Waldorf Astoria Osaka Lodge Evaluation

A magnum of 2015 Moët & Chandon Grand Classic seems virtually as quickly as I sit down for my first meal at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, the Hilton luxurious model’s first lodge in Japan. Director of meals and beverage Maximiliano Elias proudly tells me that that is their home Champagne and that Moët & Chandon made magnums solely for the lodge, as a result of Champagne tastes higher poured from magnums, and regular-sized bottles would look foolish in opposition to the hovering ceilings of Peacock Alley, the trademark Waldorf Astoria foyer lounge.

“It simply would not have the identical impact,” Elias says with an off-the-cuff shrug. This “go massive or go house” mentality permeates each facet of the lodge, from the imposing entryway doorways, to the sweeping marble staircase resulting in Peacock Alley to the generously sized visitor rooms. It is a place of grandeur and celebration, the place it is solely pure to drink Champagne daily, from a magnum-size bottle, no much less.

Workers members I meet all through my keep hail from Argentina, Spain, the Netherlands, and Eire, together with many excited locals, desirous to share their hometown with guests. Osakans are, in my expertise, among the many friendliest Japanese residents—extra talkative and fewer reserved than the individuals I’ve met in Tokyo and Hokkaido. One bartender was fast to AirDrop me an in depth word stuffed with suggestions upon studying this was my first time in Osaka, whereas Toki, my chatty driver who picked me up from the airport, left me a handwritten card upon checkout.

André Fu—the Hong Kong interiors architect behind motels reminiscent of The Shangri-La, Tokyo, and Villa La Coste, in Aix-en-Provence, France—has outdone himself with this newest venture. Fu drew Artwork Deco inspiration from the unique Waldorf Astoria New York, which reopens after an enormous renovation this summer season, together with Osaka’s Yodoko Visitor Home, the one surviving Frank Lloyd Wright residence in Japan. There are refined peacock tail motifs all through the lodge, from the geometric patterns in intricate kumiko woodwork headboards to Japanese washi paper designs within the elevator.

Waldorf Astoria Osaka contains two separate buildings related by an indoor walkway to transition from the general public areas and full of life opulence of Peacock Alley to the nice and cozy, homey arrival foyer, revolving round a pure stone fountain, the place the entrance desk is positioned together with visitor room elevators. This area is nicknamed “the lantern” for its heat golden glow and jogs my memory of the atrium at Higher Home in Hong Kong, Fu’s first lodge venture.

Right here, the whole lot you could find out about Waldorf Astoria Osaka.

The Rooms

I used to be impressed by the entry-level visitor rooms, which felt extra like junior suites, with spacious walk-in closets, separate soaking tubs and walk-in rain showers, and minibars that includes native snacks and drinks.

All 252 visitor rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling home windows with automated drapes and sheer linen curtains that may be simply managed from mattress to disclose views of the Osaka Bay, Yodo River, and the town skyline. “You are able to do lazy sightseeing from mattress,” says Ewoud Roosjen, Waldorf Astoria Osaka’s industrial director. Many rooms have views of the Umeda Sky Constructing with its well-known glass-enclosed escalators, and Roosjen tells me that rooms on the West aspect of the lodge have front-row seats for the annual Yodogawa Fireworks Pageant. Considerate particulars just like the angle of the TV tilted completely towards the mattress, a lacquered jewellery field, folded pajamas, and housemade goodies for turndown service make for a pampered and comfy keep.

Three signature suites embrace a Presidential Suite constructed for entertaining with a pure hardwood eating room desk that seats eight, a full kitchen, pantry, and personal bar.

Meals and Drink

Waldorf Astoria Osaka has 4 eating places and bars with Peacock Alley because the putting first impression when the elevator doorways open on the twenty ninth ground. “Peacock Alley is the beating coronary heart of the lodge,”  Roosjen says. A lightweight all-day eating menu is on the market, together with afternoon tea, pairing candy and savory bites served on Ginori pastel porcelain with a number of Steven Smith Teamaker loose-leaf tea and Champagne.

Jolie Brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the spectacular breakfast buffet might have been organized by a meals stylist, together with an beautiful salad bar with greater than a dozen freshly julienned and sliced substances, congee accompanied by a plethora of toppings, and a Japanese breakfast set that you simply’d be remiss to skip.

Tsukimi, a teppanyaki spot, is the lodge’s signature restaurant. Friends sit proper on the bar and are handled to a research within the precision of grilling meats. Wagyu beef from close by Kobe is proudly served right here, and cooks respectfully current the cow’s noseprint delivery certificates to visitors. There may be additionally a sushi counter inside Tsukimi for many who choose uncooked fish to cooked meat.

After dinner, head downstairs to Canes & Tails for a nightcap. The Jazz Age-inspired speakeasy bar is positioned behind an unlabeled inexperienced door and twisting hallway with cocktails impressed by F. Scott Fitzgerald e-book. After an extended day of journey, I opted for a tropical non-alcoholic “The Lees of Happiness,” with a flower-shaped amazake ice dice that slowly melted into the drink to melt the bitter flavors with sweetness.

Facilities and Experiences

Upon arrival, each visitor is obtainable private concierge providers by way of Whatsapp. My concierge promptly delivered a yoga mat to my room, helped me find the hidden-away ironing board, and made a few dinner reservations for me. Complimentary shoe shine is obtainable to all visitors, together with free Wi-Fi, and first-come, first-serve entry to the Mercedes-Maybach home automobile. The lodge concierge may manage off-property excursions, like knife-making in Sakai or a standard tea ceremony expertise.

The thirtieth ground is devoted to well-being, with a library, indoor 82-foot-long pool, health middle with Technogym gear, and spa. The library is a calming retreat that is open 24 hours, serving as a non-public area to work, learn, or take conferences, and you may even order in-room eating right here. You too can exercise with skyline views on the health middle with a wide range of cardio gear, free weights, recent fruit, and fruit-infused water.

The lodge has ample fantastically designed assembly areas too, related by dramatic corridors, together with two glamorous ballrooms and a vibrant and ethereal chapel.

The Spa

Positioned on the thirtieth ground, the intimate spa has 4 remedy rooms and options 4 skincare traces, together with Swiss manufacturers La Prairie and Dr. Burgener and Japanese skincare by Tiaraleen. The intriguing spa menu goes far past customary massages, with fascial launch remedy, scalp exfoliation, stomach therapeutic massage, infrared heated physique masks, and a magnesium-laden meridien therapeutic massage to fight jet lag. I opted for a two-hour vitality expertise, which started with a foot scrub utilizing native sake, sake lees, and salt whereas I sipped freshly whisked matcha. I began face down with a agency lymphatic therapeutic massage to assist enhance circulation earlier than flipping over for a gua sha facial, all utilizing Tiaraleen merchandise. Males’s and ladies’s altering areas are well-appointed with a sauna, steam room, and sizzling tub. These services can be found for lodge visitors to get pleasure from even and not using a spa appointment.

Household-friendly Choices

Though there is not a children’ membership, the lodge caters to households with fairly a couple of connecting rooms and facilities like mini bathrobes and slippers, kids-sized pajamas, small umbrellas, Stokke excessive chairs, and a children’ menu with dishes like pork curry vol-au-vent. “My children have been horrible eaters till we moved to Japan,” says Roosjen, who moved to Osaka from Qatar. “However now they snack on nori paper and eat yakitori rooster hearts.” The pool can be family-friendly with flutterboards and arm floaties upon request. Osaka is a superb house base for households seeking to discover Kyoto (lower than an hour’s drive), Nara, and Common Studios Japan.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Waldorf Astoria Osaka makes use of Hilton’s LightStay platform to measure environmental influence and vitality effectivity, and gives carbon impartial conferences by means of Meet with Goal. There are not any single-use plastics on property, with full-size refillable Aesop bathtub facilities and complimentary glass bottles of glowing and nonetheless water from Ashigara Seiga replenished day by day in each room as a substitute.

The lodge options 4 purposefully designed accessible rooms, thoughtfully outfitted with options like computerized doorways, seize bars, and lowered sinks to assist the consolation and independence of visitors with mobility and sensory wants. In public areas, there are Braille elevators, ramp entrances, and accessible facilities together with the assembly rooms, health middle, and swimming pool.

Location 

The lodge is on the highest 10 flooring of the fashionable new Grand Inexperienced Osaka growth, which has eating, procuring, and a terrific onsen (sizzling spring) that is widespread with locals. It is also subsequent to the 11-acre Umekita Park and throughout the road from JR Osaka Station, for simple airport entry and handy day journeys to Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Nara by practice. Kansai Worldwide Airport (KIX) is 45 minutes by automobile or practice, and you may fly on to Osaka from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

How one can Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Waldorf Astoria Osaka is a part of the Hilton Honors program, and members can earn and redeem factors throughout their keep. Gold members obtain room upgrades primarily based on availability, complimentary breakfast, and a 25-percent low cost in lodge eating places, whereas Diamond members additionally get two complimentary cocktails per evening at Peacock Alley. The lodge can be a part of American Specific Positive Resorts & Resorts, which implies, should you e-book with an Amex platinum card, you get early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades primarily based on availability, complimentary breakfast, and a $100 meals and beverage credit score. Nightly charges at Waldorf Astoria Osaka begin from $1,013.