The grand Four Seasons Hotel sits in an enviable location overlooking Elliot Bay and the Giant Wheel on Seattle’s iconic waterfront. Walk through the sliding glass doors to a welcoming lobby with statement fireplace to the right and desks manned by smiley staff in front. Each day the hotel puts on a little sweet treat for guests to help themselves to – we tucked into tiny cakes designed to look like ice-cream cones and glasses of homemade lemonade on arrival. Not a bad way to start our stay.
The hotel has 147 rooms and suites; our Seattle View Double room was spacious yet cosy with two double beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, an oversized bathroom with a bath so deep the water dances on your shoulders and a huge walk-in shower containing L’Occitaine products. We returned to our room each day to find delectable treats: beautifully crafted chocolates here, fresh crunchy green apples there.
You’ll find The Spa on the third floor – walk down one flights of steps from the gym or take the lift up from the lobby. Inside you’ll find several spacious treatment rooms, a small shop and a relaxation lounge. In the changing rooms you will find a large round steam room clad in blue (accommodating 10), hot sauna and showers behind frosted green doors. Nip into a private room to change then primp and preen by the double sinks, which are handsomely clad in cream marble – you’ll find brand new hairbrushes, Tampax, hair straighteners, powerful hairdryers and cotton wool here, ensuring you’ll want for nothing. Help yourself to a fresh white towel and a glass of lemon-infused iced water on the way out.
Outside is an impressive 12-metre heated infinity pool surrounded by brown rattan loungers and lime green umbrellas, a hot tub seating at least eight people, a round fire pit with six armchairs and a bar serving drinks and snacks. Our afternoon cooling off in the pool after a day traipsing around the city, beer in hand, view in front, was nothing short of delightful. The whole area becomes fairy lit at night and is a charming place to sit by the fire, take an evening dip or enjoy a glass of wine while drinking in the views.
We tried the 1st Avenue Facial (80 minutes, £283).
My therapist, Joanna, met me in the spa lounge, with its squishy cream armchairs and flickering candles, and led me to a calming treatment room. After enquiring about my skin complaints/niggles (ageing, dehydration), Joanna left the room so that I could de-robe and get comfortable on the warm treatment bed, lying face up.
Joanna then talked me through the treatment which includes microdermabrasion, glycolic peel, a collagen mask and oxygen blast. The treatment began with hot steam being directed onto my face to open the pores. Joanna then pre-cleansed my skin using a milk containing honey before switching to a strawberry cleanser to rid the pores of any dirt, remaining make-up or sun-cream.
Joanna then inspected my skin and performed a manual extraction. Next up, microdermabrasion; a machine that looks and sounds like a tiny hoover which Joanna moved over the skin in long, sweeping movements. The peel that followed contained lactic acid and tingled so much it was almost itchy, but it didn’t stay on long. Once removed, Joanna treated my face to a cocktail of specifically chosen serums which she massaged expertly into my thirsty skin.
For the collagen mask, Joanna placed a sheet over my face - leaving my mouth, nose and eyes exposed – and pasted it in place. While it set, Joanna performed a thoroughly relaxing shoulder, arm and hand massage using a creamy moisturiser containing chamomile.
After removing the mask, Joanna completed the treatment with eye cream, moisturiser and sun-cream, and led me back to the spa lounge to relax. On inspection, my face felt as smooth as a peach; all the signs of jetlag (bags, dark circles, lack-lusture skin) had vanished. A miracle treatment? We think so.
The Spa at The Four Seasons offers a range of facials, massages, scrubs, wraps, manis/pedis and signature treatments alongside treatments for men and children.
Guests eat breakfast and dinner in Goldfinch, the hotel’s cosy restaurant with Pacific North-West-style décor – think dark wood, golds, reds and silvers. Large windows offer fantastic watery views which are particularly enchanting at night; a central bar area makes the entire space sociable rather than stuffy. The chefs work hard to showcase the best of the Pacific North West bounty through a menu of clam chowder, oysters, salmon and juicy steaks; the children’s menu refreshingly went beyond the standard chicken nuggets, chips and peas.
Our asparagus spears wrapped in Parma ham dusted in parmesan and served with a glass of crisp Sancerre white wine was a great start to the meal. We loved our tender and succulent Rib-eye, a huge chunk of melt-in-the mouth meat that was perfectly cooked and had a smouldering, smoky taste. Our blueberry Crème Brulée was the perfect end to a lovely meal. On the other side of the table, the mini clam chowder served in a bowl of bread went down a storm.
Our cooked breakfast consisted of plump, herby sausages, eggs over-easy (with a runny yolk, to you and me), sourdough toast and the most incredible potatoes covered in rock salt. Guests can also order food and drink from the restaurant to have poolside, including beers, cocktails, hot dogs and fries.
We loved
The infinity pool: Swimming leisurely lengths whilst staring out at the Seattle skyline was the stuff of holiday dreams.
The child-friendly attitude: Seattle isn’t known for being particularly family-friendly but the Four Seasons - with its varied children’s menu and dedicated spa treatments – makes children feel like VIPs.
The service: From the moment we arrived to the moment we left (with a sob), the service at The Four Seasons Seattle was exemplary.
We didn’t love
The price-tag: With Four Seasons, you get what you pay for.
Families: Guests travelling with children will be made to feel truly welcome.
Business guests: With its sociable restaurant, spa, pool and gym, as well as spacious rooms with desks, The Four Seasons Hotel is the perfect mix of business and pleasure.
Tourists: If you’ve never been to Seattle before, a stay at The Four Season will showcase the best of what the city has to offer.
A stay in a Seattle View Double room at The Four Seasons Seattle costs from £649 per night, based on two sharing, and includes breakfast.
Return flights with Norwegian Airlines start at £600 per person flying from London Gatwick in September
Stylish Spy
23rd September 2019
Spy Likes:
Minimalist lines; organic products; facial massage; tranquillity; interesting people-watching.
Spy Dislikes:
Discarded towels on loungers; steam rooms that aren't steamy; mobile phones.
