Bindu Gopal Rao discovers that the plush Four Seasons Bengaluru at Embassy ONE is a perfect place for a city break whether for business or pleasure.
Located 30 km from Bengaluru’s International Airport, Four Seasons Bengaluru at Embassy ONE is the newest addition to the city’s luxury hotel space. The 230-room hotel is cocooned in a lush landscaped haven and is all things luxury.
Chic design
Developed by the Embassy Group, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE has its contemporary and minimalist interiors designed by Yabu Pushelberg. The interiors have a strong beige tone that is accentuated by a curated collection of paintings, prints and sculptures by over 25 contemporary Indian artists.
“We are particularly excited to showcase the modern city of Bengaluru to our visitors,” says General Manager Fredrik Blomqvist who leads a hand-picked team of nearly 250 deeply dedicated employees.
Spread over 5.6 acres, the hotel ensures that the city’s tag of being known as a garden city is maintained as the landscaped gardens including the ribbon lawn and butterfly garden add to its local ethos. The 191 rooms (superior, deluxe and premier) and 39 suites are designed functionally with clean lines and thoughtful design details that will appeal to the modern-day luxury traveller.
I stayed in a luxurious suite that had a living space with views of lush tree tops and a separate bed and large bathroom space that was done up in beige and grey tones. The Garden Suites not just have separate living and dining areas that open to a private terrace but also a luxurious bedroom, bathroom and double closets. The fully customisable Four Seasons Bed with a choice of plush signature mattress is available in all rooms.
Gastronomy unlimited
The hotel has a selection of food and beverage outlets that offer a superlative dining experience and the team is led by Executive Chef Stéphane Calvet. Located on the ground level is the expansive CUR8, that serves the buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has several open kitchens.
The food here is a mix of international cuisines and the local Indian fare is as enticing with a superb selection of dishes from across India. Live counters for chaat, pasta, pizza and more will make sure your meals here are good fun. The custom built, expansive grill powered by charcoal is among the largest in the country. A large al fresco seating area that adjoins the pool and landscaping here makes this a vibrant space with over 230 covers.
Incidentally all the F&B outlets have an alfresco area that accentuates the interplay of nature and architecture. CUR8 has two large private dining rooms and also hosts the Sunday Brunch as well as being the place for special table setups for specific occasions. A pool bar is located adjacent to the pool.
On the lobby level there are two outlets – the Lobby Lounge and Terrace that has an ‘Afternoon Treat’ between 3pm and 5.30pm every day where you can experience the city’s best afternoon tea with a large selection of special blend of teas, coffees and light fare. The moist travel cakes and scones made from vanilla pods sourced from Kerala are a must try. If you love your whiskey, head to The Collection that houses over 60 of the finest labels sourced from across the world.
I also recommend you make a reservation at the rooftop restaurant Far & East on the 21st floor. Designed by LW Design, this floor unlike the rest of the hotel has an eclectic, dark tone with quirky elements that add a new dimension altogether. This is where you can sample some of the finest in Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisines. Adjoining is the lounge bar Copitas that offers late night cocktails, sundowners and shared platters with fantastic bird’s eye view on the city.
Activity mix
The hotel also has an expansive spa, a hideaway by the pool – Infuse Spa tucked behind a cascading waterfall with 11 treatment rooms. The well trained and intuitive therapists here offer massages, body scrubs, polishes and wraps that are sure to relax and rejuvenate you.
Do check out some of the signature treatments like the Coffee Scrub, that uses locally grown coffee from Coorg, the sensual Candle Massage and my personal recommendation the Flower at Four Seasons experience inspired by the Garden City tag that Bengaluru is known for.
The hotel has a 100 ft heated outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art gym that will appeal to health watchers. The hotel has a dedicated floor for meetings and banquets with a separate access with a divisible Grand Ballroom, Garden Room and meeting rooms spread over 16574 square feet. A stay at the hotel is a fantastic city break and a great way to explore the city of Bengaluru. Do check in to check it out for yourself.
Factbox
Address: 8, Bellary Road, Ganganagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560032
Phone: 91 (080) 4522-2222
Website: fourseasons.com/bengaluru
Images courtesy of Four Seasons Bengaluru
