hotel is well placed for the Museum District by car or the light-rail line, and for Buffalo Bayou Park and the cistern, which are a short ride away.

Choose the Four Seasons for anniversaries, business trips with a leisure edge, baseball and basketball weekends, and any stay where being downtown matters more than being near the Galleria. Book ahead for convention weeks, game nights and the rodeo season, when downtown rates rise. Travelers with small dogs will appreciate the pet policy, while those without a car will appreciate the walkable district around the hotel.

The surrounding blocks hold bars, restaurants and venues, so an evening out rarely needs more than a short walk, and the rooftop terrace gives you an alternative way to see the downtown skyline after dark.