The St. Regis Astana

Where Astana's other luxury hotels reach for the sky, The St. Regis takes the riverbank. Set on the Ishim embankment with its own landscaped surroundings, the hotel is lower, quieter and more residential in feel than its rivals, and its interiors—commissioned around a palette of creams, chocolates and Kazakh-patterned marquetry—have a warmth that suits the brand's butler-led, old-world service model.

Every stay comes with St. Regis butler service, and the hotel executes the ritual well, from unpacking to evening sabrage in the bar. Rooms are among the capital's largest, with river or city views and deep marble bathrooms; suites step up to genuine grandeur. The riverside setting gives guests something rare in this planned city: a pleasant embankment promenade at the door, walkable in the warm months and glittering with ice in winter.

Facilities include an indoor pool with a mosaic-lined hall, a spa strong on hammam traditions, and dining from refined international menus to an elegant afternoon tea. The Bayterek tower and Nurzhol Boulevard are a few minutes by car. For travellers who prize service ceremony and quiet over skyline theatre, this is Astana's most gracious address.