London is a major business destination for professionals across Asia, and it certainly has no shortage of glamorous suites to help you recover from a hectic days work or play. Claridge’s is a British institution, having hosted guests as far back as the 1850s. Legends from Queen Victoria to Audrey Hepburn and Winston Churchill have all rested their sleepy heads on its luxury beds, so we decided to join them and find out what it’s like to mark off a bucket list hotel.
Rooms that ooze style
This hotel is an art deco jewel and every corner is full of grand English style and 1920s glamour. 190 rooms and 63 Claridge’s suites are individually crafted by A-List interior designers such as Viscount Linley and Diane von Furstenberg. Each of them has a unique character with specially commissioned furniture and marble bathrooms carrying products from English beauty experts Cowshed. The suites come with a personal butler to deal with any request big or small (handy if you’re not great with technology) and if that’s not fancy enough for you, Burberry trench coats are available on loan during your stay so you’ll never be in trouble with the British fashion police.
The core of the capital
Situated on Brook Street, Mayfair, it’s safe to say Claridge’s is in the heart of the capital. New Bond Street is just a stone throw’s away with lines of boutiques ranging from Louis Vuitton to Burberry. Hip and trendy local bars like MKNY HSE, The Chess Club and Aqua London make a bar crawl pretty inviting, and you could even call The Queen your neighbour, since Buckingham Palace is a short stroll down the road. In terms of location, we think this is as good as it gets.
Dine like a king
Fera at Claridge’s is the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, inspired by the rhythms of nature and beautifully lit by candlelight. The chefs create contemporary British dishes that reflect a deep connection to the elements, and so each plate evokes the colours and textures of British landscape. Do yourself a favour and order the long tasting menu, of which the seven courses include stewed rabbit with lovage, Cornish hogget with hispi cabbage, and Portland crab with apple and miners lettuce. These can be finished off with a sweet dessert or British cheese selection, and the wine list features over 700 bins that have been awarded three out of three stars in the World of Fine Wine’s ‘World’s Best Wine Lists 2017’.
And wake up like one too
Going down to the lobby in search of breakfast can often seem a bit of a mission when you’ve just awoken from a glorious night’s sleep. Thankfully Claridge’s is famed for being one of the best destinations for breakfast in bed. We tucked into a ‘healthy breakfast’ option starring super green juice, quinoa, pomegranate and poached eggs, wonderfully presented and admittedly very Insta-worthy. Checking out we felt fuelled, rested and rejuvenated, and coming to think of it, the only difference between Buckingham Palace and Claridge’s is the presence of Queen Lizzie’s royal Corgis. So we’re going to be cat people – cheerio ma’am!
