The Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, nestled in the northwest corner of West Lake, overlooks the hills in the distance. Guests staying here may enjoy the "Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden", view "Yue Fei's Tomb in Dwelling Sunglow", and search the "Dreams at Beishan Street". The hotel is also within walking distance to the site of “Impression West Lake Show - Enduring Memories of Hangzhou". Based on the imperial garden style of West Lake formed after the Southern Song Dynasty settled its capital in Hangzhou, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake has its pavilions and terraces erected with curves and oblique lines to perfectly match the surrounding scenery..With walls decorated by Jiangnan silk and embroidery, and inspired by traditional Chinese bird-and-flower paintings, the guest rooms in the hotel offer guests a feeling of understated luxury. Jin Sha is renowned for its innovative Jiangzhe cuisine, while WL Bistro offers authentic Italian cuisines. Connected to the lobby lounge, it provides guests the option to dine in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere in the courtyard. The hotel also boasts a specially-established kid’s activity center and an outdoor playground, with such activities as "Four Seasons Treasure Hunt" available for children to enjoy. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is a world-leading luxury hotel management group. As a key member of the group, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake has been rated a five-star hotel in Forbes Travel Guide from 2016 to 2020 and China TOP Ten Hotels by Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2020. Its Jin Sha and The SPA have been respectively honored as global four-star restaurant and four-star SPA winner in Forbes Travel Guide.
"I brought my mother to Hangzhou, and we chose to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel. This hotel left a very deep impression on me and created many interesting memories.
**Service:** Before arriving, I had considered canceling my Four Seasons reservation, partly because the previous hotel we stayed at was so incredibly comfortable. It had unbeatable views, excellent service, and was only a fifth of the price of the Four Seasons... Later, a Four Seasons staff member called me, rekindling my interest in the trip.
Upon arrival, the Four Seasons' service certainly did not disappoint. The lobby supervisor knelt down to speak with us (as we were seated on a low sofa) and carried our luggage all the way to our room. During our stay, they helped us book a travel photoshoot and a reservation at Jin Sha restaurant, among other services. They also drove us around the Four Seasons garden in a lovely little red car, satisfying our curiosity as guests. In the evening, when we went out, a young man from the lobby even gave me mosquito repellent and reminded us to use it. The cleaning staff were also very friendly and always accommodated our requests. Every time we returned, the room was neat and tidy, thank you all very much!
The only thing I was dissatisfied with was the 'teacher' of Song Dynasty culture. She was responsible for demonstrating tea brewing and calligraphy to guests. The hotel supervisor said this experience didn't require an appointment and was first-come, first-served. I arrived with my 70-year-old mother at 3:05 PM, and she shooed us away, saying she had an appointment at 3:30 PM... Huh? Wasn't it first-come, first-served? Why would she shoo guests away? After we insisted, she reluctantly agreed, then rushed through the demonstration in about 9 minutes. Her service attitude was a complete opposite to that of the hotel's other staff.
**Ambiance:** The environment is exquisite and clean, a luxurious blend of American and Chinese styles. We were very interested in the hotel's architecture, for example, where did those massive wooden beams come from? How were they pieced together? Unfortunately, the hotel didn't provide any related information or explanations.
**Facilities:** The use of solid marble and wood is impressive. Although built in 2010, the quality is still excellent. The rooms have smart toilets with heated seats, unlike the cold seats at the West Lake State Guest House. The bathtub is very comfortable with an integrated headrest, and dried chrysanthemum flowers are provided for bathing in the summer. The SPA facilities are very comprehensive, with a layout resembling an alchemy chamber from a cultivation novel. A small stream runs beneath thick stone slabs, with massage rooms on both sides. The heavy iron door leads to a private area complete with a toilet, shower, and hot spring pool, offering excellent privacy.
The dim sum lunch at Jin Sha restaurant, the crispy chicken, and the West Lake sweet and sour fish were especially delicious! My mother particularly loved the sweet and sour fish and even finished all the sauce.
Breakfast was decent but unremarkable. The space was too small, and the flow for getting food was very poorly designed. Everyone had to queue in the corridor to get dishes, which felt unrefined and lacked the grandeur expected of a luxury hotel. It didn't match the hotel's prestige, and I suggest improvements.
Overall, we were satisfied. If 100 is a perfect score, we'd give it a 95."