The building goes far above and beyond the typical hotel standard. Designed to serve as a gathering place for local community and visitors alike, it is equipped with 200+ sizable rooms all with breathtaking views, new dining concepts by local award-winning chef and restaurateur Gavin Kaysen, a floor designated for fun and wellness, and over 15,000 square feet of event space. Not to mention there is also an indoor pool with floor to ceiling windows, and an outdoor pool on Minneapolis’s largest terrace to date.
Perhaps the most appealing of the establishment’s plethora of draw factors is its community-centric beverage program where the Mediterranean and Minnesota are introduced to one another. Led by Minnesota’s own rising star, mixologist Adam Witherspoon, the program shines the spotlight on local makers, brewers, and distillers.
An innovative conductor and steward of hospitality, Witherspoon leads the operations at Mara, Award-winning Chef Gavin Kaysen’s new Mediterranean destination restaurant, and a new Four Seasons restaurant on the hotel’s fourth-floor pool plaza. He will also oversee the beverage program for guests’ events, celebrations, and in-room service. A fearless leader and intrepid risk-taker, he pioneered a cocktail experience guests can expect to be unlike any other.
To achieve such a feat, he keyed in on exceptional craftmanship, specifically by those who were yet to be discovered on a large scale. He wanted to highlight the hard working people who lack the platform to do so for themselves. Elaborating on the matter, Witherspoon explains, “I love the more recognizable spirit brands. But they don’t need me to be a brand ambassador for them. They have a dedicated army for that. We, in our small market, have a plethora of makers doing great work that need and deserve an establishment like the Four Seasons to sing their praises so that other markets can catch wind of what’s happening here and invest in the development of these businesses in a comparable way as our local market does.”
Another aspect of the drink program that rivals the significance of craftmanship is the relationship between the drinks and the vibe of the space they’re served in. Adam has the utmost confidence the Four Seasons excels in this regard as well.
“As far as the beverage programs are concerned, I think they are indicative of their spaces, and aren’t reaching to be more than that. At the Riva Terrace, you’re going to get exactly what you want from a poolside, Italian Riviera inspired concept. Light aperitivo fare that cools you down and helps you slow down, because life shouldn’t be so serious and austere all of the time. Mara’s beverages are dressed up, elegant, and meant to be somewhat provocative without being distracting. Nuance, subtlety, and context drive the flavors and the stories behind every cocktail.”
Evidently the right man for the task with his unique values and well-developed expertise, Witherspoon has been a huge part of Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis’ phenomenal start.
