Four Seasons Megeve hotel review: an alpine sanctuary with serene spa, whimsical mountain views & outstanding breakfast viennoiseries

• Rating: 10/10
• Rooms at Four Seasons Megève start from $634 (£498) per night
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As much as I try to avoid huge hotel chains, usually opting for independently owned artistic retreats like Mexico’s Casa Etérea, and London’s The Mandrake over large-scale corporations, there’s something special about this one. Being an alpine retreat the hotel is most popular during the winter snow season. Still, it’s equally delightful (and a lot emptier) during summertime when the surrounding meadows become awash with wildflowers. 

My deluxe twin room at Four Seasons Megève

Popular with French and Swiss holidaymakers, Four Seasons Megève also attracts international guests despite the nearest airport being a 70-minute drive away in Switzerland’s Geneva.

What’s the vibe at Four Seasons Megève?

It’s a pretty polished affair all round aside from the lengthy check-in (more on that below). The driveway allows guests to pull up right outside the hotel’s main entrance where polished glass doors slide open to reveal an expansive lobby with majestic views right across the peaks. The hotel was fairly quiet for the duration of my two-night stay, there were a couple of families with young children, while the rest of the guests seemed to be couples or friends.

Clockwise from top left: Four Seasons Megève entrance, one of the hotel's lounges, the view from my bedroom, and artwork by Zoé Ouvrier

The vibe was extremely relaxed and staff members were very attentive, especially by the outdoor pool. I loved that communal walls throughout the hotel were covered in art, my favorite pieces included a hand-dyed ceremonial sarong from Timor, a painting by the French artist Thierry Bruet, and an incredible engraved knarled tree by Zoé Ouvrier. Furniture throughout is sumptuous and cozy with quirky retro egg chairs and sheepskin-covered stools adding to the alpine chalet feel. Glass bell jars, coffee table books, and sculptures inspired by nature all add interest.

How are the rooms at Four Seasons Megève?

I spent two nights in a prestige twin room with a friend. While the room wasn’t huge it was spacious enough for two and the beds were larger than singles. Decorated in a color palette of cream, light fawn, and ecru the room design was fairly simple but luxurious with beautiful views from the double doors and private wooden terrace. There was plenty of wardrobe space in an entrance hallway as you entered the room and all of the mod cons you’d expect from a five-star hotel including a coffee machine and minibar. We were gifted Panama-style hats, a tasty galette-type cake, and local chocolate which I guess is standard, but can’t be sure. The bathroom was super spacious with a deep bathtub (and incredible view), Japanese-style toilet, double washstand, and a large shower cubicle with Codage products.

What is there to eat and drink?

Bar Edmond is the hotel’s chalet-style bar with a sweeping terrace where we enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails. I ordered the Botaniste Sour, a delightful blend of gin, bergamot liquor, basil syrup, lime, and egg white. And while it was on par with some of the best cocktails in London the price was a slightly eyewatering $28 (£22). An alpine negroni, interesting-sounding celery blend, and a flute of champagne with peach puree were also listed on the menu.

Clockwise from top left: Botaniste Sour at Bar Edmond, sushi at Kaito, a selection of breakfast items, and enjoying a glass of rosé by the outdoor pool

On the first night of our stay, we also dined in Bar Edomnd where the menu is inspired by local ingredients. To start we shared French cheese and charcuterie boards which were generous in size and delicious, but my main of cod served with pea ragout was quite tiny and left me wanting more. Unfortunately, the rum baba dessert we shared didn’t quite live up to expectations with its heavy texture and lack of flavor. Kaito, the hotel’s Japanese fusion restaurant, which is where we decided to dine for our second night, really did impress with an incredible tasting menu that took us on a 12-course journey through Asia. Culminating in tender wagyu beef, we also sampled reblochon cheese tempura, seabass sashimi, spicy tuna rolls, and wagyu gyozas. It’s in the same dining space as Kaito that breakfast is served each morning where a large selection of fruits, cheeses, and sublime freshly made croissants await. Guests can also order sweet and savory dishes from the menu. Comprising poke bowls and small plates, fresh and satisfying food is also served by the outdoor pool along with cocktails, wine, and champagne.

Any highlights?

The immaculate serene spa and the treatments on offer there are highly impressive and a real highlight of the hotel. I booked in for ‘A Walk Through Megève’—a soothing 90-minute massage that used decadent oils and balms to awaken my senses and send me into a state of bliss.

The hotel's spa boasts an incredible swimming pool

The spa also organized a brilliant meditation session where we were encouraged to be present in the moment and fully relax while taking in the splendor of the surrounding countryside.

Taking a horse-drawn carriage to get a view Mont Blanc

One afternoon we were whisked off by horse-drawn carriage to view the mighty Mont Blanc, although the hotel arranged this for us it is easy enough to arrange yourself from the nearby commune of Megève.

Any improvements?

Drinks by the pool are served in plastic glasses for obvious reasons, but there’s nothing worse than sipping champagne or chilled rosé from a plastic cup—completely a first-world problem but worth mentioning if you’re going to be ordering a pricy poolside tipple. For my stay, check-in was an extremely drawn-out process despite there being two staff members behind the desk upon arrival. It seemed neither had the capacity to check us in meaning we were waiting close to 40-minutes before being shown to our room. Sure, it’s not a huge problem, but for the price of staying at Four Seasons Megève, I would expect much better service, especially after a morning of travel to get to the resort.

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