Tag Archives: spa

Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire

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The Four Seasons Beverly Wilshere feels instantly luxurious. The moment you hand over your car keys to the valet you know you are in safe hands. Located moments away from Rodeo Drive, it is the perfect place to stop after a tiring morning of shopping, or window-shopping in my case.

The spa is found a few floors up, a quiet oasis of calm, away from the buzz of the city. This sanctuary offers a range of indulgent treatments using the renowned Barcelona brand, NuturaBisse. I was lucky to experience their 90 minute Diamond Rose Facial, a thoroughly cleansing and moisturising treatment, with visible results. My therapist Sanam was also a trained masseuse and incorporated this into my facial to relax and remove tension from my shoulders, neck and face. The facial combined a variety of specialist techniques and unique products to brighten and polish the skin. As she applied different serums and creams from the Diamond range, I could smell the delicious and exotic scents from the products. I was almost asleep when she finished the treatment, feeling totally refreshed and revitalised. The 90 minutes of pampering had a visible effect on my previously tired skin, a moisture boost that continued to benefit my face days later.

For a sophisticated dining experience, the BLVD restaurant on the ground floor is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a meal of casual classic dishes. When I visited on a Saturday evening, the eatery was full and consequently service was slow. Apologetic for the delays, the waiter ensured my glass of Moet & Chandon champagne remained topped up at all times.

A jazz quartet played standards in one corner of the room, which created a lovely atmosphere in the bar and restaurant area. Many guests seemed to be visiting just for cocktails and snacks before going out on the town. We skipped starters and tasted a few of the meatier mains. My lamb (with potato & eggplant “cannelloni”, marcona almonds and carrot purée) was an unusual combination. I found the plate of food too dry, the chunks of lamb had a nice depth of flavour but the log of cannelloni was unsuccessful in my opinion. The generously-sized 28-day aged “four story hill farm” rib-eye was presented clumsily on a plate. It was a tasty steak with a rich peppercorn sauce and thick homemade chips, but I expected more from a Four Seasons restaurant, especially considering the price tag.

We finished our meal with true American-style doughnuts, and the Chocolate Experience (sacher torte, warm fondant with vanilla ice cream, peanut milk chocolate parfait and crème brulee), which was a delicious sweet treat, cooked to perfection with a very gooey centre – it didn’t last long on our table.

With new Executive Chef Thomas Belle recently joining the kitchen at Beverly Wilshere, I hope he will reinspire the menu and add some extra sparkle in the coming months.

More information about Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire here.

Four Seasons Beverly Hills

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When you need a break from busy city life in Los Angeles, the Four Seasons Beverly Hills provides the perfect refuge. Leave your car with the valet and say hi to Marilyn on your way in (there is a statue of the film goddess by the entrance). In the extravagant lobby I noticed the prestigious Krigler perfume shop, where guests can personalise their own scent or choose from one of the famous fragrances.

It was Sunday morning and I was here to try the spa and Cabana restaurant. LA locals get their nails done every week, but for me a manicure and pedicure was a very special luxury. I was the only guest in the nail bar and my therapist worked meticulously on my hands and feet to ensure I left looking like an LA girl.

From their huge selection I chose two Essie colours, a pretty shade of pale pink (‘Hi Maintenance’) for my fingers and a punchy shade of coral (‘Tart Deco’) for my toes. With a cappuccino in hand and my feet soaking in warm bubbly water I felt completely relaxed. After an hour of pampering my nails looked very neat and professional – carefully trimmed cuticles and perfectly painted nails. After a few minutes letting them dry by the pool I headed to the leafy al fresco dining room for lunch.

The Cabana eatery offers casual poolside dining. We enjoyed refreshing homemade fruit juices before ordering a range of summery dishes. The food is simple and nicely presented, the menu features international favourites such as BLT sandwich and seasonal additions like the burrata, peach and tomato salad. Unfortunately the food looked better than it tasted, particularly unsuccessful was the very plain Parsley and Kale Superfood Rigatoni. However, the new dish of crispy crab cakes was better, an appetising soft texture and deliciously seasoned.

For dessert we indulged in their decadent ice-cream sandwich. Chewy (slightly stale) cookies cemented together with creamy homemade ice cream. It was a childish but fun pudding, ideal in the lunchtime Californian heat.

Four Seasons Beverly Hills is a temple of luxury to escape Hollywood. Though I can’t recommend the uninspiring Cabana restaurant when there are so many great restaurants on the streets of LA, the spa is a great place to treat yourself to a luxurious weekend mani-pedi.

More information about the Four Seasons Beverly Hills here.

Shangri-La Vancouver

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Every time I walk into a Shangri-La hotel, a sense of calm washes over me, body and mind. The Vancouver establishment is no different, although it is located in the centre of the bustling city, inside there is a quiet and serene atmosphere. It is business-like but always with time for luxury.

We were extremely comfortable in a deluxe one bedroom suite, which felt like a mini apartment. Every detail and amenity is here to ensure you have a seamless stay. The living room area was kitted out with a writing desk and plush sofa, and a bottle of red wine and a platter of lovely cheeses was laid out for our enjoyment.

The suite was decorated in creams and muted greys with accents of red from the oriental artwork on the walls. The kingsize bed looked very inviting, topped with numerous bouncy pillows. For ease and comfort the blinds and curtains are controlled by digital panels next to the bed… perfect for jetlagged customers who want to watch the sun rise over the city.

Next door the en-suite white marble clad bathroom definitely had the wow factor, with a regal bath, glass encased shower, cosy bathrobes and L’Occitane toiletries. I enjoyed several bubble baths during my one night stay!

The Asian influence is evident throughout the building and all its facilities, but there are also touches of international charm, which I noticed particularly in the upmarket eatery, Market run by acclaimed chef Jean-Georges. We ate here for dinner and breakfast the next morning, and on both occasions the food was wholesome and tasty.

In the evening Market has a glamorous feel, the lights are dimmed and everywhere I looked elegant couples or trendy friends were chatting and laughing. We trusted our waiter with the cocktail choices, all of which are made with house-made syrups and fresh ingredients. I would recommend the Ginger Margarita, a spicy, sweet drink with a salty kick. Our dinner was a feast of Mediterranean style dishes. I soon regretted us only ordering one portion of corn ravioli with cherry tomatoes, shallots and basil, as it was a delicate and delicious bowl of pasta, a must for vegetarian diners. For main course we tried a simply cooked beef tenderloin with bearnaise sauce and Parmesan crusted chicken with white asparagus. I found the chicken bland and unexciting, there was too much on the plate and it needed seasoning, but the steak was a faultless piece of meat, tender and rich and cooked to perfection with a crispy caramelised edge.

For breakfast the choices are much more obviously Canadian. The French toast with spiced apple, bacon and maple syrup is unmissable and the omelette was delicious too. Every morning the team offer a complimentary smoothie and we were pleased to taste the pretty purple blueberry special.

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My favourite part of this city sanctuary hotel was the sophisticated Chi spa. I spent a wonderful ninety minutes here totally immersed in a signature Shangri-La treatment. The Chi Aroma Vitality began with a tea ritual, whilst my tired feet were cleansed and massaged. Then I was left to warm my muscles for ten minutes in a private steam room before I lay on the silky soft bed for a full body massage.

Whilst staying at the Shangri-La Vancouver, I was blissfully unaware of the city life outside. Suddenly searching for exciting shops and cafes didn’t seem so important, as I felt so content at the hotel. As a guest in an unfamiliar foreign city, I don’t think you could hope for anything more.

More information and book a stay at Shangri-La Vancouver here.