Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

Character and identity

A 19-story tower with 200 rooms sitting four minutes from the Gateway Arch, this is downtown St. Louis seen through floor-to-ceiling glass. The aesthetic register is contemporary and polished: a sculpted water feature anchors the arrival sequence, and rooms come with walk-in closets and integrated sound systems. The eighth floor is the social heart, with Sky Terrace's seven cabanas, three specialty pools, and Cinder House, chef Gerard Craft's South American-inflected restaurant looking straight at the Arch. The spa includes a Couple's Spa Suite with private steam room, shower, and relaxation space. Service runs attentive and discreet.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw is the eighth-floor combination of Cinder House and the pool terrace, both staring directly at the Arch, which is the view most St. Louis hotels can only gesture toward. Book a suite on a higher floor facing the river to make the most of it, and time your stay for warm months when Sky Terrace is fully in play.