7 of Asia's best hotels with a view
Everyone enjoys a stunning skyline.
Whether to start the morning, wind down with a drink in hand at the end of the day, or to regroup with a cool evening swim before a big night out.
CNNGo’s city editors share their favorite hotels with a view.
1. Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai
On one side the Haji Ali mosque landmark leads south to Colaba and on the other the sealink takes you north to Bandra and beyond.
It is, in part, because of this situational and logistical advantage that the Four Seasons has become one of the top three business hotels in Mumbai since it opened three years ago.
- More on CNNGo: Four Seasons Mumbai: Beemers and bellinis
No other hotel offers this 360-degree view of old Bombay and new Mumbai. The choice of views is comprehensive -- Arabian sea view, historic mill district view, Sealink bridge view, Mahalaxmi Racecourse view, with a dash of construction and slums thrown in for good measure -- because that is real Mumbai. Not some picture post-card.
Insider tip: Aer bar, the highest bar in Mumbai, takes over the entire open-air rooftop on the 34th floor of the Four Seasons. With Champagne served by the glass, you can watch the sunset over the Arabian sea, spot the billion-dollar home of Mukesh Ambani and get a bird’s eye-view of some slums too as Mumbai’s richest and poorest jostle for space.
114 Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli, +91 22 2481 8000; www.fourseasons.com/mumbai
2. Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
Located by the historic Rocks district and Circular Quay area -- and also prime fireworks location -- the Presidential Suite, Deluxe Royal Suite and two Royal Suites have been re-designed in the style of 1930s New York apartments with bay windows and over-sized bathtubs to make the most of their 34th-floor perch.
From the Presidential and Deluxe Royal suites, spot groups attempting the Bridge Climb in the distance. The two Royal Suites have a sweeping view of Sydney’s Central Business District, Circular Quay and Walsh Bay to be enjoyed from the comfort of the bathtub.
- More on CNNGo: 50 reasons why Sydney is the world's greatest city
What’s lies outside the windows of the other rooms is not to be sniffed at.
Corner rooms take in the sail-shape of the Opera House, Circular Quay and the Museum of Contemporary Art, while the Premier Harbour View rooms have window-facing beds so you can watch criss-crossing ferries and yachts at all times of the day.
Insider tip: The hotel is almost located on the spot where Captain Arthur Phillip landed in 1788 and established Australia's first convict colony.
199 George St., +61 2 9250 3100; www.fourseasons.com/sydney
3. Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai
What makes the scene from VUE Bar second to none is two-fold. First, you actually want to sit there and enjoy the view, drink in hand (we recommend the Vue-tini, Jacuzzi dip optional) versus simply taking it in and moving on as you might at the observatory at the Shanghai World Financial Center.
The other part of the view that keeps Hyatt on the Bund in the top spot is that its location in the north Bund gives anyone looking out the window views of both the Pudong and Puxi side of the Bund, something you can’t get from many places lower down the river.
Insider tip: If a few Vue-tinis have you eying the Jacuzzi or the day beds, but you forgot your swimwear, no worries, “Vue Jacuzzi Wear” can be ordered off the Vue Bar drink menu.
32/F, Hyatt on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu黄浦路199号上海外滩茂悦大酒店西楼32楼, 近吴昌路+86 21 6393 1234 ext. 6348; www.shanghai.bund.hyatt.com
Go to page 2 for more stunning views from Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong and Bangkok.
