Opening Late 2026

Four Seasons

The Park Gstaad, A Four Seasons Hotel

Name: The Park Gstaad, A Four Seasons Hotel
Address: Gstaad, Switzerland

Joseph Dirand takes the Bernese Oberland

Gstaad, Switzerland

First look

The Park Gstaad opened in 1910 as the first five-star hotel in town, and it's reopening as Four Seasons' debut property in Gstaad after a full renovation. That's the headline: a 116-year-old Bernese Oberland landmark, the kind of building that anchors a resort town, getting handed to a brand that knows alpine hospitality (Megève, Whistler, Jackson Hole) but has never planted a flag here.

The work is led by French designer Joseph Dirand, who did the interiors at Four Seasons' Surf Club in Miami. On paper it's a careful reset rather than a gut job: 75 rooms and suites, restaurant and bar concepts, a spa with indoor and outdoor pools, and the winter staples (ski service, an ice rink). Six branded residences are also part of the plan.

We haven't stayed, so this is anticipation, not a verdict. What we'll be watching: whether Dirand's modern hand respects the chalet bones rather than flattening them, and whether the service lands for the 2026/27 ski season. We'll find out when we visit.

Not yet scored. We publish a Fat Score only once a hotel is open and real guests have stayed and written about it — this is a first look, not a verdict.

Before it opens

When does The Park Gstaad, A Four Seasons Hotel, open?

It is slated to reopen in late 2026, in time for the 2026/27 ski season, following a full renovation. Dates can shift on projects like this, so treat the window as expected rather than fixed.

How many rooms will it have, and who designed it?

The reopened hotel is planned with 75 rooms and suites, plus six Four Seasons-branded private residences. French designer Joseph Dirand, who did Four Seasons' Surf Club in Miami, leads the interiors.

Open now

What you can book today

The Park Gstaad, A Four Seasons Hotelis still under wraps. Here's what's already open and scored in our collection — more from Four Seasons, and nearby in Switzerland.

Fat Favorite

Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva's most storied address, the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues has occupied its lakefront perch since 1834 — the original meeting place of the United Nations — and the bones show it beautifully: frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and gilded moldings that no amount of modern luxury hotel construction can replicate. The renovation has been handled with a deft hand, layering in a refined contemporary interior without stripping the building of its Neoclassical soul, and the lakeside suites (rooms 110, 210, 310 in particular, per Condé Nast) are among the finest in the city. Izumi, the Japanese rooftop restaurant, earns consistent praise as a destination in its own right, and the bar — anchored by bartender Nicolas — has developed a reputation for serious cocktail craft that punches well above the average hotel bar. The property's one credible weakness is inconsistency in lobby and café service: multiple independent reviewers report slow, occasionally dismissive floor staff in those casual spaces, which jars against the otherwise polished concierge team and housekeeping (daily small gifts in rooms is a signature touch). At these rates and in this city, that inconsistency is the only thing keeping this from a nine.

Fat Approved

Four Seasons

Four Seasons Bora Bora

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Four Seasons Bora Bora occupies one of the most dramatic natural settings on the planet — 100 overwater bungalows strung across two pontoons in a turquoise lagoon with Mount Otemanu as a backdrop — and on that dimension, it simply cannot be beaten. The bungalows themselves are the largest in Bora Bora, with glass floors, open-air showers, and direct lagoon access that make waking up here feel genuinely surreal. Where the property falls short of its price tag is in the consistency of the details: maintenance lapses (spiderwebs in the villas, aging spa facilities, occasional mold complaints) and uneven service suggest a property that coasts somewhat on the grandeur of its setting rather than obsessing over the full luxury stack. Dining lands above average for the region — the breakfast buffet and Ari Moana Mediterranean restaurant draw consistent praise — though food in French Polynesia broadly disappoints, and pricing is aggressive even by island standards. Against local competitors, Four Seasons edges out the St. Regis on grounds, room quality, and mountain views, though St. Regis counters with stronger marine life and sharper service. For couples and honeymooners willing to accept some roughness around the edges in exchange for the most jaw-dropping overwater address in the Pacific, this remains the right choice.

Fat Approved

Four Seasons

Four Seasons Bosphorus

Istanbul, Turkey

The Four Seasons Bosphorus occupies one of Istanbul's most coveted waterfront positions, delivering spectacular views that make even seasoned luxury travelers stop mid-sentence. The architecture and public spaces achieve genuine grandeur — this is palatial hospitality done right, with spacious rooms that maximize those famous strait vistas. However, service inconsistency prevents this property from reaching its full potential. While some guests develop genuine relationships with staff over multiple visits, others encounter the kind of uneven attention that shouldn't exist at this price point, particularly noticeable in the breakfast service where efficiency lags behind the setting's promise.

Fat Favorite

Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Florence, Italy

Four Seasons Firenze delivers an extraordinary sanctuary experience that transforms Florence stays from sightseeing marathons into restorative retreats. The former Palazzo Gherardesca sits on eleven acres of private gardens — Florence's largest — creating an oasis that completely insulates guests from the city's tourist chaos while remaining just minutes from the Duomo. The Renaissance architecture is breathtaking, with frescoed ceilings, manicured courtyards, and a pool that feels impossibly grand for a city hotel. Service operates at the highest Four Seasons standard, with staff who remember names, anticipate needs, and deliver those small touches that separate luxury from true hospitality. While the location requires a 10-minute walk or shuttle to reach central attractions, this proves more blessing than burden — you return each evening to serenity rather than noise.

From the desk

Get the first-look verdict

We publish our verdict the week The Park Gstaad, A Four Seasons Hotel opens. Get it in the monthly note, before the rest of the internet catches up.

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Expected

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