Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is our splurge pick and the most tranquil luxury address in the city. It sits on Lingyin Road in the Xihu district, beside the Hangzhou Botanical Garden, in a landscaped compound of lagoons, pavilions and garden courtyards built in a classical Jiangnan style. With only 78 rooms it feels more like a private estate than a big-city hotel. The setting is the draw: you are on the quieter, greener north-west side of the lake, away from the city crush, with the shoreline and the hills close by.
Location and getting around
The hotel is on Lingyin Road on the north-west side of West Lake. The Hangzhou Botanical Garden is a minute away on foot, and the lake itself is about a thirteen-minute walk. Lingyin Temple is a short drive along the road, and the Longjing tea hills are also close, so this is the best base for temples, tea and quiet walks.
The east shore, Hefang Street and the shopping streets are a taxi ride away, and the hotel can arrange transfers, including a boat transfer on the lake from arrival. The eastern railway station is roughly a twelve-minute drive, and the airport about fifty minutes.
Rooms
The hotel lists five types of accommodation: Garden Terrace Rooms, Panorama Garden-View Rooms, the Lagoon Suite, the West Lake Suite and a one-bedroom villa with a private pool. The style is calm, with timber, soft colours and views across the water or the gardens. Rooms are quiet, as you would expect given the setting.
Who it suits
Couples on a special trip, travellers who prefer peace to nightlife, and anyone planning to spend time at Lingyin and the tea villages. It is less convenient for a short stay focused on the east shore and the evening streets.
Good to know
Dining includes a lobby lounge that serves Longjing tea, Jin Sha with private dining rooms and West Lake Bistro, which hosts a Sunday brunch overlooking the garden. There is a spa inspired by the eighteenth-century Qianlong emperor. Complimentary bicycles are offered for exploring the lake area. Breakfast is charged separately unless included in your rate, and self-parking is free. Check-in is from mid-afternoon and check-out is at noon. Confirm pool access when you book, since the main pool and the villa pool differ.
Why stay here
- ✓Full-service spa
- ✓Indoor pool access (confirm)
- ✓Lakeside gardens and lagoons
- ✓Boat transfers on West Lake
- ✓Longjing tea lounge
- ✓Three dining venues
- ✓Complimentary bicycles
- ✓Free self-parking
Good questions
Where is Four Seasons Hangzhou?+
It is on Lingyin Road on the north-west side of West Lake, next to the Hangzhou Botanical Garden. The lake is about a thirteen-minute walk away.
Is it close to Lingyin Temple and the tea villages?+
Yes, Lingyin Temple is a short drive along the road and the Longjing tea hills are close, which makes this a good base for temples and tea.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?+
There is a spa, and the hotel lists a pool in its private-pool villa. Confirm general pool access for your room type when you book.
