The Four Seasons
Westlake Village
by Lillian Lee
The Presidential Suite
Lured by the scent, one’s sense of smell might be the first of a guest’s five senses to be inundated with luxury when walking into the Presidential Suite of the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. Immediately the rich smell of wood envelopes you, as other sensory pleasures take place. Touch the beautiful silk wall coverings, sink into the four-poster bed, languish in the lavish bathroom amenities, you will feel like the world is your oyster. With a full living room, dining room, office, and an extra bedroom for the assistant or the kids, the 2,525-square-foot Presidential Suite can’t be beat as the perfect place to do business outside of your business. Need to host a corporate dinner? No need to take them any further than the suite’s dining room, where the hotel staff presents the meal prepared in the connecting butler’s kitchen. In a time crunch, but want to exercise and wind down? Put that treadmill, sauna, and full-steam shower to use. Remember, you don’t have to be a president to stay at the 2525-square-foot Presidential Suite, you just need to fork over a presidential sum.
Dining and Drinking
No visit to this destination hotel would be complete without dinner at Hampton’s, its signature restaurant. Spearheaded by chef de cuisine Jelle Vandenbroucke, Hampton’s is a contemporary restaurant that features classic California cuisine with the freshest ingredients available each season. For a creative way to entertain your business partners or family during dinner, arrange to see the cooks in action by reserving the chef’s table. The best part is that you’ll be able to witness all the hustle-bustle of the busy kitchen without having to shout to be heard in the glass-enclosed space.
If sushi and sashimi are what you’re feeling, head to the Japanese restaurant Onyx, where the 2,000-gallon aquarium is visible by all. The Lobby Lounge, a large open space that overlooks the waterfalls outside, is another dining option and the perfect place for power lunches.
As for The Bar, a snug little room with leather armchairs and wood-paneled walls begs to be visited by both gentlemen and ladies whom seek a classy surrounding and a stiff drink. The three classic cherry wood pool tables lie in front of a wall mounted flat screen television tuned to CNBC, ESPN, or a likeable film to background your pool shot. Opposite the pool room, separated only by the bar, is the lounge which hosts a comforting fireplace and multiple cushioned seats, inviting to conversation of all topics. Let’s just say that cocktails are available beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Place
As a hotel that prides itself on catering to the best of both business and leisure travelers, it’s not surprising that the Four Seasons at Westlake Village offers every type of meeting and event space possible. Say you’re bunking in the Presidential Suite and need to conduct an executive meeting with a VIP who won’t deign to walk past the hotel reception to attend the meeting. Easy, just invite him or her to use the private exterior entrance into The Boardroom. With its own reception room, state-of-the-art technology, and sleek décor, The Boardroom is a haven for executives who value expediency, privacy and distinguished comfort. And if after the meeting, you have to plan a company gala, the 11,600-square-foot Grand Ballroom with its 21 dangling crystal chandeliers will do the trick.
Rest and Relaxation
You can tell with one step into the spa at The Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village, it will be different from the many others that dot Los Angeles. It might be that it iss the largest spa of any Four Seasons hotels in the world. It might also be that this spa, unlike those that pride themselves in an atmosphere created by dimly lit rooms and faintly ambient sounds, unabashedly embraces the natural elements. Sunlight gleams through the skylight in the main lounge, and a variety of the 28 treatment rooms offer access to a private outdoor garden. The experience inside is mind numbing but clearly, this spa was built as an homage to natural California beauty and more importantly, as an outdoor getaway for those who spend too much time in the office. Getaway to the age restricted serenity pool surrounded by private cabanas that lead to the Chinese pagoda resting in the center of David Murdock’s mile round exotic garden. This is truly a local escape where hours spent can easily turn into days.
