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.

FACILITIES

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 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 yurtstyle 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.