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13 of the Best Rooftop Bars in the World

Posted on May 19, 2016December 30, 2020 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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hong Kong: SEVVA

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.

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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.

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Mumbai: AER

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.

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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.

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Los Angeles: Perch

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.

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Beirut: The Roof

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.

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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.

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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.

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An Unexpected Season: Truffles in August

Posted on May 19, 2016September 6, 2017 by Finn-Olaf Jones

“I always choose the liveliest dog in the pound,” says truffle-dog trainer Simon French as Mandy, a cross-breed border collie, eagerly zigzags through English oak trees planted over the past 15 years. Every time Mandy paws the ground, French throws down a washer with coloured ribbon. Although only a few trees have washers at their bases, one particularly dwarfish tree has almost a dozen.

“That’s what I like to see,” says Marcus Jessup, the farm manager, while browsing the grove at Tamar Valley Truffles. He bends down and sniffs the ground.

“This one seems ready,” he says. Jessup gingerly digs around the washer with a knife, uncovering a black bulb the size of a golf ball. He removes it with the care and precision of a heart surgeon.

Tamar Valley Truffles sits on approximately 8 hectares and has nearly 3,000 oak trees. Farm manager Marcus Jessup (second from left) and farmer and marketing manager John Baily (far right) stroll through the groves with family and trained truffle-hunting dogs.

Photography courtesy Philip Kuruvita

It’s a Périgord truffle worthy of a Michelin-starred chef – here in the Tasmanian bush. In the U.S., truffles like the one sniffed out by French’s dog, known as “black diamonds,” easily fetch $700 a pound. Truffle fans have long flocked to restaurants and shops blessed with French and Italian truffles during those countries’ short-lived harvest season, which runs October through January. But Australian farmers have been rapidly developing their own truffle industry, one that has grown so ripe it has added a second season, from June to August.

Introducing the Australian Périgord truffle

Around 9 tons of truffles were harvested in Australia in 2014, a yield double that of just three years prior.

Photography courtesy Ulrike Schmid/StockFood

“We learned about this opportunity nine years ago and thought we’d make a go of it,” says John Baily, a rancher and farmer in the Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania. That meant replanting 8 hectares (20 acres) of poppy fields – Australia is a big producer of pharmaceutical opium – with 3,000 oak trees. To nurture black diamonds, their roots were dipped in truffle sludge to produce spores.

In true Aussie fashion, a make-it-happen attitude is infusing the ancient brotherhood of truffières with improvisation. At harvest, Baily cleans mud from the truffles and moves them into a toolshed. There, seasonal workers place them in a spotless sink-size bin and dry them using small plastic fans from the local hardware store.

Were consultants brought in from France or Italy to put together this operation? “Nah,” Baily says. “We just figured it out as we went along.”

The making of a divine breakfast

There are two types of people who eat truffles,” the French writer Jean-Louis Vaudoyer noted. “Those who think truffles are good because they are dear, and those who know they are dear because they are good.”

Georgie Patterson, who lives in the Victorian countryside, fits both descriptions.

“I had six spaniels, and my husband, Marty, said he’d like them to pay for themselves,” Patterson says. “I thought it would be fun to train them to be truffle dogs.”

Now she rises at 5:00 am during harvest months to go to nearby farms to find truffles, or dig her own from the 1,100 oaks she planted next to the house.

“Marty has gotten a taste for truffles and now likes to shave them over his eggs for breakfast. I reckon he’s eaten several times the cost of the dogs,” she says with a smile. “But I’m getting more busy than ever. This has grown so quickly it stopped being a hobby.”

More than a hobby, indeed. Australian truffle producers are aggressively catching up with the Europeans. In 2014, an estimated 9 tons of truffles were harvested here, doubling in three years the yield of black diamonds from Down Under. French truffières dig up 20 to 30 tons of black truffles annually, but they’ve been at it for at least five centuries.

“Last year, I brought out my dogs to a new farmer to harvest her first season of truffles,” Patterson recalls. “I brought a fork and spoon to dig them out, but when I saw her with a big shovel, I said, ‘You’re confident!’”

Where to eat Australian truffles

In Sydney: If you’re close to the source, the team at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney recommends a visit to the Harbour City from June through August to try the truffles at their peak. A must-visit is Madame Truffles, which is only open during the peak season.

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

In Hong Kong: Three restaurants at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong plan to feature Australian truffles this year, each with a unique take on the gourmet ingredient. Sample Executive Chinese Chef Chan Yan Tak’s wild mushroom tasting menu in July and August at Lung King Heen. Executive Chef Andrea Accordi at The Lounge will have a special Australian winter black truffle menu, and Chef de Cuisine Fabrice Vulin will prepare two Australian winter truffle dishes at Caprice.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

In California: “When they were first introduced to me a few years ago, I was a little sceptical,” recalls Josiah Citrin, who runs the Michelin-starred Mélisse restaurant in Santa Monica, California, in driving distance from Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. “But they’re great, and now I have a reliable source for summer. If anything, I’d say we have way more consistency in the truffles coming from Australia.”

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

The summer Aussie truffle menu at Mélisse has included truffle eggs, truffle risotto, wild mushroom agnolotti with paper-thin truffle slivers – “anything that can bring up the flavour and the aroma of the truffle,” Citrin says.

Photography courtesy Mélisse

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The Best Places for Brunch
Around the Globe

Posted on May 7, 2016November 15, 2019 by Heidi Mitchell

Brunch is an integral aspect of any culinary journey. – Layne Nguyen, General Manager at Nobu Doha

There are few better ways to toast a week’s end than with brunch. The meal that falls somewhere between breakfast and lunch is a time for celebration, community and little agenda beyond filling plate after plate with global delicacies like Peking duck, beef Wellington and eggs Benedict – plus copious tipples of Champagne. Whether you’re travelling to an exotic port city or hunkering down in a cultural capital, book a table at one of the best places for brunch with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Los Angeles: Sunday Brunch at Culina, Modern Italian

Locals consider Culina, Modern Italian’s Sunday dining affair the most extravagant in the City of Angels, thanks to its multiple dining stations (including omelettes and fresh, custom juices) and a fondue fountain that overflows with some 40 pounds of chocolate every single week. The restaurant is also a magnet for celebs, and though we can’t mention the boldfaced names of many regular diners, you’ll surely recognise their faces.

Recently added to the menu: pizza from the restaurant’s new al fresco pizza oven, set on the patio underneath California skies. Don’t miss ordering Chef Luca Moriconi’s favourite: Pizza with Burrata e Speck. “I love the fact that the tomatoes are locally sourced and the burrata is from Puglia,” he says. “The smoky flavour from the Speck completes the flavour profile for an amazing pizza!” To go off-campus for your next bite, head to Bianca Bakery, where Moriconi brings his own family. “It is a new Italian-Argentinian place where you can enjoy great bread, pastries, pasta and mimosas,” he says.

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Washington, DC: Sunday Brunch at Seasons

Seasons Brunch Salad Is A Signature Dish

On sunny spring days, political players and denizens desiring a gossip session reserve seats on the outdoor terrace at Seasons for views of Rock Creek Parkway’s joggers and cherry-blossom-seeking travellers. It’s a favourite for special occasions like Mother’s Day, but every weekend is packed – and delicious – thanks to Chef Andrew Court’s expansive menu. Locals stop by regularly to try the international station with rotating themes, which might include anything from sushi to paella. Currently on offer? The charms of a Hawaiian luau, such as pineapple fried rice with spicy shrimp, chef-carved kalua pork with passion fruit sauce, and Hawaiian barbecue chicken.

When he’s grabbing his own brunch, Court often beelines to the cheekily named Dirty Habit in D.C.’s Penn Quarter. “I used to go to the original Dirty Habit in San Francisco when I was living there, so it’s become a tradition,” he says. “I’ll generally order the house-made yogurt and granola, then the BBQ Burrito or the Healthy Bowl – it depends on how much exercise I can get in on Sunday morning!”

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London: Weekend Brunch at Amaranto Restaurant

Amaranto Restaurant is inarguably chic: Polished black marble and dark red booths create an intimate environment. The mouthwatering menu is an Anglophile’s delight, featuring Gloucestershire beef, Kent berries and Shetland smoked salmon. Those with a sweet tooth shouldn’t leave without trying the lemon ricotta pancakes with Yorkshire rhubarb compote – an ideal way to kick-start another day in the city.

For another brunch experience in London, Ivan Arena, Bar Manager at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, recommends Granger & Co: “My go-to order is the Sweet Corn Fritter dish, followed by something sweet from the bakery menu. They also do a very good Bloody Mary, which is always important to me!”

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Doha: Friday Brunch at Nobu Doha

The 2,400-square-metre Nobu outpost in Doha is one of Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s largest restaurants, and the menu is worthy of its grand space on the Marina, where nearly every seat overlooks the Arabian Gulf. While a Sunday or Saturday brunch is customary in much of the world, catch it here on Friday, the first day of the Arabic weekend. It’s well worthy of a splurge, thanks to dishes like lobster quinoa risotto and Wagyu rib-eye.

“Not only are guests treated to incredible cuisine with a wonderful tasting-style menu,” says Layne Nguyen, General Manager at Nobu Doha, “but the Friday brunch allows for an ideal ambience to gather with family and friends and reconnect over a magnificent meal, matched by a stylish setting.”

If you’re ready for another local gem, Andrew Bozoki, Head Chef of Nobu, recommends brunching at Baladna Farm Restaurant in northern Qatar. “I love the lamb thareed there, and the fact that I can visit their milk factory with my family,” he says. “It’s the place to savour delicious Arabic-style food alongside the freshest possible dairy products.”

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Bahrain Bay: Friday Brunch at CUT by Wolfgang Puck

Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck brings his cutting-edge experience to the meat-centric CUT restaurant in the capital city of Manama – a brunch spot beloved by diplomats and members of the royal family. When it comes to the à la carte menu, start with Puck’s famous pretzel bread, then move on to more filling fare, served family style: creamy burrata bruschetta, steak skewers with a kick of chimichurri sauce, and homemade pasta. Try the filet mignon au poivre – a USDA prime hunk of marbled steak drizzled in black peppercorn and mustard sauce.

Another favourite, suggested by Fabio Marques, Director of CUT by Wolfgang Puck: NOMAD Urban Eatery. “It’s a great spot for brunch, with an elegant and sophisticated Greek design,” he says. “The friendly staff and quality food make for a pleasant and relaxed dining experience.”

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Macau: Wellness Menu at Windows

Healthy living is the order of the day at Windows, an intimate fireside lounge helmed by Executive Sous-Chef Benjamin Lim. Dishes on the all-day menu would delight any wellness enthusiast, including meat-free Impossible burgers served with tahini and grilled eggplant; turmeric bliss kombucha; and a vitamin- and antioxidant-stocked juice blend with guava, orange, blueberry and raspberry – an excellent way to prepare for a day of exploring Macau’s ancient temples.

When Lim himself ventures into Macau for brunch, he often selects Shun Hin, where his go-to dish is braised black mushrooms and assorted vegetables in fish broth. “Macau is a place where I have been immersed in the Chinese culture, especially the food culture,” he says. “Dim sum with tea starts as breakfast and is served until lunchtime, and can be savoury or sweet – a wonderful way to enjoy the moment with your family.”

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Singapore: Champagne Brunch at One-Ninety: Wood-Fired Steaks and Seafood

Newly reborn as a botanically rich Provençal and Asian brasserie, One-Ninety is practically tailor-made for Instagram, thanks to abundant flowers and lush, tropical plantings that dangle from columns and adorn the bar. Restaurant Chef Kamarl John, who formerly worked with Michelin-garnering chef David Myers, begins each brunch with artisan sourdough bread made from flour milled in Hokkaido, Japan, and served with seaweed butter. His inventive Sunday brunch menu features abundant dishes such as chilli crab omelettes with mantou buns and coriander, and laksa rice noodles with cockles, scallops and quail eggs. Guests love the option of adding free-flowing bubbly – Taittinger Brut champagne or Ruffino Prosecco – and the sustainably sourced seafood tower with Maine lobster, king crab, bluefin tuna, fresh prawns and Hokkaido scallops.

To sit down for brunch, he often heads to Five Oars Coffee Roasters. “The restaurant always reminds me of a trendy, informal brunch spot in London, and they serve really great food,” John says. “My must-orders are the Five Oars Breakfast and their craft beers and ales.”

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Orlando: Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals

Technically it isn’t brunch, but since it’s so special for families visiting Four Seasons Resort Orlando Walt Disney World® Resort, we couldn’t resist including it. On Thursday, Saturday and select Tuesday mornings, Goofy and his pals arrive to entertain picky eaters of all ages at the Resort’s Ravello restaurant.

Ask for a table on the patio overlooking the lake and fountains. Though your kids may be too distracted by Minnie Mouse to realise that the jams are homemade and the bread freshly baked, after their professional photos you can all enjoy house-cured meats followed by the Nutella-filled bomboloni on the dessert table.

When he’s seeking out a magical brunch for himself in Orlando, Executive Sous-Chef Ryan Schelling heads to DoveCote downtown. “The brioche French toast is fantastic, and the steak and eggs are a great way to start a Sunday,” he says. “I love the chicken liver pâté, which keeps me going back. After seeing the dishes you didn’t order, you’ll want to return to try it all.”

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9 Family Vacations Recommended by Moms

Posted on May 1, 2015February 13, 2017 by FourSeasonsMagazine.com

If the idea of taking your kids on vacation sounds daunting, consider that you have only a handful of holidays before your little ones become adults and start planning their own grand getaways. Make the most of family vacations by visiting destinations that will rejuvenate your love of travel, provide your family time to relax together and help you unplug from routine as you introduce your tiny travellers to the wider world.

We asked six savvy mothers to nominate destinations for the best family vacations based on real-world experiences with their kids. Here, these sojourning matriarchs offer insider tips and top picks for family-friendly holidays from Orlando to Hong Kong and kid-approved resorts from Hualalai to Sharm El Sheikh.

A hassle-free escape in Hualalai
Nominated by Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Hawaii during a helicopter tour of the Big Island. Children will love watching an active volcano spill lava into the ocean, or weaving through jungle-filled valleys.

Photography courtesy Thinkstock

For a carefree vacation, I love Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu, where kids and parents alike can have the holiday of their dreams. Because the Resort is only 15 minutes from the airport, as soon as you arrive, you’re there—it’s logistic nirvana—and the programming at the Resort is so extensive you don’t have to ever leave the grounds. If you do venture out, try the full-island Hualalai helicopter tour—our son loved watching bubbling lava flow into the ocean. Hupuna State Park is nearby, with long sandy beaches and water that’s ideal for body-boarding.

At the end of the day, we found ourselves happily lingering on the grounds of the Resort. Our son enjoyed watching turtles nest along the beach, and playing near the shops as the sun set. He learned to snorkel without leaving the property and spent Kid’s Night Out watching movies on the lawn while my husband and I enjoyed date night. We learned hula and lei-making as a family at the Kaupulehu Cultural Center—the perfect way to expose our child to a new culture and spend quality time together.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Activities galore in Hong Kong
Nominated by Katie Dillon of La Jolla Mom

A family vacation in thriving Hong Kong combines thrilling visits to theme parks for the kids with cultural learning experiences, plus time to relax at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and take in the iconic skyline from the outdoor pool.

Photography courtesy Katie Dillon

Hong Kong is a surprisingly easy family travel destination. Public transportation is efficient, the airport is easy to navigate, and everything a family needs can be purchased within steps of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. While much of Hong Kong is a bustling city, there are plenty of opportunities to hike, enjoy the beach or spend time on the sea, so you can choose a pleasant mix of urban and outdoor activities for an active family. Two of the most popular family destinations are Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, where kids can be kids and parents can score major cool points. If you prefer to skip the packed parks, head up to Big Buddha on a glass-bottom cable car, or take a ride on the new waterfront observation wheel at twilight to watch the city sparkle.

While many parents worry about the food options in Hong Kong, this shouldn’t dissuade those with even the pickiest of eaters. Kids love the petite dim sum, and if all else fails, pizza and burgers are available all over the city. We used many of the Hotel’s family amenities, including the outdoor pool deck, where complimentary popsicles and treats are passed around periodically. If the siren call of the watering holes at Lan Kwai Fong beckons, book a nanny through the Concierge. Otherwise, stay back in your Harbour View Room and watch the Symphony of Lights laser show over the water. Word to those still strollering: The city’s uneven pavement and unavoidable stairs make pushing your tiny tots a tiny hassle.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

A resort hideaway in Sharm El Sheikh
Nominated by: Heather Greenwood Davis of Globetrotting Mama

Egypt’s most underrated attraction might be the stunning white-sand beaches of Sharm El Sheikh, which disappear into the turquoise waters of the Red Sea.

Photography courtesy the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

You don’t often hear the words “Egypt” and “children” spoken together in the travel sphere. Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh is an exception. From the moment we arrived at the Resort, we all felt at home. We spent most of our time at the property, which is large but well contained. Rooms feel like mini-cottages (with plunge pools in some!), and it only took a few hours for all of us to get to know the lay of the land.

Whether at the pool or on the beach, we enjoyed great views and attentive service, and the restaurants excelled at offering something for every palate. Mealtimes included options our children were familiar with as well as the chance to try new things, like the delicious Merguez sausage and hummus.

And the Resort’s Kids for All Seasons Club is small, but it makes up for its size with fun cultural activities, like learning to write your own name in hieroglyphics. The kids had to be pried away each day, and the talent show at the end of our stay had us all laughing. An unexpected perk of being at a Resort where there are many international travellers was that we made lasting friendships with other families.

Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh

Food and fun in Austin
Nominated by: Heather Greenwood Davis of Globetrotting Mama

Barbeque taco from Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ food truck in Austin, Texas

Make a trip to South Congress to try Austin’s amazing food trucks, so everyone in the family can try something they want—from freshly made doughnuts to Tex-Mex tacos.

Photography courtesy Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ

Nominated by: Lori Lange of Recipe Girl

Austin is a terrific destination for active families. By far, the highlight of our trip was kayaking on Lady Bird Lake behind Four Seasons Hotel Austin. We loved cruising along together, and it was really cool to go under the bridge and hear the bats squeaking. If your children are a bit older, the Segway tour of Texas’ state capital is a great way to enjoy the city while keeping your child occupied and interested. (Be sure to check age restrictions.) And because the Hotel has so many amenities and fun things for the kids to do—they took part in the treasure hunt, played in the pool and watched bats at dusk—we were able to relax and soak in the sun.

Austin can be explored by your taste buds as well. One of the best ways to do this with kids is to try the food trucks of nearby South Congress. Children have fun running between options and trying unfamiliar cuisine, and you might even get them to fall in love with something new. The city also offers delicious tacos: Try the breakfast tacos at El Primo, or chow down at lunchtime on a Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ taco (both are food trucks), followed by one of Austin’s famous doughnuts. A personal favourite is Gourdough’s Donuts, where you can make a whole meal with variations on the tasty treats.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Interactive exploration in Lisbon

Renting a car is a great way to get out of Lisbon’s crowds and explore the Algarve, one of Portugal’s stunning natural wonders and a fun place for the kids to run along the sandy beaches or swim in the gentle surf.

Photography courtesy Chris Ford

Upon arrival, we did a motorcycle and sidecar tour of Lisbon, which offered a fun, interactive way to see the city and to get a sense of the history and soul of the place. Next, we explored on foot. Keep in mind the amount of walking you’ll do in the city: There are plenty of hills to climb and cobblestone walks to hike down, but if you stay at Four Seasons Hotel Lisbon a massage at the luxurious Spa will quickly loosen tired muscles after a long day on your feet.

The Hotel offers a great breakfast buffet, the perfect, hassle-free way to start each morning before exploring the city anew. Mix it up with trolley or taxi rides when the kids get tired, or rent a car. We explored coastal Algarve by car, taking in the deep turquoise waters with twisted rocks jutting out peacefully towards Africa, as well as exploring the nearby towns at Europe’s end. Car rentals offer the opportunity to get out of Lisbon and into the history and culture of Portugal’s more rural areas. And if all else fails, our kids loved to play in the warm sand or run laughing through the gentle surf on one of Portugal’s beautiful beaches.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

A museum haven in Washington, DC
Nominated by: Liz Borod of Travelogged

A full day of exploration in Washington, DC—from introducing your child to the wonders of the world at a Smithsonian museum to taking in historical monuments—is best ended by relaxing in the comfort of your room at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC.

Washington, DC, is like an educational version of Disney World because there are so many great attractions and things to see and do with kids. Visiting the Smithsonian Museums is a must: Our 3-year-old enjoyed the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum, and it was fun for us as parents to revisit those old favourites, too.

But the real highlight was the impressive Newseum, which looks at recent history through the lens of the media. Of course, after all of that museum-hopping, a trip or two around on the carousel at the National Mall is a perfect reward for good behaviour. After a busy day of sight-seeing, we were happy to go back and relax in our room at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, which is located in my favourite neighbourhood—Georgetown. Full of well-preserved Federalist architecture, Georgetown also has the best shopping and dining in the city. We managed to find time to stroll around the cobblestone streets, but my son had more fun back in the Hotel, enjoying the kid-friendly amenities.

Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

A cultural introduction in Florence
Nominated by Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino

Home to the largest private garden in Florence, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze offers an oasis in an otherwise crowded city: Admire architecture in the morning, and then spend the afternoon watching your children play outdoors back at the Hotel.

Florence is a busy metropolis, and the crowds and noise can be overwhelming. Luckily, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze has the largest private garden in the city—one of our favourite secluded hideaways, especially in summer. The oasis offers a pool; the vast garden itself, where the kids run; and a slice of calm and quiet without compromising proximity to Florence’s top sites.

From the Hotel, everything is walkable. My son loved climbing to the top of the Duomo and counting the 463 steps of the dark, ancient stairwell. The summit offers stunning panoramic views of Florence that are worth the climb, and gave our family one of our all-time favourite travel memories.

Although Florence is a city of Renaissance art and architecture, visiting with children offers the opportunity to see more of the parks, eat more delicious gelato and chow down on pizzas while experiencing the city’s attractions in an active, fun way. My son loved playing in the Santa Croce Piazza while we enjoyed superb people-watching in the shadow of the magnificent façade.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Endless excitement in Orlando
Nominated by: Colleen Padilla of Classy Mommy

Orlando is not exactly a stranger to family fun. Earn a stream of smiles from your little ones at a theme park, or soak up the sun at the Resort pool, designed to be fun for both the young and the young at heart.

Orlando is a place worth visiting over and over again so that you can experience the many attractions while still allowing time to relax poolside at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort. Easy transfers from the airport to the Resort make travelling to this destination logistical bliss with children.

My best advice for experiencing Orlando and Walt Disney World® Resort is not to try to do it all in one visit. You’ll exhaust yourself and the kids will be cranky. Instead, prioritise a few activities each day so that you feel accomplished rather than overwhelmed. And because the Resort has a private luxury bus to take your group to and from the Disney Theme Parks, you can schedule half-day visits to ensure there’s time left over to enjoy the Resort pool.

If you’re tired of lines, take your tots to the Resort’s Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals, where you can get pictures with all the characters they love as well as score a nutritious meal. Once you’ve experienced everything there is to see and do at Walt Disney World®—Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, to name only a few of the must-see attractions—retreat back to Four Seasons and enjoy Explorer Island, a 5-acre (2-hectare) family playground. Complete with fountain-equipped splash zone, lakefront family pool, meandering lazy river for tubing, gaming arena, and courts for beach volleyball and basketball, Explorer Island has something for everyone.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort

Something for everyone in Los Angeles
Nominated by: Katie Dillon of La Jolla Mom

Encourage your child’s love of learning with a visit to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where the Dinosaur Hall’s massive fossils will impress children of all ages.

Photography courtesy the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

LA has ample attractions to make for a lively family vacation: With Disneyland only an hour away, the La Brea Tar Pits not far afield, and some of the world’s prettiest beaches and Santa Monica Pier nearby, there is no shortage of ways to entertain children of all ages. For an all-out family vacation, hit the Los Angeles Zoo, Universal Studios and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where your kids can learn as well as play. For more of a local perspective, try the American Girl Place at The Grove for lunch in the café before doing a bit of shopping on Rodeo and Robertson. The LACMA children’s gallery offers interactive art and a fun way to get creative with your children.

LA has the widest range of cultural activities in Southern California, and I’m always a fan of widening my daughter’s scope of interest and knowledge by exposing her to new things. Food in LA is easy for the young, who never seem to tire of the city’s creative kid’s menus. Or dine in at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills: The menu at Culina presents a vast number of choices, but if your child can’t find anything appealing, the Hotel can make something to suit his or her palate.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

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Unique Day Trips Around the World

Posted on December 5, 2014April 10, 2017 by Kristin Newman

No one enjoys a day inside a beautiful hotel more than I do, but you can’t come home from your trip with nothing but stories about the signature cocktails at the bar. To mix things up a bit, here are four of the most unusual day trips I’ve taken from some of my favourite Four Seasons destinations. And don’t worry—when you return in the evening after your day of adventure, that cocktail will still taste great.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Just north of Buenos Aires is Tigre, a picturesque delta town situated among rivers and canals that is famous for its weekend floating produce market.

Photography courtesy Nico Kaiser

It’s easy to forget that Buenos Aires is a river city, but an hour-long train ride north of Buenos Aires brings you to the delta town of Tigre, renowned for its weekend floating produce market. Stroll around, shopping for flowers and fruit offered by growers who motor down the river from their farms deeper in the region, or take a boat tour around the swampy, beautiful inlets to see yacht clubs, swanky porteño weekend vacation homes and simple houses filled with fishing kids who will wave as you motor past.

Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires

If you want to venture further, a two-hour boat ride from Tigre reaches the island of Martín García. Once a military outpost, and then a penal colony where Juan Perón spent a few days after his arrest, the island is now a National Historical Monument and Flora and Fauna Reserve, where crumbling pieces of history mix with beautiful delta forest and creatures.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

At Elephant Nature Park, an hour away from Chiang Mai, watch, feed and play with these gentle giants for an unforgettable experience.

Photography courtesy Christian Haugen

Chiang Mai is a bustling city that could very well have drawn you for many reasons, but there’s no way you planned a trip here without wanting to see elephants. An incredible rescue preserve called the Elephant Nature Park is located about an hour north of town in the green mountains of Northern Thailand.

Here, elephants rescued from horrific conditions are left to wander—unridden and unbothered—in a gorgeous natural valley. You get to feed them, kiss them, and, when they decide to wander down to the perfect river flowing through the whole place, follow them in and bathe them. Be careful: If you’re like me, you will fall in love and give this wonderful place all of your money.

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Scottsdale, Arizona

On a family visit to Scottsdale, be sure to take time to drive north to Slide Rock, where kids and adults alike will love slipping over the wet red sandstone.

Photography courtesy Ted

Two hours north of Scottsdale is Slide Rock—a natural water slide that looks as if it were manufactured by a theme-park designer. Neatly carved by clear water through the red, soft sandstone is a person-wide, angled slide covered in just enough algae to be fantastically slippery and yet still not gross. The sandstone banks on either side are flat and smooth, ideal for sunbathing. Crawl out of the chilly water and lie under the blue sky on the sun-warmed sandstone, and remember days spent as a kid warming up on the hot summer concrete by the pool.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

Los Angeles, California

Day trip to Joshua Tree National Park, California

It’s only a two-hour drive from Beverly Hills to Joshua Tree National Park, which covers three of California’s ecoregions and boasts more than 800,000 acres (323,749 hectares) for exploring.

Photography courtesy Spencer Goad

You’ve done the Venice boardwalk and Rodeo Drive. Today you’re going to experience a quirkier side of California. Two hours east of Beverly Hills is Joshua Tree, a desert national park famous for its signature cactus tree that looked to early Mormon settlers like Joshua holding his arms up to the Lord in prayer.

First, go to the nearby Integratron for your sound bath. Built in the 1950s by Hughes Aircraft Inspector George van Tassel after alleged alien communication, this wooden dome was supposed to refresh the human body and spirit. But the acoustic qualities of the building have led to its use as a recording studio for bands such as the Arctic Monkeys, and as an excellent spot for a truly rejuvenating retreat. You’ll lie on mats for what the Integratron website calls “kindergarten nap time for grown-ups,” while a woman rubs an array of quartz bowls, creating sounds that she claims are massaging and cleaning your filthy chakras. At the very least, the beautiful and calming sounds of the ringing bowls will make every organ in your body vibrate. One warning: The acoustics are perfect, so your snores will really travel.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

After your chakras are clean, head west a few miles down a designated California Scenic Drive to Pioneertown, a relic originally built as a live-in Old West set for movies that have been filmed here since the 1940s. Today, take a stroll down an old-timey desert street, lined with fake storefronts and found-art installations of weathered school desks and ancient typewriters set in gardens of broken coloured glass and ’50s children’s toys.

Along with other cowpeople, bikers and artists, mosey into Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace—a former cantina set and outlaw biker burrito bar turned barbecue haven and indie-music den—for a beer, a sandwich and maybe a show. Robert Plant and Vampire Weekend play here, as well as local family bands. Toto, you’re not in Beverly Hills any more.

Amman, Jordan

The entrance to Petra rests at the end of the Siq, a narrow gorge surrounded by stone cliffs. Reaching 80 metres (263 feet) high, these striking walls kept the city hidden for more than five centuries.