Review: Views aside, a hotel at the peak of its powers

When it comes to hotels, it’s never enough to rely solely on location and a luxury brand name. In the ever competitive hospitality environment, guests have a bevy of things they look for and in a post-Covid lockdown world, hotel guests will be demanding even more from hoteliers.

Guests will still demand great food and beverage options, excellent service and high-quality amenities like gyms, pools and spas but they’ll also demand peace of mind around cleanliness. A freshly-made bed, once-a-day vacuum, a reordering of the toiletries and a cursory wipe down with a cloth won’t cut it anymore.

So for a hotel such as the Four Seasons in Sydney, they’re going to have to do a lot more than just offer stunning competing views of the iconic Sydney Opera House on one side and the unmistakable Harbour Bridge on the other. The good news is the Four Seasons brand globally have been a leader in thinking about what a hotel stay might look like in our new pandemic conscious world through their Lead with Care initiative.

As for the Four Seasons Sydney, they’ve always cared and now they’re out in front even further with an enhanced Lead with Care offering. You’ll notice as soon as you enter lobby. It’s the absolute beating heart of the hotel – a hive of activity, movement and fun.

It’s an inviting, warm and welcoming with outstanding staff who always make time for anyone and everyone, even when the place is heaving with guests.

Off to the side and across from reception of this huge space is one of Sydney’s most well-regarded events spaces. On any given day or night, large scale events from global economic forums to political fundraisers and awards nights are held and just like everything at the Four Seasons, they are hosted and catered for with the highest quality.

Beyond the new guest safety precautions, the hotel was already operating at the peak of its powers following the recent renovation of its 517 guest rooms. The remodelled design is fresh, classy and yet still distinctly Sydney. Each room exudes a relaxed Aussie luxury mixed with world-class design and technology. Downstairs, the restaurant and bar compare favourably with the best in the world.

 

For a more refined meal offering, the Mode Kitchen & Bar headed by chef Francesco Mannelli has finally found its perfect match. The restaurant space has seen many incarnations over the years but Mannelli who took a while to find his groove, has managed to pitch it just right. His earthy, wood-fired offerings, suit the ambience of the space and just about find the right mix between fine diner and comfortable bistro. Mannelli and his team make a mockery of those who say hotel restaurants cannot stand apart from and are too tethered to their location. The quality fresh offerings produced with flair, combined with a well-selected, albeit boutique wine list, ensure Mode Kitchen & Bar has graduated to one of Sydney’s very best culinary experiences.

After a long, lingering meal in the restaurant,  energetic guests hoping to burn some calories will find the 24-hour fitness centre and outdoor heated pool, are two of the best in the country. The rooftop pool is the city’s largest and on cue for this hotel – offer amazing views. There is also an adequate spa area, which perhaps for those of a discerning nature, could do with a little more love and a makeover similar to the refurb that has taken place across the rest of the hotel.

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