Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

The Vier Jahreszeiten has set the standard for luxury-hotel elegance in Hamburg since the late 19th century, a decade or so before the first Fairmont hotel was built. But in spite of the change of management, what’s now the Fairmont Hamburg has sacrificed none of its classic character.

The location couldn’t get much better: it’s on the shores of the Binnenalster lake, on the waterfront that is Hamburg’s toniest district. And a recent renovation leaves the interiors looking sparkling clean, if not at all contemporary — the style is pure 1897, provided you can ignore the electric light, not to mention the HD televisions and the espresso makers. It may not revolutionize your conception of what a hotel can be; in fact it’s the sort of place that serves as an excellent reminder of what there is to love about classic, conventional hospitality.

As for the cuisine, it’s classic as well — from traditional French fine dining to the Euro-Asian fusion of Doc Cheng’s. There’s a capacious spa and a typically well-equipped fitness center, plus more conference space than you can shake a stick at — if you can get sent here on business, you’re in luck, but it’s perhaps the leisure guests who make the most of the Vier Jahreszeiten’s lakefront splendor.