The Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons

 

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Nicole P.

Los Angeles, CA

The Four Seasons Austin is a beautiful spot, both in terms of its interior glamour and the natural beauty surrounding it.   Right on Town Lake near the Congress Street Bridge, from the Four Seasons lounge you can drink fine libations, people watch, and stroll down towards the water to some beautiful outdoor seating and watch the sunset while two million bats emerge into the sky on their evening forage.

Even if you're not lucky enough to see the bats, drinking at the Four Seasons is high-end pleasure, surely worthy of the not-too-above average pricetag.

I'm a big big fan.

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seela m.

Austin, TX

My husband and I like to go here and "pick each other up".  It's a great place to pretend you're someone else.  And I always see people I recognize who don't recognize me (Luke Wilson...).  The little snacks are tasty and beautiful but cost a pint of blood.  

This is where we go when we want to pretend we're rich and casual.

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Elite '08

1804

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Andrea R.

Chicago, IL

While most people would probably be trying to catch as many bands as possible during SXSW I was perfectly happy celebrity watching at The Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons. Can you tell US Weekly is my favorite mag? ;)

The hottest celeb we saw here was Moby and I'm not sure he counts, but I was in heaven at this lounge.  But it wasn't the crowd that was making me happy (although I did have some good company with me)...it was the wasabi nuts and chocolate martinis!  The wasabi nuts were the best i've had- so addictive that I believe our waitress had to refill ours about 5 times throughout the night. And that chocolate martini- oh my goodness! It was like drinking pure chocolate- the best drink EVER for chocoholics! We also ordered a cheese plate for our table, which was very good as well, but the wasabi nuts and chocolate martinis were definitely the winners of the night.

Our waitress was lovely (what else do you expect at The Four Seasons) and the nice bellhop even sent me home to the Renaissance in their car service. I would have preferred to crash at The Four Seasons, but unfortunately us non celebs have to stay across town. ;)

One of my favorite spots in Austin (and after 4-5 trips in the past year I've been to a lot of cool places)...enjoy a chocolate martini for me!

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Elite '08

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Kevin N.

Austin, TX

Absolutely some of the best people watching and best service in town, bar none, and pardon the pun.  Ask around next time you're in the lounge at a Four Seasons in pretty much any other city (New Yorkers may disagree, but whatever), and Austin's Four Seasons lounge is definitely its own animal.  The bar itself is expansive without waxing regal, the attendees prompt without forcing the action, and it's one place we can always go when we're up for a special evening that always but always delivers.

We bumped (pretty much literally) into Lyle Lovett here, and others have many more brushes with fame than I, but I'll say this for the Four Seasons, and what I'm about to say is a pretty tough trick to pull off:  they make famous people seem approachable and they make the rest of us seem famous by virtue of the special attention.  And that's a special deal in my book any day.

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Elite '08

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958

Michelle B.

Seattle, WA

What a great little dive bar...uhh...I mean c'mon what did you expect me to say? It's the freaking Four Seasons - Of course it is nice!

The drink menu was fantastic and our server was the epitome of gracious. The lighting is perfect, the decor is a testament that you can decorate with antlers without sacrificing style, and apparently you can see the bats fly out from under the bridge at sunset!  

There are precious few opportunities in life to sit in a five star hotel, sip a cocktail, and view bats.

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Elite '08

134

264

Jaye J.

Austin, TX

I love, love, love the Four Seasons Lobby Lounge. It's comfortable, the drinks are really well made (raspberry mojito, yum!) and you get free bar snacks that are way more than just a bowl of peanuts.

Some of the best times I've had in Austin were in this place. It's a place to go to celebrate, to star gaze, to people watch, or to watch the bats in the summer with a drink in your hand and air conditioning on your neck. Being here on a Saturday night in the summer when people have just had a wedding is some of the best people watching in the whole world. And so is just hanging out here during SXSW later in the evening to watch all of the A&R people hob-nob and schmooze.

The list of celebrity sightings I've had in this joint reads like a list of who's who (and used to be who) in Hollywood. Dabney Coleman once asked me if he could use my extra chair! I should have told him he was excellent in The Muppet's Take Manhattan, what a missed opportunity. Le sigh.

In addition, this is a great place to go celebrate, whether it be a new job, achieving remission from cancer, or celebrating an engagement, the lounge-like atmosphere, stellar service, great bar menu and amazing floral arrangements make the Four Seasons one of my favorite places in Austin.

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Elite '08

115

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Larry M.

Austin, TX

When this very small bar and large, sexy lounge area isn't full of good ole' boys and the cake faces that humor them, it's a nice place to grab a drink.

I really dig the staff that work here, fun and smart, and although $13 martinis aren't rare anymore, they sure are a ridiculous price to pay.

Since you can't smoke inside anymore, and since a drink makes me crave a cigarette, going down the stairs and outside is a must when visiting the Bar. Outside there's a small stoned sitting area complete with a chiminea (with a fire lit when it's cold) and huge Live Oaks are lit up in Christmas lights right by the hike-and-bike trail and the water.

You can also get cheeseburgers sent to you out here (gotta love that service) and it's a great spot to look at the water while hike-and-bike trail joggers and cyclists whiz by.

Pricey, but peaceful.

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Elite '08

127

269

Tara H.

Austin, TX

The service was wonderful and our waiter was charming, dashing and quick with the service.

My friends got their early and snagged a table right in front of the open balcony windows - this, my friends, is heaven itself. Johnny Cash was drifting up from the waterfront, bats were flocking (do bats flock?) and we were laughing like there would be no tomorrow. Very Great Gatsby.

You definitely get what you pay for - it is The Four Seasons, after all. Try the Spring Fling - it tastes of pomegranate and raspberries and love in the springtime.

Don't look at me like that.

HINT: Don't bother getting your parking validated - you will still have to pay what's posted - which is ridiculous.

HINT: Get a table at an balcony window.

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Elite '08

243

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Allison P.

Austin, TX

Oh, the people and times we have seen hanging out at the Four Seasons Lobby Lounge. At times, it can be a who's who of "Hollywood, Texas," which can make for fun people watching. It also makes for good bat watching.

This is sort of a special occasion place for me, because the prices tend to be a little high. But it is a must during SXSW. So much so that KGSR broadcasts from there in the mornings that week. You never know who is going to stop by!

It is the Four Seasons, so the service is always impeccable. (Again, I love any place that serves a cheese plate.)

I would steer clear of it during UT football home games, unless you are a Longhorn yourself.

PS-Do yourself a favor and get a Chocolate Martini, clear not creamy. You'll be thanking me later :)

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Rosie M.

Dorchester, MA

Great place for celebrity gawking. Saw Luke Wilson there during ACL.

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meredith g.

San Jose, CA

Lovely atmosphere and strong drinks. Nice place to walk down to see the bats.

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