Four Seasons Hotel Bogotá

There was a time when we might have hesitated to send guests to Bogotá, Colombia. And there was a time when a Four Seasons hotel delivered upscale luxury in a style that was singularly inoffensive and unmemorable. But times change, and the Four Seasons Hotel Bogotá represents an evolution on both counts. It’s located in the Zona Rosa (or Zona T), which is home to much of the city’s upscale shopping, dining, and nightlife, and is one of the city’s safest quarters. And thanks to the American design firm Rottet Studio, it’s considerably more stylish than the luxury-hotel norm.

Where you might expect a gleaming modern glass tower you’ll find, instead, a series of century-old brick buildings. What’s inside, however, is as contemporary as can be. It’s still, for the most part, a sober, soothing look, the rooms and suites decked out in natural fibers, warm wood, and neutral tones. But there’s a focus to the compositions that reveals a keen eye and a real commitment to design, subtle though it may be. And the other commitment, of course, is to luxury, in the traditional sense. Rooms and suites range from plush to downright lavish, and the spa spares no expense. For the moment, Biblioteca, the restaurant, only serves breakfast — but here at the top of Zona T, when it comes to lunch and dinner you’re absolutely spoiled for choice.