Imagine indulging in fresh Sea Urchins caught less than two-hours ago. You’re sitting at the dinner table on the restaurant’s outside patio, at night, overhead heaters on, surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains. The catch? Getting there.

Arrival & Check-In

Getting to the Four Seasons in Westlake Village is the challenging part. I arrived from LAX via Uber. Little did I know the journey would be long during non-traffic hours (compounded by an accident on the 101) and a highly variable cost ranging from $92 to $200+ USD.

However, all that washes away once you approach this hotel. Immediately upon pulling up, hotel staff will open the doors and greet you and ask if you need anything from water as they whisk your items away. They even will give you water upon departure. 

Check-in is fairly straightforward with friendly staff. Nothing unusual here. Adjacent to the check in area is the cafe Stir Coffee Bar where you can do some extra work prior to check-in.

The Room

The room is spacious, and its entry and hallway into the main area help create that effect of grandeur. The windows are semi-open, slyly showing the Santa Monica mountains in the background.

A series of magazines dot the tables. You can also request newspapers to be delivered. Sadly, no Financial Times is available.

There’s also a mini-bar that, by its warnings and appearance, definitely gives off the vibe that it’s very sensitive; any displacement of a small drink will trigger an erroneous charge. 

On the top of the mini-bar, you have heated, temperature controlled Ember mugs. The cost of stealing the mugs is worth more than a brand new mug on Amazon.

Note: If you want some quiet, you can ask the front desk for a white noise machine. 

So many small details are thoughtfully detailed in this space. Like the way the light shines through the drapes. Or clear curtain rod reflects like a prism, reflecting light throughout the room.

The more intense the gaze of the sun, the more the reflection shines through. It reminds me of Snell’s Law from physics—where n₁sin(θ₁) = n₂sin(θ₂)—describing how light changes direction when passing through materials with different refractive indices.

Even with the curtains barely pulled back, the prismatic properties or “shininess” of the rod casts light across the room. Basically, transforming ordinary sunlight into scattered patterns of color across the room.

Then you have the shades that are made fully closed for complete darkness.

Gear Used

The Bathroom

The bathroom in the room is one of the best parts of the facility. Add in good water pressure from the shower head–now you’re in heaven.

I’d say that this ranks just up there with some of the best shower experiences. The first one being the Grand Hyatt in Taipei. 

If only they adjusted the seat so that the water could actually hit you, instead of having you sit like you’re in time-out. 

A good shower is like a religion. The water and the way it hits your skin is like an unsung creed between you and the shower. 

There’s ample space on the bathroom sink for your toiletries. They will sit right next to the hotel’s Natura Bissé beauty products from Barcelona. (It’s crazy that in one area Barcelona is highlighted as exotic and then in Barcelona they are touting USA products).

The toilet area can be annoying to always open and close the door, but that’s a side issue. 

Turndown Service: Unmatched Attention to Detail

The service here was some of the best I’ve ever experienced. In fact, I think it’s definitely up there with many around the world. This includes staying at a range of hotels from Asia to South America from The Four Seasons in Seoul, South Korea, Grand Hyatt in Taipei, Taiwan, Hotel Me in Barcelona Spain, JW Marriott in Lima, Peru, the Ritz-Carlton (now the Al Habtoor Palace Budapest) in Budapest, Hungary–and others across the world, 

The turndown service for the room in particular still ranks above all the others. In the bathroom, my items are neatly arranged, as would be expected. But then my glasses are arranged and gifted a beautiful Four Seasons Westlake Village lens cleaner.

Then all my cords and cables from iPhone cables to my Logitech headset are always arranged, each day, with a neat loop that’s wrapped with a Four Seasons branded cable tie. 

My books and magazines–like my Foreign Affairs–were given Four Seasons bookmarks with Dr. Seuss quotes.

If I’m consuming a certain amount of cans of water–that amount of cans are replaced at the same rate, in the same locations. The attention to detail was simply spectacular. I even let management know by writing a handwritten note. 

Note: If you need to get cash for tipping or other expenses, there’s an ATM located on the ground floor past the check-in desk. You can also take your larger bills to the front desk and easily change them for smaller notes to tip the turn down service, bellhop, and the free Four seasons driver car that takes you around Westlake Village. 

The Gym

You swipe your hotel key card to enter the 24-hr gym. It’s adjacent to the arcade room. In front you have a swimming pool that’s connected to an outside patio. And to your right is the gym. Take note of the table near the gym–there’s a collection of green and red apples.

The gym actually has most of the equipment that you would need. There’s Precor treadmills (not the annoying garbage Technogym or Matrix machines), ellipticals, free weights, as well as a squat rack.

Best of all? They have a hex bar. Some mainstream gyms don’t even have that. I definitely made sure I got a lot of use out of that.

There’s also extra spaces in the form of a studio for yoga or ballet and a body composition center.

If you’re feeling thirsty, then you can easily be cooled with their water machine that’s next to the towels that are prepared in the mini-fridge. 

The downside to the gym is the lack of cell service. Want to watch that new YouTube music video that just dropped? Too bad. You should have downloaded it. You can sign on to the WiFi network. However, even according to Aura VPN it’s considered an unsecure network. 

Also note with an iPhone on WiFi–you will not get text messages from Android devices.

If you’re into more privacy elements then you will just have to tough it out with the music that you do have.

 

Dining: From Sea Urchins to Amazing Bread

There are two places to dine. The main restaurant Coin & Candor and a hidden bar called the Prosperous Penny–which you would have barely noticed if its door wasn’t open.

At first, I had wanted to dine outside the hotel. I’m the type that wants to explore the area and hates sitting in one location becoming a glutinous buffoon that falls into the trappings of a flywheel effect of luxury.

Staying in one place is like being on a treadmill. A road to nowhere. I feel like the Fat B*stard character in the Austin Powers movie franchise–eating a donut with an oversized beer belly, shirt off, about to splash in the pool. A mix of Fat B*stard and infamous chef Mario Batali. You get the point. 

Yet, I found myself doing just that at the hotel’s main restaurant Coin & Candor–and repeated the experience. Maybe it’s because I was also inspired by the founder David Murdock who has the entrepreneurial spirit and originated from humble beginnings–which in essence is this blog.

But what sets this hotel restaurant apart from others is the power of brand. The Four Seasons and its pedigree presents a unique set of dining opportunities. With connections to high-quality farms around the nation and connections to the Four Seasons’ executive chefs, including in this case, a good friend of the chef, you’re able to taste the environment around you. 

It’s not always the case that you can have someone pick up fresh catch within a few hours.

In our case during dinner service, the restaurant had sea urchins that were caught by a local fisher woman from Santa Barbara just one to two hours before being served on our dinner plates. To our surprise, the Sea Urchin’s spines were still moving. 

Apparently we read up and the theory is that if the spine moves and you eat it–it represents good luck. However, I did feel guilty about eating the Sea Urchin.

Maybe it was that one biology class that made me reconsider this as a dinner option. For some reason, even though it lacks what we call intelligence, it still reminds me of Cuttlefish–which are highly intelligent. Plus, these can live up to around 100 to 200 years in some cases. Like I said, it didn’t stop me from googling, “Is Eating Sea Urchins Moral?” That led me to this article here which talked about their unchecked consumption of kelp. Then after reading that, I’m like. More Sea Urchins, please! It’s the equivalent to Axis Deer in Hawaii’s Big Island now turned into consumption by Maui Nui Venison (really good by the way), or Goby Fish in Michigan. Sea Urchins are just a little more edible.

During another dining experience, I was able to take advantage of some of their meat specials like their Ribeye, which was delicious. On another occasion, I had their chicken (listed on the menu), which I found to be quite good, especially when paired with several rounds of their bread and butter. I’m telling you that better is really good. 

Don’t forget to throw in some Oysters and add some of their vinegar-ginger sauce and just wow–you’re taking to a different plane. 

Additional Amenities: Spa & Relaxation

I highly suggest you take advantage of the spa and sauna. You will notice there’s an additional wing just for rejuvenation. 

Free Hotel Car Service

The Four Seasons and all its glory comes equipped with Four Seasons-interior branded Lucid electric vehicles that will take you within a roughly several mile radius from the hotel. Simply go to the front desk and they will be able to help you secure a vehicle.

While car service won’t wait on you, you can simply call the front desk before you’re finished with your meal or activity, and they will come scoop you back up and take you back to the hotel.

In my case, I took the Four Seasons sponsored Lucid EV sedan to a recommended wine bar, The Stonehaus.

What Else to do Around Westlake 

Westlake I found out is not walkable. I mean no one is walking. But, luckily there’s free transportation. 

Note: If you enjoy hiking, there are plenty of nearby trails to take in the scenery or get some good photographs to pin on your wall. 

I took the Free Four Seasons Hotel Lucid Car to the Stonehaus. I thought it was a good way to taste some of the local variety. They have their own blend of wine using Sonoma grapes. Since I didn’t know when I’d be back, I snatched a bottle of their Fire Pit Red to go.

But, of course, I like beer. So I made my way to a brewery I had on my list for a while, 14 Cannons, a craft brewery in West Lake just a few minutes from the hotel. 

On Thursdays they tend to do comedy nights. I got a flight that had a Peanut Butter Cup beer, Tyrannicide IPA, West Coast Relief IPA, and Disco Pirate Hazy IPA. 

I definitely recommend the Peanut Butter Cup (PBL) beer. I actually found it to be unique and not overdone on flavor. It was crispy yet tasty at the same time. It’s also this beer that recently got 14 Cannons into Disneyland. 

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

• The Four Seasons Westlake Village offers exceptional turndown service with meticulous attention to detail, including arranging personal items, providing lens cleaners for glasses, and using branded cable ties for electronics.
• The hotel’s restaurant, Coin & Candor, serves ultra-fresh seafood including sea urchins caught just hours before serving, showcasing their commitment to quality and local sourcing.
• While Westlake Village isn’t walkable, the complimentary Lucid EV service makes local attractions accessible, including Stonehaus Winebar and 14 Cannons brewery with its unique Peanut Butter Cup beer.
• The hotel gym is surprisingly well-equipped with Precor machines, free weights, a squat rack, and even a hex bar, though the lack of reliable cell service and secure WiFi is a drawback.
• While the journey from LAX can be challenging (costing $92-200+ via Uber), the serene setting in the Santa Monica Mountains provides a peaceful retreat just an hour’s drive from bustling Los Angeles.

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Bob Florence Big Band - Westlake

Conclusion: American Luxe in the Santa Monica Mountains

This Four Seasons is up there with some of the most premium hotels I’ve stayed in across the world. In comparison to other worldwide Four Seasons Properties, the Seoul, South Korea location has excellent service staff, while the Westlake Village rendition excels in its turndown staff and their attention to detail.

It’s crazy to think that just an hour drive (without traffic) you’re in a serene and peaceful area, compared to bustling Los Angeles. But, in a way, you trade that noisiness and diverse city-character for more serene quietude and more cosmetic procedures. 

If you’re going for warmth–then I’m still a big believer that you will find those in personalized hotels like Le Tuit Tuit in Reunion, France or those around the United States.

However, if you are looking for overstated elegance and the sense of American Luxe while being immersed with the movers and shakers of the old Hollywood Elite (I’m told the older Hollywood stars can be found frolicking around the area) or maybe you just want to treat yourself in a superstar way, then I definitely recommend the Four Seasons in Westlake.