Destinations: Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

New Guard: Cultural Flagships From Seattle to Beijing

Posted on by Leigh Crandall

The second half of this year sees a long list of new museum openings – and expansions to some of the world’s top collections. Which are worth a first visit or a fresh look? From a modern art wonderland in Maryland to an astounding array of photographs in London, these collections should be on your itinerary.


A rendering of the approach to The Pavillons and the Water Court.

Glenstone Museum, Potomac

Less than 15 miles outside Washington, D.C., Glenstone solidifies its reputation as a must-visit for contemporary art fans with an expanded exhibition space known as the Pavilions. The new building, designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners, comprises 13 distinct areas, with work in the inaugural installation from artists such as Roni Horn, Brice Marden and On Kawara. Glenstone is also launching “Louise Bourgeois: To Unravel a Torment,” featuring more than 30 pieces spanning five decades from the trailblazing French-born American artist. Save time to wander the more than 230 acres of rolling pastures and unspoiled woodland, home to sculptures by Richard Serra, Jeff Koons and Andy Goldsworthy.

Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

View photo

View photo

View photo

View photo

View photo

View photo

Tap or click a photo to launch slideshow

V&A Photography Centre, London

The Victoria & Albert Museum has been acquiring photographs since its founding in 1856, and the collection is one of the largest in the world. With the recent addition of 6,000 cameras and other equipment from the Royal Photographic Society, the museum tasked David Kohn Architects with designing a new home. The photography centre, on the first floor of the historic North East Quarter of the V&A’s South Kensington building, will display hundreds of thousands of rare images from luminaries like Ansel Adams and Alfred Stieglitz.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

View photo

View photo

View photo

View photo

View photo

View photo

Tap or click a photo to launch slideshow

The Guardian Art Center, Beijing

Built on the doorstep of Beijing’s historic Forbidden City, The Guardian Art Center seeks to re-establish the area as the heart of China’s art scene.

The first auction house to specialize exclusively in Chinese artwork and antiques, it also includes a café and bookshop, office space, and 1,700 square metres (18,300 square feet) of exhibition space, making it the only one-stop art complex in Asia. Designed by architect Büro Ole Scheeren, the building references Beijing’s past: Circular lenses in the façade allow light into the interior, creating a pixelated abstraction of Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains by 14th-century painter Huang Gongway. Rectangular glass panels on the upper part of the building evoke the brick of the centuries-old hutong dwellings nearby.

Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Beijing


Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle

Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle

Step into a soaring central hallway designed to evoke the glacier planes of a fjord, with angular walls that narrow as you go deeper inside. The freshly reopened Nordic Heritage Museum has a new home, created by Seattle’s Mithun architects in collaboration with renowned Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa. It’s still in the hip waterfront neighbourhood of Ballard, and still full of rich insight into the legacy of immigrants to the U.S. New exhibitions this season include “Northern Exposure: Contemporary Nordic Arts Revealed,” a collection of works from leading artists across Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Scandinavia.

Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

Your Journey Begins Here

Where will your cultural cravings take you next?

Explore

Why You Should Spend the Winter Holidays in Europe

Posted on by John Ortved

Prague’s storybook castles, Harrods’ Christmas windows, the sights along the Seine through snow – beguiling European cities deck themselves out for holiday travellers. The magic of the season wafts up from snow-edged cobblestone streets and mixes with the aromas of hot cocoa and fresh-baked bread from charming cafés.

Here, time-honoured traditions and new sources of holiday cheer swirl together as expert Four Seasons Concierges, as well as savvy locals, reveal how best to explore them during this most wonderful time of year.


Prague, Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge in Prague

Photography courtesy of iStock

PRAGUE

In the wintertime, Prague’s hilltop castle, narrow cobbled streets and towering spires put on their winter charms. Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Prague can embark on a horse-drawn carriage ride to the traditional Christmas market stalls in Old Town Square, enjoying mulled wine and roasted chestnuts along the way. Concierge Stanislav Malek also recommends visiting the markets in the Vinohrady district for an authentic local experience. He advises those with an appetite to sample a trdelnik, “a delicious pastry made from fluffy dough and coated with cinnamon and sugar.”

Locals rave about Café NG Kinský as the perfect spot to look out on Old Town Square over perfect pastries or perhaps a Pilsner. And not only does Prague have some of the most beautiful and storied churches in all of Europe, the Museum of Decorative Arts has an unrivalled collection of glass objects, collected over centuries, to put a twinkle in your eye.

Four Seasons Hotel Prague

Check Rates & Availability


Paris at Christmas

The City of Light in all its holiday glory

Photography courtesy of iStock

PARIS

The City of Light lives up to its name during the holiday season: Elaborate displays illuminate store windows near the Palais Garnier, and the Champs-Élysées sparkles all the way from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

Take to the city’s charming streets with a bag of roasted chestnuts, or feast on seasonal specialties like oysters and bûche de Noël (a pastry Yule log). Christian Le Squer, Executive Chef at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, recommends shopping for gourmet gifts at Le Bon Marché, the world’s oldest department store, as well as the Christmas markets at Montmartre and La Défense. To go even deeper into the old world, visit the recently expanded middle ages museum, Musée de Cluny, which offers some of the country’s most ancient treasures. After a day spent perusing, Le Squer recommends warming up with a meal of seasonal classics: “When it’s cold outside I like to eat traditional French winter dishes,” he says quite sensibly, “like boeuf bourguignon and blanquette de veau.”

At this time of year, Parisians point to Girafe, housed in an elegant 1930s space reimagined by Joseph Durand, for unparalleled seafood and views of the Eiffel Tower in its December splendour. Others might prefer to catch a glimpse of the glittering tower from the giant windows at the Palais de Tokyo. If browsing the Christmas stalls on Saint-Germain-des-Prés puts you in the mood for a sweet treat, head to Jacques Genin, where the hot chocolate is legendary among the locals, as is the absolutely architectural lemon meringue pie at Le Loir Dans la Théière.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Check Rates & Availability


Mayfair, London Christmas lights

Mayfair Christmas lights in London

LONDON

From sparkling, one-of-a-kind shops and spectacular window displays along Regent and Bond streets to ice rinks with iconic backdrops like Somerset House, London is full of holiday cheer.

Guests visiting Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane will find much to explore in the surrounding streets of Mayfair. “After a winter stroll in Green Park, I recommend guests make their way to Mount Street to shop for stylish gifts before warming up with a mulled wine at The Audley, a traditional English pub with ornate décor and cosy leather banquettes,” says Guest Services Manager Toby Gray. And venture out to the Royal Albert Hall for its Carols by Candlelight concert, two evenings of seasonal classics performed in full 18th-century costume on December 23 and 24.

London’s distinguished shoppers head to Notting Hill, specifically Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road. Between stops at designer boutiques and Matches Fashion, one can pop into Ottolenghi for some of the legendary chef’s roasted aubergine with feta yoghurt, mint, almonds and pomegranate. If Christmas cookies are your thing, head to Biscuiteers Boutique and Icing Café on Kensington Park Road for exemplary versions featuring hand-drawn art. And for a unique experience, locals point to Felt, situated in one of Chelsea’s most charming squares, for vintage jewellery and pop-ups frequented by fashion editors and royals alike.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Check Rates & Availability


Geneva

A festive side street in Geneva

Photography courtesy of Alamy

GENEVA

With its dramatic views of the Alps, its cobblestone streets lined with luxury boutiques and chocolate shops, and its restaurants serving fondue and foie gras, Geneva is the perfect spot for a festive foodie escape. “For the best fondue in the city, head to Au Vieux Carouge, or try a traditional raclette [hard cow’s-milk cheese heated under a grill and scraped over boiled potatoes as it melts] at Les Armures in the Old Town,” says Mina Bayat, Chief Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva.

In addition to the Christmas light displays along Rue du Rhône and Rue du Marché, just steps away from the Hotel you’ll find a magical Christmas market at Parc des Bastions. There, you can browse unique creations from dozens of skilled local artisans while sipping local Vin Chaud (mulled wine).

If you’re feeling ambitious, hop on the train to stunning Montreux – it’s about an hour’s ride through countryside so gorgeous you could be on the Polar Express. Once there, explore the spectacular Christmas market, or head 45 minutes north to Corsier-sur-Vevey to visit Chaplin’s World, a quirky museum dedicated to Charlie Chaplin and housed in his former home.

Back in Geneva, a meal at Auberge du Lion d’Or provides uninterrupted views of the city’s namesake lake, as well as the gold standard of modern French cuisine. If you want the classic Genevan dish, look to Café du Port and its filet de perche. Afterwards, Yvette de Marseille or Bottle Brothers, both on Rue Henri-Blanvalet, can provide the perfect digestif – and the cheery atmosphere in which to enjoy it.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

Check Rates & Availability

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Start planning your next celebration.

Skyline from river

7 Pieces of Art You Didn’t Know to Look For

Posted on by Ashitha Rao

The Mona Lisa, Starry Night, Dalí’s Persistence of Memory – we all need to see these show-stoppers, but visitors can forget that they’re in a museum full of equally beautiful, intriguing artworks. Because of their more famous neighbours hanging nearby, these 7 paintings and art installations are some of the most undeservedly overlooked masterworks in the world.

London: Saint Margaret of Antioch


Francisco de Zurbaran’s Saint Margaret of Antioch. On Display at the National Gallery

Encounter St Margaret’s direct gaze, but take a moment to admire the painter’s attention to detail and the menace of the dragon beneath her feet.

Digital image © The National Gallery, London/ Art Resource, NY

You’re in London, at the National Gallery, and your first port of call – naturally – will be Van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers, hanging in Room 43. But for one of the gallery’s curators, Francesca Whitlum-Cooper, it’s Francisco de Zurbaran’s Saint Margaret of Antioch (in Gallery 30) that shouldn’t be missed.

“Every time I look at Zurbaran’s picture of Saint Margaret,” Whitlum-Cooper says, “I fall in love with the bright red of her skirt, her beautifully painted alforjas, or saddlebags, the amazing geometric swirls of her straw hat – it’s a surprise every time to look down at her feet and remember that there’s a menacing dragon prowling around them.”

“To me, there’s something very modern and powerful about Saint Margaret’s direct gaze,” the curator continues, “so cool and calm, so confident in her faith, the dragon’s presence doesn’t bother her in the least.”

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Book Now

Paris: Death of the Virgin

While the notorious crowd swarms around Leonardo’s most famous work, the Mona Lisa, at the Louvre, slip away to see Caravaggio’s Death of the Virgin (1606). This Italian baroque masterpiece shows the Virgin Mary’s mortal body as you’ve never seen it depicted before. The painting is so intense that it was rejected by the monks at the church it was intended for, Santa Maria della Scala in Rome.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Book Now

Los Angeles: Portrait of a Girl/Still Life With Fan


Max Pechstein's Portrait of a Girl/Still Life With Fan on display at the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art

Highlighting the dark, oppressive environment of Europe’s post-war period, Portrait of a Girl/Still Life With Fan served as the beginning of a breakthrough for artists Wassily Kandinsky and Emil Nolde in art’s contemporary period.

Digital image C1919-1920 Museum Associates/LACMA, Licensed by Art Resource, NY

When you go to LA’s most famous art museum, Los Angeles Country Museum of Art, chances are you’ll flock to see Diego Rivera’s Día des Flores (Flower Day), 1925. It’s one of his most iconic depictions of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, and the first major Rivera painting to enter a public art collection in the U.S. But as you meander through the collections, be sure not to overlook the paintings of German expressionist Max Pechstein.

Although he’s not as well known as his contemporaries Wassily Kandinsky and Emil Nolde, he played an important part in the breakthrough of the style. Pechstein survived the turmoil of the 20th century – and was incredibly skilled at translating this onto the canvas. His painting Portrait of a Girl/Still Life With Fan, painted in 1919–20, captures the dark, meditative atmosphere of the post-war period in Europe.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Book Now

Seoul: Matrilineal Society in Asia – China #4

You can find the work of American greats, such as Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, at the Seoul Museum of Art. But it would be a shame to miss the emerging Korean artists that the museum nurtures and showcases. Admire Bek Ji Soon’s photographic portraits of women from across South East Asia, particularly her photograph Matrilineal Society in Asia – China #4, in which a young girl in traditional clothes – confident and joyful in her gaze – sits front and centre. It’s a unique way to get acquainted with the city’s locals and learn more about the culture.

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Book Now

New York: One: Number 31, 1950


Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31, 1950. On Display at the Museum of Modern Art.

One of the “drip” paintings Pollock created by pouring and drizzling paint from above, One: Number 31, 1950, highlights the artist’s technical expertise.

Digital image © The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA/ Art Resources, NY

If you’d rather avoid the masses crowded around Starry Night, another of MoMA’s must-see paintings is on the same floor. Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31, 1950 is an iconic piece of American abstract expressionism that is often overlooked since it doesn’t really “look like” anything in the conventional sense. But what you’re really seeing in this painting is Pollock’s dramatic, dynamic movements, throwing paint (and himself) around. It can’t be missed.

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

Book Now

Mumbai: Maratha Lady

While visiting Mumbai’s renowned colonial-era Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, it would be difficult to miss Rao Bahadur MV Dhurandhar’s Court Scene, an early 20th-century watercolour. Bahadur was known for capturing the busy scenes and colourful characters of early 20th-century Mumbai, then known as Bombay, and this is a perfect example.

But another of his works, Maratha Lady from 1916, should not be overlooked. Rather than depicting a busy scene, here Bahadur focuses on one strong woman looking straight at the viewer, with a rural scene in the background. At the same time, the soft fabric of her sari shows her softer side, in sync with the rolling hills behind her.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

Book Now

Chicago: The White Place in the Sun


Georgia O’Keeffe’s The White Place in the Sun (1943). On display at the Art institute of Chicago.

At the Art Institute of Chicago, steal away to find O’Keeffe’s White Place in the Sun, which brings to life the smooth and stunning rock formations of New Mexico.

Photography courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago/ Art Resource, NY

The Art Institute of Chicago is home to Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks (1942), one of the best-known artworks to emerge from 20th-century America, so it’s no surprise that it draws a lot of visitors. While you wait for the crowd to thin out, make your way to AIC’s Gallery 265 and see Georgia O’Keeffe’s The White Place in the Sun (1943). This shows you a completely different side of the U.S. – the sparse desert and smooth yet striking rock formations of the White Place near Abiquiu in New Mexico. The geological formation in the White Place had been smoothed and whittled by water and wind over centuries, until it eventually resembled spires and cliffs, and O’Keeffe contrasts its undulating shapes with the bright blue sky.

Your Journey Begins Here

Select a city and start planning your next artful escape.

Explore

15 Photographs That Capture the Best of Europe

Posted on by Caroline McCoy

JB Qorz has spent his career creating beautiful images, acting as a special-effects artist for international brands such as Saint Laurent and Renault, and stepping behind the camera lens for the likes of Coca-Cola and Sony. The French-born photographer and perennial traveller has also earned acclaim through his Instagram feed, where nearly half a million followers admire his dreamy, atmospheric images.

I do not want to capture one second, but rather timelessness. Back home, a photograph is all I have left, between fantasy and reality. – JB Qorz

He shoots without a filter and often in the early morning hours, capturing rays of sunlight breaking through a pine forest or a streak of pink sky illuminating city streets. His aesthetic transcends language; he rarely titles or captions his work in great detail, preferring that his images communicate the essence of the places he visits.

“For me, photography is sharing emotions or even ideas that words cannot express,” Qorz says. Despite his serious talent, Qorz doesn’t take himself too seriously. “Creation is about living the moment,” he says. “It is all about revealing [a feeling] rather than trying to intellectualize it.”

The artist recently returned from a 10-city tour of Europe, during which he captured quiet corners and iconic landmarks with the nuanced perspective that continues to draw fans. We asked him to share some of his favourite shots, from the banks of the Bosphorus to the narrow streets of Florence. Here, he reveals the best of Europe through his lens.

Starlight at sunrise in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France


The gardens at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel

“If hundreds of people walk through [a place],” Qorz says, “what would they have in common?” With this image, the photographer attempted to capture both the fantasy and the reality of a stroll through the gardens.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

On a quiet peninsula between Nice and Monaco, the historic Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, fronts the Mediterranean Sea. Qorz captured this image of the Hotel’s fragrant gardens just before daybreak. “I can see both the sun and the stars!” he remembers.

Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel

Check Rates & Availability

Ancient meets modern in Istanbul


Ortaköy Mosque

At 160 years old, the Ortaköy Mosque is one of Istanbul’s newer landmarks. The ornate structure replaced the mosque that was destroyed during a civic uprising at the end of the Tulip Period in 1730.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

The 19th-century Ortaköy Mosque stands at the water’s edge very near Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus. The photographer was compelled by the juxtaposition between the neo-Baroque architecture of the mosque and the modern bridge that stretches behind it. “Istanbul is a city of many contrasts,” he says. “Sports cars and carriages, ultramodern bridges and old streets and mosques . . . it is a rich blend.”

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

Check Rates & Availability

Streetcar scenes in Lisbon


Streetcar in Lisbon

Lisbon’s early streetcars were crafted in Philadelphia by J.G. Brill Company. Its newer cars maintain the Brill aesthetic, which you can still see today.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

Lisbon’s streetcars are iconic. For Qorz, capturing one in motion required a quick eye and some daredevil collaboration. “Here’s the tip,” he says. “Travel with your partner. Once you have found the right angle . . . [your partner] crosses the street and drops an item in the road to block traffic. Then you only have to take the picture and check that your partner is all right!” Our tip: Snap your streetcar photos from the safety of a sidewalk.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Check Rates & Availability

Famed landmarks in London


London's Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster

“We cannot see the face of the character in the photo,” says Qorz. “I always try to make it possible for everyone to identify with the person featured in a picture.”

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

Qorz’s many fans admire his ability to find a new perspective on oft-photographed destinations. “My goal is not to achieve a completely realistic photo,” he says, “but rather to . . . amplify travel through [a sense of timelessness].” The layered perspective of this image lures the viewer into the scene, which is, of course, London’s famous Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Check Rates & Availability

Perspectives in Paris


Eiffel Tower

Qorz says he dealt with the prestige of the landmark by approaching it as he would a nondescript landscape.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

Though he was not born in Paris, Qorz spends much of his time there. Seeing the city with the fresh eyes of an artist “is a very interesting exercise,” he says. “Being confronted with a well-known place is like being confronted with oneself.” To capture this image of the Eiffel Tower, he pretended he was seeing it for the first time.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Check Rates & Availability

A view of Brunelleschi’s Duomo in Florence


The narrow streets of Florence

The narrow streets of Florence beckon travellers with Old World charm. Qorz urges the guest to set out on foot and wander.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

Just a sliver of the city’s most iconic landmark, peeking from beyond a quintessentially Italian street, “illustrates very well the moment I first saw Brunelleschi’s Duomo,” says Qorz.

I love the feeling of seeing things that have been seen by thousands of people before me; it is a kind of communion.

This view invites a long look at the city’s quieter, more charming side, and conveys the experience of stumbling upon something magical while exploring a new destination.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Check Rates & Availability

Life on the Vltava in Prague


The Charles Bridge in Prague

The Charles Bridge, the oldest of the city’s bridges, was constructed in the 14th century, and was the only connection between Prague Castle and Old Town until 1841.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

As much as the photographer enjoys the improvisation of his craft, many of his shots require careful research and a lot of walking. To capture this image, he climbed above the city and waited for the boat in the foreground to come into view. The series of bridges that stretch across Prague’s Vltava River emphasize the city’s beauty and historic significance as a trading route between Eastern and Western Europe.

Four Seasons Hotel Prague

Check Rates & Availability

Building a story in Budapest


The Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge, which extends from the entrance of Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

During his visit to Budapest in early December, Qorz came upon a father and son feeding a pair of gulls by the Chain Bridge at the bank of the Danube River. “In the morning I . . . discover what I did not see at our arrival by night. I hurry because I know it will be possible to capture the birds and the bridge at the same time. The bridge alone would not be enough. I have to build a story.”

Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest

Check Rates & Availability

Explore more of Europe through Qorz’ eyes

In Budapest, Qorz photographed the Hungarian Parliament Building from a perch across the Danube at the Buda Castle.

View photo

During a sunrise stroll on the grounds of Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, Qorz captured a young man preparing the famous pool for the day. “The pool and the Mediterranean Sea mix up,” says the photographer. “A beautiful memory.”

View photo

Of the pool at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, Qorz says, “I have seen a lot of pools, [but] you cannot help but be impressed at the sight of this one.”

View photo

Qorz snapped this perspective of Lisbon’s Bélem Tower during a photography tour, from the sidecar of a vintage motorcycle.

View photo

An aerial view of Prague’s Old Town Square captures the city’s history and charm.

View photo

“This couple in front of the Louvre embodies this popular imagery of Paris, the romantic city,” Qorz says.

View photo

Tap or click a photo to launch slideshow

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Follow in Qorz’ footsteps and pick a destination to explore

pool at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

13 of the Best Rooftop Bars in the World

Posted on by Nikki Ridgway

When the weather is warm, rooftop bars and restaurants become playgrounds for city dwellers. Nights are hot, sunsets are radiant and drinks always taste better when sipped in the sky. But to make our list of the best rooftop bars in the world, these 13 hot spots had to offer more than dreamy views.

Paris: Les Ombres


Les Ombres Restaurant Paris

Photography courtesy Restaurant Les Ombres

Recommended by the Concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, this rooftop restaurant occupies the top floor of the Jean Nouvel–designed Musée du quai Branly in the 7th district, and is an easy jaunt from the Hotel. Take a tour of the museum’s exhibitions, or skip the culture and proceed directly to the celebrated menu of French classics. A restaurant for travellers and locals alike, Les Ombres boasts unmatched views of the Eiffel Tower from the terrace. Plan your experience around sunset to watch the Tower’s lights begin to glitter as the sun sinks below the horizon.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Singapore: 1-Altitude Gallery and Bar


1 Altitude Gallery and Bar Rooftop - Singapore

Photography courtesy 1-Altitude

1-Altitude Gallery and Bar is the grande dame of rooftop bars – the world’s highest al fresco bar sits atop the triangular One Raffles Place building almost 1,000 feet (304 metres) above Singapore’s business district. The 360-degree views look out onto the Singapore River, Marina Bay and twinkling cityscape, but with a sunken dance floor, small-plates bar menu and creative cocktail list, 1-Altitude is far more than just a viewing platform. DJs The Funkman and Leonard T man the decks most nights, so plan for drinks plus dancing.

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

Dubai: Mercury Lounge


On the rooftop of Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Mercury Lounge offers more than its head-turning views of the Arabian Gulf, city skyline and Burj Khalifa. In-house attractions include a Champagne bar, shisha lounge, resident DJ and traditional majlis seating areas for the city’s glitterati. Happy hour kicks things off early, and the small-plates menu – with caviar, oysters and truffle duck parfait, naturally – sustains the crowds until the wee hours. The dress code is smart casual, but in Dubai that means your highest heels or sharpest button-downs.

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

New York City: The Skylark


New York City The Skylark

Photography courtesy The Skylark

Concierge David Harney at Four Seasons Hotel New York says The Skylark is an after-work favourite for a ritzy Midtown crew. Views are of movie-set New York, from the Empire State Building to the Chrysler Building and out to the Hudson River. Lauded New York mixologist Johnny Swet is behind signature cocktails like the spicy Jalapeto and the Skylark, an other-era concoction with gin, Saint- Germain and brandied cherry. This sky-high spot is only open to the public only during the week, so don’t wait until the weekend to visit.

Four Seasons Hotel New York

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel New York

Hong Kong: SEVVA


Hong Kong Sevva Rooftop Bar

Photography courtesy Sevva

In a city with a thriving rooftop bar scene, the concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong recommends SEVVA, a crowd-pleaser with 360-degree city views atop the Prince’s Building in Central. Pronounced “savour,” the bar caters to imbibers both at night and during the day. Daytime patrons can enjoy afternoon tea and sweets, while night owls can expect a lively DJ and the occasional saxophonist.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Miami: Juvia


Hanging out on top of a parking garage might not sound like the most glamorous of nights, but this Miami rooftop hot spot does things differently. Recommended by the concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel Miami, Juvia is the creation of acclaimed architects Herzog & de Meuron. In the kitchen, alums of Nobu, Boulud and Ducasse dish up Peruvian, French and Japanese favourites with a 305 twist. The Miami Beach views make the perfect backdrop to an evening of libations.

Four Seasons Hotel Miami

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Miami

Mumbai: AER


AER at Four Seasons Mumbai

The jewel in the sparkling crown of Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, AER towers 34 storeys above the bustling Worli district and is one of few rooftop bars to be open year round. The sleek, modern décor takes its cues from the city’s superfuture skyline, on full display thanks to the knockout 360-degree views. Visit at sunset for one of the best views in Mumbai – and to secure your seat – or come during the late-night hours to gaze at the stars.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

Istanbul: A’YA Rooftop Lounge


A'YA Rooftop Lounge at Four Seasons Istanbul

At A’YA Rooftop Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, the city’s signature sights are on display. Admire the Hagia Sophia’s giant buttress, the Blue Mosque’s distinctive six minarets and the brilliant blue Bosphorus over a bottle of local wine. Ask the staff to treat you to a raki balik experience, a favourite way for locals to imbibe a bottle of their national drink (an aniseed liqueur) paired with seafood. A calm oasis in the middle of a hectic tourist area, this is not the spot to party until dawn. Go for a low-key evening spent appreciating Istanbul’s grandest treasures and the sounds of Old Town below.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Los Angeles: Perch


Los Angeles Perch Bar

Photography courtesy Perch

To be in with LA’s hip and handsome crowd, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Concierge Barbara Reyes recommends Perch. Located in Downtown LA, the 16th-floor rooftop bar has unmatched panoramic views of the buzzing neighbourhood plus classic Parisian cocktails, live jazz nights, ornate fireplaces and an oyster-shucking cart. On a hot day, try the Spicy Concombre, a combination of Greenalls Gin, St-Germain, lime juice, cucumber and jalapeño – refreshing with a touch of heat.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Beirut: The Roof


The Roof at Four Seasons Beirut

A 26th-floor gem atop Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, The Roof is the highest open-air lounge in the city and packs a punch with seasonal outdoor seating for 200, nightly live DJ sets and an Asian-inspired tapas menu. Not to mention that the bar offers pick-a-vista views of Beirut’s downtown, surrounding mountains, a nearby marina and the Mediterranean Sea. Expect to share a banquette with the city’s brightest, who know to book in advance for a seat at the window, dress way up and dance until the lights go on at 2:00 am.

Four Seasons Hotel Beirut

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Beirut

Bangkok: ZENSE

With a heart-of-the-action location atop the CentralWorld shopping mall, ZENSE is a prime perch for admiring the neon lights of downtown Bangkok. The look is artfully futuristic, with high-design canopies over tables, vertical gardens and mood lighting across the mezzanine bar and outdoor dining areas. Better for sundowners than for a late-night party, the cocktail menu serves all the classics, plus fruity seasonal cocktails.

London: Forest Restaurant and Bar on the Roof


Forest Restaurant and Bar on the Roof, London

Photography courtesy Forest on the Roof

Forest Restaurant and Bar on the Roof is a seasonal pop-up on the top floor of Selfridge’s, one of London’s best-loved department stores. The rooftop restaurant is transformed each year, and the current urban forest features branches and fairy lights. Décor echoes the forager-focused menu, and there’s a secret garden with two “sheds” for cosy drinks or a group celebration. Book in advance to score a table during the popular afternoon tea service, and order a round of Rhubinis – a quintessentially English concoction with homemade rhubarb and sparkling local wine.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Doha: Nobu Doha


In a tri-level, 26,000-square-foot (2,415-square-metre) space resembling an oyster shell, Nobu at Four Seasons Hotel Doha is the world’s largest Nobu restaurant. Perched in the middle of the bay, the rooftop terrace has just 38 highly coveted seats. Claim your spot when the bar’s doors open at 6:00 pm, and settle in with an order of the 28 Punch – a decadent mocktail with fresh ginger and acai black. Sip on your drink and admire views of the Arabian Gulf and the yachts docked at the Four Seasons Marina next door. For a sweet treat to round out the night, try the raved-about caramelised vanilla cake.

Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Check Rates & Availability
See all you can experience at Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Your Journey Begins Here

Select a destination and start exploring

Tree in park

Explore