9/10 for The Fontenay
Bordering the outer Alster lake, this five-star hotel embodies discreet Hamburg luxury, without fuss or glitter.
A certain humility can be read in the organic curves of the building, drowned in an oasis of greenery.
The architect Jan Störmer imagined three interlocking circles in a fluid movement according to the principles of Feng Shui (Chinese tradition of space planning according to the energies of the places).
Unsurprisingly, the ensemble invites calm and serenity.
The white structure, in accordance with the color code of the neighboring houses, offers a glass facade (14,000 square meters!) Bringing in light from all sides.
Inside, there is a guaranteed surprise effect in the 27-meter-high atrium.
Inaugurated in 2018, the hotel will have cost nearly 100 million euros to its owner, the wealthy shipowner Klaus-Michael Kühne, born in Hamburg.
He made a great gift to the city, which had not had a 5-star opening since 1998. The Fontenay is part of the network of The Leading Hotels of the World.
9/10 The situation
The affluent Rotherbaum district has many consulates, the University of Hamburg and the Museum of Ethnology.
It is known for its beautiful 19th century houses, some of which had a garden that once led down to the lakeside.
Between the two, there is now a park and a small road dedicated mainly to bikes.
The location of the hotel offers a bucolic atmosphere and allows you to taste the life of Hamburgers.
From his window, early in the morning, we can see lawyers and businessmen on their oars and joggers circling the lake.
The hotel is ten minutes walk from the city center and its shops.
9/10 The decor
The hotel's organic, circular shape dictated the decor.
And for good reason: not a wall is parallel on the facade, sometimes concave sometimes convex!
The furniture was therefore made to measure.
This is the case with the long sofa in the atrium, semi-circular, 25 meters long, or even the running carpet in the corridors, the production of which has proved to be a technical challenge.
The corridors, moreover, far from avoiding them, we walk through them with pleasure.
They are part of the hotel experience and open onto the vertiginous atrium.
IN PICTURES, open the doors of the Fontenay Hotel
1/8 - Overlooking the calm waters of Lake Alster, this 5-star opened in 2018 is cut in an organic shape, all round and soft, evoking waves.
The Fontenay / Press photo
9/10 The bedrooms
Looking towards the lake or the park, the 130 rooms (including 17 suites) are dressed in soothing beige and natural hues.
The blue, with light touches, evokes the waters of the Alster.
The materials are noble and elegant like this section of wall in marmorino, this traditional Venetian technique offering an elegant glaze reflecting the light.
Everything is there of course: from the beautiful TV screen to the minibar, including the tea and coffee sets.
There's even a Steinway & Sons piano in the Alster Suite.
Everything is thought out down to the smallest detail - right down to the comfort of bare feet which feast on the various surfaces: the texture of an old-fashioned parquet, the comfort of a thick carpet and the warmth of the floor of the room bathrooms… In the evening, in fine weather, on the small balcony, there is a pleasant atmosphere of an “urban resort”.
The calm invites you to sleep with the window open.
It is therefore the song of the birds that awakens the next day before the incredible dancing and luminous shower in the bathroom.
In the technical department, it will be necessary to deal with the many buttons of the Japanese toilets - fortunately, the instructions for use are provided.
9/10 Service and facilities
The service is impeccable and considerate.
In terms of equipment, the fitness room rivals the spa, with a 20-meter indoor / outdoor swimming pool on the roof on the 6th floor.
We swim between the sky and the waters of the Alster.
By far the most beautiful basin in the city.
Among the common areas, we fell in love with the library filled with nearly 1000 books chosen in cooperation with the famous bookshop Felix Jud & Co. from 1923. A shop presents some high-end souvenirs to slip into your suitcase like a cashmere sweater .
The whole is faultless except, perhaps, for the Clef d'Or concierge who is not always available.
8/10 At the table and at the bar
Breakfast is served on the ground floor at the Parkview and, in fine weather, on the terrace.
There may be a few wait times - anti-Covid measures not helping.
Still, the staff is very pleasant.
At noon and in the evening, the Parkview menu is generous and international.
Neighbors and
businessmen
like to hang out there.
As for the gastronomic table, Lakeside, it is orchestrated by Julian Stowasser who won a Michelin star at the Weinsinn restaurant (Frankfurt).
Here he offers international cuisine with a French accent.
The room may seem imposing, all in white, mirrors and a bay window opening onto the view of the lake.
For a panoramic view of the city at 320 °, the Fontenay Bar is a must.
9/10 The price-quality ratio
This "classic modern" establishment offers a glimpse into the life of the beautiful quarters of Hamburg.
It unfolds a rare elegance while surfing the luxury of nature in the heart of the city.
A night starts from € 350 excluding breakfast, a fair price for the standard of the hotel.
The Fontenay, Badestrasse 24, 20148 Hamburg.
Phone.
: + 49 40 605 660 50.
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