As part of our summer visit to Megève, we were kindly invited to spend a few days at the Four Seasons Hotel Megève. Located on the Mont d’ Arbois slopes, the luxury hotel is just a short drive from the centre of the village and with one of the finest Alpine golf courses, ski-in/ski-out facilities, Michelin starred restaurant, luxury spa and more, this mountain retreat offers guests a superb experience – all year round – for all the family. Read on to discover more.
Background and Concept
Built in 2017, the modern chalet-style hotel is the result of a unique collaboration between Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Edmond de Rothschild Heritage.
The long and rich history between Megève and the Edmond de Rothschild family dates back to 1919, when Noémie de Rothschild, wife of Baron Maurice de Rothschild had a vision to create a high-end winter sports resort in France to rival Saint Moritz. Megève was the chosen location and has gone from strength to strength offering high-end holidays in every season, which has been superbly enhanced since the opening of Four Seasons Hotel Megève.
Every aspect of this hotel reflects the hotel group’s core principles of expertise, attention to detail and delivering personalised services. From the interior décor to the menus, to the warm welcome, and the kind regard for children – the experience and execution are faultless.
Design
After several collaborations with the Edmond de Rothschild family and the Four Seasons group, interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon was appointed to bring his talent and expertise to create a place that reflects the magic of Megève and the key qualities honoured by the Edmond de Rothschild Heritage and the international hotel group which has been achieved in exceptional style.
The interior design reflects, the natural beauty and elements of the mountains in all seasons; for example, the reception desk and bar are stunningly representative of the magical snow and ice whilst the floors are the colour of the mountainside in summer.
Although many of the materials used in the build were sourced and produced by local suppliers, international flair and unique personality is present throughout the hotel. Artwork (283 pieces to be precise!) by Thierry Bruet, who adapts his style for each area of the hotel so that guests would be forgiven each was painted by a different artist. Several pieces of art sourced from Ariane de Rothschild’s private collection can also be found throughout the hotel.
Rooms and Suites
The resort comprises five different types of rooms (superior through to junior suite), one or two-bedroom suites (with separate sleeping and living areas) and five different types of speciality suites, with the largest, Suite Mont Blanc spanning the entire fifth floor and covering 359m2. With five double bedrooms, two dining rooms and living rooms, and several exterior balconies presenting stunning views of its namesake. Many of the other accommodation categories also have interconnecting rooms to facilitate large family reservations, just another facet that contributes to this resort substantiating its family-friendly appeal.
All rooms and suites are designed in a contemporary style and boast high-tech facilities, yet the influence of the mountain and nature runs throughout the décor and soft furnishings creating a peaceful and sumptuous ambience. The perfect place in which to relax after a day on the slopes – be it on skis, boards, horseback or bikes!)
Our time was spent in a one-bedroom suite with our own private patio and a beautiful outlook over the valley.
There was ample room for the three of us, with a pull-out bed for the little man and his new cuddly friend, courtesy of the Four Seasons team. The personalised welcome note and refreshments are just two (of the many!) personal touches that guests can expect to enjoy as part of the Four Seasons experience.
The master bedroom featured a king-size bed with luxurious bedding, generous wardrobe space, heavy curtains and remote-controlled blinds, along with various lighting settings. All of which have been designed so that guests can personalise their sleeping environment – I had the best two-night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time!
One large ensuite marble bathroom included a large bath, walk-in shower, his and her washbasins, an amazing vanity mirror, and hi-tech toilets. All bathroom amenities are by CODAGE Paris – the contemporary house of cosmetology.
The guest bathroom with its walk-in shower, basin and hi-tech toilet was more than enough to keep our little man clean and happy.
The living space within our suite was extremely comfortable and well-appointed with large plush cushions, rugs, fascinating local reading material, large flat-screen TV and a fireplace. The glass dining table was located next to the doors which opened out to our private patio – creating an extra sense of space and connection with the great outdoors.
A neat office sat discreetly off the lounge area and overlooked the valley below – I could get used to this being my daily working space.
Food and Drink
Decisions, decisions! The culinary offering at Four Seasons Megève is as exquisite as the hotel’s meticulous and thoughtful design and its majestic views. Guests can choose from three different restaurants; Kaito (Japanese fusion), Bar Edmond (bar food and nibbles), La Dame de Pic – Le 1920 (Fine French cuisine).
Although the menus and experiences for each food and drink offering are entirely different they all share some commonalties; the highest quality ingredients, locally sourced produce, innovative dishes and first-class presentation.
During our stay, we dined at Kaito and Bar Edmond, (unfortunately the Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic –Le 1920 was closed during our visit – guess it provides another good reason to return!)
Kaito
Kaito is a Japanese/ Pan-Asian fusion restaurant serving classic Japanese dishes, with a subtle Asian and Latin American twist and the local mountain produce further enhances flavour and creativity.
The menu is extremely varied and also caters for the palettes of less adventurous children with a ‘kiddies Bento box’ and easy-to-use Panda chopsticks. Yet another fine example of how child-friendly this hotel is. Our reservation was at 7pm and there was a real mix of clientele with families and couples alike enjoying the experience and the ambience was extremely relaxed.
We chose to dine from the “Omakase’ dinner menu which was served with a glass of Champagne and comprised of two starters per person, a main course, a side dish and a dessert from the a la carte menu. The flavours of each dish were delectably fresh and delicate – the food and whole ambience of the restaurant far exceed all my expectations.
The restaurant’s outdoor terrace overlooks the mountains and boasts the most stunning views.
Bar Edmond
This wine and cocktail bar takes on a chalet-style setting and presents a relaxed yet stylish ambience in which to enjoy your favourite tipple. The bar itself is a beautiful sight to behold, glistening in the natural light streaming in from the outdoor terrace’s glazed screen and complimented by the interior lights designed by Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert which represent the bright sun of the mountains. We enjoyed pre-dinner drinks here on a hugely comfortable corner sofa and then post-dinner cocktails outside on the terrace, watching as the mountains became even more mysterious under the cover of darkness.
The night we dined here, we chose to sit inside, making ourselves extremely comfortable in the cosy tub chairs. The menu was succinct, however with a good selection of dishes. For example; house burger, fish of the day, pasta of the day with sweet tarts, gateaux and ice cream to finish. Freshly made melt-in-the-mouth bread rolls and curious yet delicious little cheese nibbles were all presented with compliments of the chef. Again, the children are never overlooked here, with a kiddie’s menu equalling the quality of the main menu.
Signature cocktails, champagne, whisky and a varied selection of other spirits and wines are all served in this sophisticated bar – had we not been in the company of a seven-year-old I’d imagine many more hours would have been enjoyed here!
Breakfast is served in the Kaito restaurant or on the terrace and guests can enjoy a cold continental buffet and freshly prepared hot dishes. The choice for both hot and cold dishes was excellent and given my sweet tooth, the freshly baked array of pastries and cakes was enough to satisfy me (I did balance it out with some healthy fresh fruit and a few pots of Bircher muesli!) – although I didn’t choose anything from the hot menu, the dishes I saw being served to other guests did look divine.
There are plenty of other areas in which to relax and take time for a refreshment including the lobby which is an atmospheric place to enjoy a casual coffee or chose the poolside terrace for a cooling afternoon pick me up. The wine cellar is a sophisticated space and home to over 15,000 wines, from all around the world, offering guests an exceptional tasting experience – this needs to be booked in advance. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Cigar Room allow for panoramic views of the mountains whilst the natural and rustic interior makes for a cosy spot to while away the hours.
Golf
Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Megève can play the 18-hole Mont d’Arbois Golf Course, the oldest mountain golf course in the world and enjoy stunning panoramic views of the mountain whilst they do so. Originally commissioned in the 1920’s by Noémie de Rothschild, the par 72 course was redesigned in 1964 as a French-style garden by professional golfer Henry Cotton.
Guests can make use of a golf caddie should they wish or take advantage of the certified and innovative golf academy, set up and lead by Fabrice Tarnaud, with coaching tailored for every age and ability.
There was a golf tournament hosted at the course during our stay, so we didn’t manage to fit a round in, however, we did take a cheeky few balls at the driving range. It was great fun; the team was really helpful and the surroundings were idyllic.
Family Activities
Kids Kingdom
Family comes first, and the children’s facilities here are superb. Although we didn’t use it The Enchanted Forest, is the club for 3-12 years olds and the indoor space is aptly named evoking a magical feel of nature where little ones can be cared for and enjoy both educational and fun activities. The Teen Zone was a real hit with our little man, the industrial-style games area is an uber cool spot for the youngsters (and even the oldsters!) to hang out. The Moto GP virtual race game was a personal favourite, and the retro arcade games, DJ box, mini jukebox, and table football were all put to good use. There is also a cinema room which guests can book for exclusive use or mingle with other guests for an evening of big-screen entertainment.
Outdoor
There is an abundance of great outdoor adventures to be enjoyed, both on the hotel grounds and in the nearby areas; horse-riding, e-mountain biking, treetop obstacles, paddle-boarding. We hired an e-bike for the afternoon and explored the local area. The concierge will organise all these activities and although it is best to book in advance during our stay there was certainly a rapid response time in organising our requests.
For more outdoor activity inspiration read our summer in Megeve guide.
Pool, Spa and Fitness
We made great use of the swimming pool and spa facilities during our short stay – again flawless design, superb finishing and impeccable attention to detail were all highly evident in this part of the hotel; even the mosaic tiles in the pool were clearly a well-considered piece of eye-catching work.
The heated indoor pool opened to a heated outdoor pool with breath-taking views of the mountainside and the relaxing elements of nature flowed throughout – I especially enjoyed the crystal-infused drinking water which looked like a piece of art!
Covering over 900m2, the Spa here is one of the largest hotel Spa in the French Alps and is home to six treatment rooms, including a VIP suite for couples with a relaxation area, bath and sensory shower and two saunas and four hammams can be found within the single-sex changing rooms.
I enjoyed a CBD sports massage which was well-needed and I really didn’t want the hour session to end. The therapist was extremely knowledgeable about her practice and ensured the optimum level of pressure was applied so that the treatment was both enjoyable and effective.
There is also a small fitness centre with a good selection of weights and CV equipment which is designed for a quick workout and is open 24 hours. I popped my head in to have a look around but opted for a mountain run instead. The scenery was too good not to take in at every opportunity.
Final Thoughts
TLE Top Tip
One of my favourite places to sit on an evening was under the eaves by the stone wall on the terrace – a cosy corner to enjoy drinks as darkness sets in.
Would we recommend it?
I cannot speak more highly of this hotel. EVERYTHING was first class. I cannot wait to return! The property is included in our guide to the best hotels in Megève.
Contact Details
Website: www.fourseasons.com/megeve/
Address: 373 Chemin des Follieres, Megève, France 74120 France
