# Flame Towers: Luxury at the Top of One of the World's Tallest Hotels

> The Fairmont hotel inside Baku's Flame Towers offers Caspian Sea panoramas and the luxury of one of the world's tallest hotels. Discover what awaits guests inside.

- URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/flame-towers-roskosh-na-vershyne-odnoho-yz-samkh-vsokykh-otelei-myra/
- Language: en
- Published: 2025-02-12
- Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Hotels, Azerbaijan, Food & Drinks, Relaxation

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From traditional bazaars, mosques and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to futuristic skyscrapers, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, offers an eclectic blend of old and new.

Among the most striking additions to its modern skyline are the Flame Towers, a trio of high-rises resembling tongues of fire that soar above the Caspian Sea.

Designed by American architecture firm HOK, with Tower 1 standing at 182 metres, they are the tallest buildings in Azerbaijan.

And visitors can actually stay in them: one building is residential, another is used for offices, and the third, the 165-metre Fairmont Baku, is a modern five-star hotel.

The world's capital of mud volcanoes

## Step into the flames

The towers are visible from almost anywhere in the city, but at night they truly come alive. Orange, red and pink LED lights dance across the towers like blazing flames.

For some in Baku, they have become a symbol of home.

"You can see the Flame Towers when you fly into the airport, lit up in different colours and pointing the way," says fashion designer and media professional Nina Zandnia. "It's a sign that lets everyone know they've reached Azerbaijan."

So what is it like to stay in one of the country's most famous landmarks? It is certainly an unusual hotel.

The bold, sometimes flamboyant statements begin with the dramatic exterior and continue inside.

The seven-storey lobby is dominated by an extravagant chandelier that uses five kilometres of thread, is decorated with 840 lamps and more than 600,000 crystal beads, and weighs a full two metric tonnes.

The place of honour beneath it goes to a limited-edition black-and-red Fazioli, one of the most expensive pianos in the world. The M Liminal, designed by NYT Line and Philippe Gendre, reportedly accompanied Nigar Jamal and Eldar Gasimov in the performance that won Azerbaijan the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

Guests shouldn't expect to hear it during casual jam sessions; these days only the finest pianists play it, and only on special occasions.

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## Sea views

The tower holds more than 300 rooms, suites and serviced apartments, with prices ranging from 170 to over 5,000 dollars a night.

Even the most basic offer floor-to-ceiling windows and sumptuous, oversized double beds. The decor is a modern take on luxury, with plush carpets and contemporary furniture. Spacious and comfortable, every room in the hotel faces either the city or the sea.

As crisp and glamorous as it is, there's a hint of corporate blandness that falls short of the regal atmosphere you feel, for instance, at the neighbouring Four Seasons.

A typical one-bedroom suite on the 17th floor offers views of the Caspian Sea and, if you qualify, access to the Fairmont Gold lounge on the 19th floor, which has its own check-in area and concierge service.

A high-speed lift to the 17th floor opens onto a stunning landing overlooking the bay. Inside the suite there's a hallway, even more breathtaking views, and an office-cum-dining room with a wooden desk and a dining table for four.

Then there's a spacious, richly carpeted living room with an enormous sofa and a stylish signature armchair. The separate bedroom has a huge king-size bed. There's a vast walk-in wardrobe filled with hangers, drawers and laundry supplies, leading to a large bathroom with a tub and a shower.

Both of the suite's bathrooms come with personalised toiletries: yes, your name is printed on the bottles of shampoo, moisturiser and conditioner. It's a souvenir that's practically begging to go home with you.

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## The Royal Suite

Lovely details, but does the hotel have star appeal? Yes, says Zumrud Ismayilova, the hotel's PR and marketing manager. No names are named, but the list apparently includes leaders, royalty and celebrities.

"We've had many VIP guests, but we never reveal who they are," she says. "When our guests come to us, they expect privacy, and that's exactly what we give them."

Set right at the tip of the flame, the Royal Suite offers panoramic views of both the city and the sea. It has two bedrooms, both en suite, a living room, a private dining room, a study, a guest bathroom, a kitchen and a grand chandelier-lit hall, for a total of 375 square metres of living space.

"The VIP or the family stays in the suite, but the rest of their entourage usually takes over the entire floor. We have extra rooms for security and staff, and a suite for additional family members," Ismayilova explains.

There's an open living area, a private study, a dining room for 12 or more guests, and a fully equipped kitchen (for the staff, of course). But the main attraction is a lavish bathroom with an enormous oyster-shaped tub set beside a window overlooking the bay.

## Wellness

The hotel's amenities are varied. There's an elegant spa spread across two floors of the hotel, with an indoor pool, a sauna, a jacuzzi, a hammam and relaxation areas. There's also a fully equipped gym.

The beautifully designed Sky Garden lets guests relax on a sun terrace or use the poolside sauna with sea views. There's an S-shaped rooftop pool and an open-air bar, which look better from afar than up close.

The best time to visit is in the evening. When the sun is up, the towers reflect it and intensify its heat, turning the area into a frying pan.

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## Food and entertainment

As you'd expect from a chic hotel inside one of the country's greatest landmarks, the main restaurant, Le Bistro, offers a wide selection of local Azerbaijani wines and delicacies. Cafe Balcon serves specialty teas and pastries, along with sushi in the afternoon.

There's also the Nur lounge, a stylish spot serving cocktails and light bites, and a great place for a drink before heading to the hotel's jazz club, a local landmark in its own right.

"We always recommend that people visit the jazz club after 9pm, because that's when it really comes to life. It's very popular with both hotel guests and locals, and we always offer something new to keep people entertained," says Ismayilova.

There are two things most hotels can't offer: a shopping mall and a cinema. The Fairmont Flame Towers offers both.

Park Cinema gives guests (and members of the public) six screens, including an IMAX, showing the latest films in Arabic, English and Russian.

Next door is the Flame Towers shopping mall, due to be completed in early 2020. Luxury brands, high-street shops, cafes and restaurants are all set to move in here.

Fairmont Flame Towers, 1A Mehdi Huseyn St, Baku 1006, Azerbaijan; + 994 12 565 48 48