T RIED AND TE ST E D H OT E L S
The Ritz-Carlton, Astana
B A C KGROUND The hotel opened in June 2017 in time for Astana’s Expo 2017 event. It occupies the first 18 floors of one of the two Talan Towers in the middle of the city centre. Above it are Ritz- Carlton residences on floors 19 to 25.
WHAT ’S IT LIKE? The spacious lobby makes a statement from the moment you walk through the door: this property is all about top-end luxury and refinement. Gold is used throughout the hotel as a nod to the country’s ancient Saka (Scythian) culture, with lots of artwork too. From the doormen and front desk personnel to the waiting staff and concierge team, the level of service (and English) is of a higher standard than most other Astana properties.
F A C IL I TIE S There are 157 rooms (measuring 40 sqm) and suites. My palatial Executive Suite was 115 sqm, designed with dark woods, shiny gold metal detailing, leather and textile furnishings, and carpets in calm greys, browns and blues, plus attractive parquet flooring. The expansive living room – with plenty of table space and seating – would be ideal for meetings of up to six people, its quality no doubt creating a good impression. Three restaurants and bars include the
The St Regis, Astana
WHAT ’S IT LIKE? The exterior is grandiose in style, with two ten-storey L-shaped wings either side of a central “podium” that features two huge golden-domed “yurts”. Inside the ostentation disappears, replaced by calm, understated luxury. The property’s relative separation from the rest of the city, the green park surrounds and the feeling of space gives it a real resort-like feeling.
BE ST FOR Location and
world-class service. D ON’ T MI S S
Breakfast in Mokki and cocktails in Selfie.
P R ICE
Standard internet rates for an Executive Suite
with Club Lounge access in mid-May start from
lobby-level Ozen Lounge for upmarket cocktails and Asian-Mediterranean food; Mökki on the third floor, which is the all- day dining restaurant offering “organic, cosmopolitan” cuisine (breakfast was expansive and heavy on meat offerings); and Selfie – a combined bar and restaurant on the 18th floor. The Club Lounge offers a meeting room and food throughout
C ONT A C T
16 Dostyk Street, Astana 010016; +7 7172 734 000;
ritzcarlton.com
504,000 tenge (US$1,562) including tax and surcharges.
F A C IL I TIE S The east wing contains 120 rooms and facilities (the west wing contains 50 large residences). There’s also 9,500 sqm of office space, and a retail area. There are three room categories and four suite types. My entry-level Deluxe room felt like a suite at 68 sqm, with a three-quarter height divider “wall” separating the lounge area from the “bedroom”. Great artwork and books in the room, plus the signature St Regis butler service, made it a comfortable space to relax in. La Rivière is the main all-day restaurant, featuring
the day, while the 1,400 sqm of event space include one of the city’s largest grand ballrooms (982 sqm) plus three meeting rooms, two boardrooms, a business centre, Guest Lounge and VIP room. Third-floor leisure facilities include the Ritz-Carlton Spa, a salon, a huge 275 sqm gym and 25-metre pool.
VERDIC T Superlative service, an unbeatable location, great suites and a fantastic overall Club-level offering make this the new benchmark business hotel in Astana. Jeremy Tredinnick
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
Mediterranean cuisine and an alfresco area (a standout was the wide selection of Kazakhstani honey – delicious). The Grill is an excellent fine-dining establishment featuring a meat-ageing cabinet and an open kitchen, while the St Regis Bar is typically stylish with a library section and Kazakh ornaments plus a separate smoking area. There are four meeting rooms, a wonderful yurt- style Winter Garden event space and the 520 sqm Astor Ballroom. Leisure options include the Iridium Spa and The St Regis Athletic Club, with a relatively small but well-equipped gym, and a fantastic 20-metre heated pool looking out over the river.
VERDIC T An outstanding luxury offering with considerable style. Jeremy Tredinnick
BE ST FOR
Resort-like atmosphere and stylish room design.
D ON’ T MI S S
A signature Bloody Mary in the St Regis Bar.
P R ICE
Standard internet rates for a Deluxe room in mid-May start from
220,000 tenge (US$682) including tax and surcharges.
C ONT A C T 1 Kabanbay Batyr
Avenue, Astana 010000; +7 7172 790 888;
thestregisastana.com AP RIL 2 0 18
79
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