Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

The doorman standing at attention in a red topcoat is your first clue to the Fairmont’s atmosphere. It’s regal, Old World, and high service from the get-go. Guests pass through a vestibule with red velvet steps into the marvelous lobby. Rich woodwork, cranberry-colored upholstery, and enormous floral arrangements set the mood. The solid-wood front desk seems lifted from another era, with cubbies for room keys. The ground floor contains the property’s Michelin-starred restaurants, a jewelry shop, and several lounging spaces set with plump armchairs, including the Wohnhalle, a high-tea salon that feels like a wood-paneled country estate complete with a fireplace. Guests can either walk up the broad central staircase or take tiny jewel box elevators up to rooms (each furnished with a small gilded chair). Hallways are equally formal with imposing armoires, portrait paintings, and antique maps. Throughout stained-glass windows display various regional crests including the one for Hamburg. Despite the Fairmont’s lofty air, staff remain warm and friendly, and housekeeping is quick to smile and offer a “guten tag” while passing by. Guests themselves tend to be well-heeled Europeans and Brits on vacation or disembarking from a cruise. During the weekdays, several business travelers make the Fairmont their luxe home base as well.

The Fairmont’s front door opens right up to the picturesque Binnenalster lake complete with swans paddling around on the surface. Several other high-end hotels circle around this waterfront area including  Barcelo Hamburg, and the posh department store Alsterhaus sits just to the left. To the south, streets are packed with high-end boutiques including Montblanc and Rolex. Around the block on the backside of the Fairmont are plenty of convenient shops including a drugstore, plus a few bars and on-the-go eateries. Tourists looking to hit Hamburg’s top attractions will find them all in walking distance, although some require a long-ish trek. The city’s ornate Town Hall is the easiest to reach at eight minutes on foot. The famous warehouse district Speicherstadt, with its historic red-brick buildings, is an 18-minute walk, while the modern performing arts center Elbphilharmonie is a 30-minute walk or eight-minute taxi ride. Reaching the delightful Miniatur Wunderland is 22 minutes on foot, or nine-minute drive. Famed St. Michael Church is the same distance.Business travelers also appreciate that the Fairmont is so close to several corporate headquarters, including Google's Hamburg outpost, which is just six minutes away walking.Throughout taxis are plentiful, and the closest S or U-Bahn stop is five minutes on foot. Hamburg’s Hauptbahnhof train station can be reached on foot in 20 minutes or by taxi in five. Hamburg airport requires a taxi or public transportation, and it’s 22 or 33 minutes, respectively.

Matching the public space’s aristocratic, Old World atmosphere, guest rooms are tastefully decorated and loaded with elegant flourishes. A redesign in 2013 helped move the decor away from heavy brocade and dark furniture. In its place, massive beds backed by tufted headboards anchor the rooms, which are beautifully furnished with writing desks, brass-handled cabinets, and cushy armchairs. Rich drapery and velvet pillows also add to the atmosphere. Everywhere, little convenient touches abound, such as gooseneck reading lamps or magnifying mirrors.Amenities are thoroughly high-end as well: Refreshments include Nesspresso machines with coffee pods, electric kettles with tea, free mineral water, and minibar snacks and beverages (for a fee). Free Wi-Fi and Ethernet come standard -- so do desktop tablets and iPod docks -- and flat-screen TVs are loaded with international channels. Other amenities include electronic safes, bathrobes, and slippers. Turndown service and free shoeshines also set the tone for attentive, old-school service.Entry-level Single Rooms, catering to solo travelers, are still generously sized at 269 square feet and come outfitted with queen-size beds. The next level up, the standard 377-square-foot Deluxe Double Room Courtyard Rooms are downright gigantic compared to European norms, with ample space to walk around the beds, double closets, and benches for luggage. Bathrooms are also unusually large, holding both glassed-in rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs. Toilets are housed in their own vestibule, and sinks give ample counter space. They’re also tastefully finished in black-and-white tile and vintage taps. A full set of toiletries are provided from the usual shampoo and conditioner to the pampering bath salts and cotton rounds. Heated towel racks and scales pile on more extras.Lakeview versions of both Single and Double categories are similarly sized and furnished, but they swap out the somewhat unremarkable courtyard views for ones of neighboring Binnenalster lake. Most guests report that courtyard-facing rooms provide the quietest location, although Lakeview ones don't seem to pick up much outside noise either. Rooms are also fairly well-insulated from hallway noise, thanks to being set behind two sets of doors with a small vestibule between then. A handful of rooms offer balconies, whirlpool tubs, kitchenettes, and walk-in closets. Connecting rooms are available as well. It’s worth noting that the hotel’s “digital keys” are a bit cumbersome and can be tough to operate.

Features at the Fairmont make this property a destination in and of itself – particularly its dining. The Michelin-starred venue draws both guests and outside visitors alike with its extravagant menu showcasing ingredients like Icelandic cod or pork from northern Germany, plus a wine closet on the premises. Other dining options include the Art Deco-inspired Jahreszeiten Grill (open for lunch and dinner) with a corresponding bar and terrace; the stately wood-paneled Wohnhalle, which serves afternoon tea; the fusion Japanese-Peruvian restaurant NIKKEI NINE; the Condi Lounge, a more relaxed space that moves from afternoon coffee to evening wine and tapas; and finally the airy Café Condi, which serves up a lavish breakfast spread. Breakfast, however, isn’t always included in rates and can be pricey.The fitness center and spa, both located on the fifth floor, are each thoughtfully put together and reflect the hotel's aesthetic. The fitness center has a small lounge space furnished with leather seating, a flat-screen TV, and fresh fruit and water from a Smeg fridge. TechnoGym equipment lines the windows, including treadmills, stair-steppers, and weight-lifting machines, and the back of the room opens up to a small area for free weights and yoga, complete with a small Buddha statue. Personal training sessions can be requested for an added fee. The spa has multiple treatment rooms plus a locker room that's available to all guests and outfitted with a sauna, steam room, and cold plunge pool. Guests can also book sessions from an extensive spa menu that tops out at more than 100 treatments.While the property doesn't have a pool, it is topped off by a rooftop lounge space. On a sunny day, this space with its loungers and cushioned seats give a pleasant perch to look out over Hamburg’s rooftops. This area gets beverage service as well.The Fairmont's lower floors hold a few shops including a jewelry store. Free newspapers, loaner umbrellas, and shoeshines are also on offer, as is laundry service, a hairstylist, and an in-house florist. Parents can also request babysitting service (for a fee) plus loaner cribs and cots. There is a business center on the premises and five rooms that can hold meetings, events, or weddings, which are outfitted with AV equipment. Concierge service is on hand, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Parking is valet only for an added fee.