I always look for the time when I return to London. Definitely one of my favorite cities and I could easily see myself living there in the future. Something about London just fits with my personality. Here is a short video that summarizes what I did while I was there in January.
Enjoy and happy travels!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrYDhnyw924[/youtube]
My last stop in London was at the Intercontinental Park Lane hotel. The Intercontinental brand sticks to their tradition of high quality, and you can expect a very similar product in every location. However, in London, you really can’t beat such a spectacular location as on Park Lane to accompany this high level of quality. It’s just on the southeast corner of Hyde Park and perfectly situated for easy access to great areas of London.
Click HERE to check out the Intercontinental London!
I went up the lift to the fifth floor and the first thing I noticed were the hallways. The hallways let you know you’re in a luxury hotel. I made my way down the corridor and located my room.
Upon entering, I immediately walked to the window to gaze out at the spectacular view of Hyde Park. There was also tons of traffic circling around the property which enabled me to get some beautiful photos at night!
The room came equipped with everything you would imagine. The bedding was extra comfortable which I loved, a full-sized sofa and a lovely bathroom with the bathtub and shower. Also, there was a great station for making coffee or tea.
The hotel also boasts quite an extensive gym. At least 10 cardio machines including ellipticals and treadmills ensuring tons of equipment for all. There were also a wide selection of free weights and weight machines. The only things missing were full-sized locker rooms, a steam room or sauna. Also important to note that this hotel does not have a pool.
For the duration of my stay, I had Intercontinental Club Lounge access. The club lounge is located on the eighth floor and quite impressive. The lounge has large windows which let in a lot of light and create a very relaxed atmosphere. The lounge also overlooks Wellington Arch which was originally constructed in the 1800s and lets you know what city you’re in. The lounge is a great place to people watch out of the window. I was able to enjoy afternoon tea, evening canopies and of course breakfast the following morning in the lounge. During the evening, there was a large selection of alcohol and tasty treats. My favorite was the beef wellington!
The next morning I was excited to get to the lounge to order breakfast! I was craving Eggs Benedict so that’s exactly what I ordered. The dish was perfect and I got to enjoy the view as I came alive with a cup of black coffee. There was also a breakfast buffet to accompany the à la carte menu making sure that everyone has something they will enjoy.
At the end of the day, my stay at the Intercontinental Park Lane hotel in London was very smooth. I’d like to note that the Intercontinental Club Lounge at the this property was flawless. The location is one of the best in the entire city. There could be a little bit more to be desired in the health and wellness sector, but overall I was quite pleased. All in all, I’m sure that you’ll have a wonderful stay at the Intercontinental Park Lane in London!
InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel
Hotel
One Hamilton Place, Park Lane London, W1J 7QY United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7409 3131
Now I have stayed all around Hyde Park in London! I’ve stayed at four different hotels that all have good views of this glorious park. My favorite thus far, would have to be the Metropolitan by COMO hotels. The hotel is located on Old Park Lane on the southeast corner of the park. It’s smaller in size but packs a serious punch in all areas!
Click HERE to check out the Metropolitan by COMO!
I had just finished up my stay the night before at another COMO property called The Halkin and headed over to the Metropolitan just 500 meters away. The stay at The Halkin was superb and you’ll have to read about it and the dinner at the Ametsa restaurant in separate articles. After checking in, I headed up to my beautiful suite. The hotel focuses on the theme of wellness. You can see this in the color scheme throughout the property, in the rooms, and in the public areas.
The suite was massive! I was drawn to the window to take in this extraordinary view. This is the essence of London. You’ll look around to see classic buildings with the glorious Hyde Park view and feel like you’re in a fairy tale.
The rooms have recently been updated and had the latest technology. Equipped with Bluetooth and electronic controls built into the phone, you can control the entire workings of the room. The bathroom was also great, offering a bathtub and shower.
While enjoying such a magical environment, I decided I wanted to enjoy it even more and sample the Metropolitan hotel room service. Let’s just say I was incredibly happy I did. I ordered the Met Burger which came with French fries. This burger blew me out of the water! This was a little piece of heaven on a room service tray. The French fries were cooked perfectly crispy and the burger was bursting with flavor. Without a doubt, I must insist you try the room service at the Metropolitan during your next stay.
I got a little ahead of myself because I was so excited about burger! However, prior to consuming the burger, I went down to experience the very large gym. I was impressed with the amount of equipment. They also have a lovely steam room located inside of the changing room. Everything that you could possibly need to get a good workout in and relaxation afterwords. I hit a cardio session so I could balance the massive Met burger! Story of my life.
Not only were the views gorgeous in the daytime, they were incredibly gorgeous in the nighttime. In the evening, I was lucky enough to capture some gorgeous shots of the scenery.
For dinner and drinks, I was recommended to head down to the Met Bar on the ground floor. In the Met Bar they focus on their “bites” which are finger food to accompany your drinks. After ordering a few tasty drinks I put in an order for fried squid, sliders and chorizo. This food made my heart melt. Not only was the flavor on point, but it looked beautiful as well. The service at the bar was impeccable. I definitely recommend you to visit this hotel, but also to grab a drink at the Met Bar too.
The next morning I awoke in an aura of excitement. I was excited because I was a ready to try the hotel’s breakfast. The hotel serves their breakfast on the first floor, in a bright room that is naturally lit by a giant skylight. White table cloths also make it feel extra refreshing. There is a large assortment of à la carte items to choose from. My personal favorite was the Eggs Benedict. To balance out the alcohol I had been drinking, I also ordered a green juice that is supposed to help the liver. Well done Metropolitan hotel, well done.
When the stay was over, I was honestly sad to leave. This is the type of hotel experience I truly enjoy most. Throughout the entire stay, I felt very well taken care of. All of the staff members went above and beyond and were right there when I needed them. They made me feel at home, and between the service, food and the facilities, I was rather impressed. I can’t forget to mention again how amazing the room service burger was, along with the view, it was heaven! When push came to shove, and you’re looking for a fantastic hotel with the best view of Hyde Park, you must stay at the Metropolitan by COMO hotels!
Hotel
19 Old Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1LB, UK
Phone: +44 20 7447 1000
While in London, I was super excited to try the Ametsa with Arzak Instruction Restaurant which specializes in cuisine from the Basque region of Spain. This was my first introduction to the cuisine and I had no idea what to expect. The restaurant is located inside The Halkin by COMO hotels in Belgravia, London.
To get the meal started, they brought out an amuse bouche which was a rice cracker with cayenne pepper and sauce on top. I could have just kept eating them nonstop. I think it’s very important to start the meal with a great first bite. Well done.
This was also accompanied with my first cocktail, which was called “El Dorado.” Tasty. Up next were the appetizers. These included ham test tubes and a sardine doughnut. The sardine donut not only sounded appetizing but tasted great as well. Wink.
To accompany the next dish, was a wine from the Basque region of Spain and it was called Gaintza. This was to eat with the lovely scallops. One of the overall themes I saw emerging in the cuisine, were consistently strong flavors. Pierre Loves strong and spicy food, and this is exactly what the food was at the Ametsa with Arzak Instruction Restaurant.
The food kept getting better and better as the meal continued. There was a dish with perfectly cooked tuna as well a lamb for the second main course. The lamb was flawless. It came accompanied with lotus root, which was colored by seasoning! All very tasty.
To finish was of course their famous orange toast. The orange toast was basically a piece of French toast on steroids. I would’ve loved to have a full piece of orange toast in the morning for breakfast! Of course I needed some nice dessert wine to accompany the orange toast which was the Vina Axarkia. Not overly sweet, but just right.
Finally I finished with a bit more sweetness, chocolate berries. Even though they looked like realistic berries, they were incredibly flavorful chocolates! Throughout the meal, the staff were especially assertive and very friendly. They food really hit the spot in all departments. I can’t recall one bite that wasn’t lovely. I really would like to commend the sommelier, because the wine pairing was a huge success. In conclusion, I would highly recommend you to visit the Ametsa with Arzak Instruction Restaurant inside of The Halkin as soon as possible, it was definitely one of the top meals of my life!
The Nitty Gritty
Taste - 9.5
Value - 9.1
Feng Shui - 9.9
Convenience - 9.5
Service - 9.5
9.5
Perfection.
Restaurant
COMO The Halkin, London, The Halkin by Como, Halkin Hotel London, Halkin St, Belgravia, London SW1X 7DJ, UK
Phone: +44 20 7333 1234
My next stop on my recent trip to England was in Belgravia, one of my favorite parts of London. I was staying at my first COMO branded hotel, which was The Halkin. After a short walk, I arrived and checked into my suite on the third floor.
Click HERE to check out the Halkin!
Upon entry, I observed a beautiful bathroom and then worked my way through the living room and the bedroom. The living room was large and had lots of features to notice, including gorgeous artwork, a large sofa and an impressive terrace. The staff were kind enough to leave me a tray of chocolate which really hit the spot!
The bathroom featured the type of traditional luxury I enjoy with granite in all areas, as well as high-quality bathroom fixtures. The shower could really pump out some water! I was also sure to relax and take a bath in the large bathtub.
The styling in the bedroom was quite minimal, in a good way of course. The bedding was white in color and enticed me to take a nap. Wow! The pillows felt like little pockets of heaven.
The hallways in the hotel had a very gorgeous design. It almost felt like I was in a museum. Just like in the guestrooms, there were more works of art in public areas of the hotel, which added to the ambiance.
You’ll find the gym on -1 floor. The interior design was the same theme as the guestrooms, clean and bright. The gym offers cardio machines and free weights. It’s not the most extensive in the equipment department, but I didn’t have any issues getting a great workout in. The hotel does not have a pool, steam room or sauna.
During my stay I was sure to try their very famous Ametsa with Arzak Instruction restaurant. This is also the dining-room where you can find the breakfast. You’ll have to read about the dinner in a separate article. Suspenseful I know! The restaurant has a beautiful feeling in both the daytime and night. During breakfast, I could look out to see the lovely greenery. The English breakfast was well done and I would recommend you to try one of their blended drinks. I went with the Clean London Greens, you’re welcome!
All in all, my stay at the The Halkin was very smooth. I didn’t have one bad experience while there! Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The rooms were glorious and the design of the entire hotel was attractive. The food was amazing for all meals in their Ametsa with Arzak Instruction restaurant. Therefore, I would highly insist you to visit The Halkin by COMO hotels as soon as possible!
Hotel
5-6 Halkin St, Belgravia, London SW1X 7DJ, UK
Phone: +44 20 7333 1000
While staying at The Marylebone hotel in London, I was sure to have a dinner at their very popular 108 Brasserie. If you’re not familiar, Marylebone is an affluent area in London with lots going on.
To start, I ordered a Negroni which is an Italian cocktail, one of my favorites. The bartender definitely knew what they were doing because this cocktail tasted fantastic. I spoke with the server for a bit and was recommended the pig’s cheeks for a starter. Along with the pig’s cheeks, I also put in an order for the dorset crab on toast. Both were lovely and quite different flavors from one another. The pig’s cheeks came accompanied with apple and raisin chutney which was a bit sour and a nice balance for the pork. The presentation was honestly beautiful and overall very good.
For the main, I went with the 8 oz ribeye steak and the risotto with wild mushrooms. Of course these two entrées needed some friends to come along for the party, so I also ordered French fries and steamed spinach. I must say it was a very balanced and tasty meal. The steak was perfect. Just the right amount of fat and the temperature was exactly how I like it. You can never go wrong with cheesy risotto or French fries for that matter. I can’t forget that I also went for a glass of Malbec, a match made in heaven.
No meal would be complete without dessert. For this, I went with the apple crumble and a chocolate fondant that came with ice cream. My favorite of the two was definitely the apple crumble which was super moist. It came with sweet sauce to pour on top and take me straight to flavor heaven. All of their desserts have suggested dessert wine pairings which made ordering that much easier. Well done!
When it was all said and done, the food and drink at the 108 Brasserie at The Marylebone hotel were quite enjoyable. I must highly recommend the rib-eye and the risotto, mind blowing. The ambiance of the dining room was very relaxed. In conclusion, I can’t help but recommend you to try the 108 Brasserie in London!
The Nitty Gritty
Taste - 7.9
Value - 9
Feng Shui - 9.5
Convenience - 9.1
Service - 8.6
8.8
Wow!
Restaurant
108 Marylebone Ln, Marylebone, London W1U 2QE
Phone: +44 020 7969 3904
I’m quite familiar with the Doyle Collection because I’ve stayed at The Kensington on my last trip to London. This time, I was incredibly excited to visit another one of their properties. This was of course at The Marylebone.
Click HERE to check out The Marylebone!
The property is nestled in a very quaint neighborhood with lots of character. I also visited their 108 Brasserie during my stay, and you’ll have to read about my dinner there in a separate article.
The hotel has a unique flair that says they’re about quality but also, not overly serious. My suite was on the third floor, and quite large. The theme for the interior design was chic with lots of blues and greens. They have utilized many interesting patterns on the curtains and the pillows which made it feel very homey. There was a TV that was built into the mirror in the living room, a nice touch.
The green and blue color scheme continued into the bathroom and also marble was added. This design made it very bright. There were both a full bathtub and giant shower. Pierre approves.
A feature that I really enjoy about the property were their terrace suites. These weren’t just basic outdoor seating areas, they offered completely livable terraces with fireplaces and televisions. On a tour of the property, I got to view a few of them. All had roofs that could retract, perfect for nice weather in the summer or close them up to listen to the rain.
The hotel is connected to a members only gym and pool. The gym is great for people that are interested in a wide variety of equipment. You will never have to wait for equipment to use. Also, there is a large lap pool down just one floor. Last but not least, the members gym offers a sauna and a very beautiful steam room. Great lighting indeed.
I really felt that the staff at The Marylebone hotel treated me with great respect and care. When I was out to dinner at their 108 Brasserie, which you can read about in a separate article, they delivered a bottle of whiskey and apple chips to my room. A perfect nightcap.
The next morning I woke up revitalized, and ready to start the day. After getting ready, I headed down to their 108 Pantry for breakfast. This is connected to the brasserie but offers a more casual dining experience. I ordered one of their green vegetable juices and I felt healthy. I’m on a constant quest to find the best English breakfast in England. and therefore, I had to try the traditional English breakfast. It was a great breakfast and I must say that the black pudding was on point!
All in all, the stay was smooth and left a strong sense of quality. The food at breakfast was superb and I loved the location. The overall design of the property was very comfortable. This is the type of hotel that goes above and beyond, offering a much more unique touch than the bigger hotel brands. Without a doubt I would definitely recommend staying at The Marylebone hotel in London!
Hotel
47 Welbeck St, Marylebone, London W1G 8DN
Phone: +44 020 7486 6600
The Shangri-La hotel, in the center of London, inside of the Shard building, definitely is way higher up on the wow scale! Everyone in the city knows about the Shard. Even people outside of London are typically familiar with this building. If you’re not familiar, the Shard is a beautiful 95-story building that extends far into the sky, resembling a shard of glass. The design ensures that all of the rooms at the Shangri-La hotel have a fantastic view of London.
Click HERE to check out the Shangri-La!
I arrived at the hotel by walking across London bridge. You’ll have to go up to the 35th floor to reach the reception. As soon as I got there, the excitement began building. No pun intended. The Shangri-La brand is always classy, no matter what property. Not only is the lobby gorgeous, it also offers a stunning city view. Along with the reception and concierge, you’ll find their TING restaurant which I have written about in a separate article.
After meeting some of the friendly staff, I finished the check-in process and took the lift up to the 44th floor to discover my new home. Lucky for me I was able to secure a corner room with a bathtub. The room definitely impressed me!
It had a very grand bed with beautifully painted artwork on the headboard. The bathroom is out of this world! You can take a bath and feel that you’re floating on the clouds. Things I took note of in the bathroom were a heated toilet seat, clock in the mirror and last but not least, a heated towel rack. Wonderful.
I love the way that the Shangri-La brand organizes their toiletries. This is consistent with all of their properties and from a design standpoint, very stunning.
I’m always so excited to explore hotels when I arrive, so after seeing the room, I went up to the 52nd floor where they have their GONG bar, gym and swimming pool. The pool is quite popular and during most of my stay was occupied. It’s an infinity pool and is a great place to enjoy the city view. For the hotel’s size, the gym is on the smaller side. It’s also important to note that the hotel doesn’t have full-sized changing rooms, a steam room or a sauna. Instead, they have only one changing room for a single person.
I mentioned that you’ll be able to read about my dinner at their TING restaurant in a separate article but I also had breakfast in the same space. They have both buffet and a la carte options for your choosing. I am an English breakfast fanatic, so obviously I wanted to try it at the Shangri-La. I accompanied it with a few items from the buffet to add a little balance to the protein in the English breakfast. Overall, I would say that it was quite good.
If you’re looking for and incredibly unforgettable experience in London, then you’ll have to give the Shangri-La hotel at the Shard a try. This is completely different beast than the traditional English hospitality style that I’ve experienced. This is mainly because the Shangri-La brand is from Hong Kong and this creates a more Asian feel. Just being part of the Shard gives the hotel a very memorable view. The rooms were fantastic with beautiful amenities, the food was superb and the staff pleasant. Therefore, if you’re looking for a hotel with a real WOW factor, you must check out the Shangri-La hotel at the Shard in London!
Hotel
The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU
Phone: +44 020 7234 8000
During my stay at the Shangri-La hotel in the Shard building in London, I had a chance to eat a dinner at their TING restaurant. The TING restaurant is located on the 35th floor. The Shard is quite impressive and offers a stunning view of the city. The dining room is stylish and elegant.
For a Sunday night, the restaurant was relatively busy. This came as a surprise, but a good sign for the quality of food. I enjoyed the fact that the menu was only a page long. This completely removed any chance for analysis paralysis. The appetizer I started with was the pork. This was barbecued pork belly with carrots, orange and quinoa. It was really lovely and paired with a wine from the Tokaji region in Hungary. The first time I’ve ever had white wine and pork!
The main course I went with, was the Cornish lobster. This was seasoned with tandoori and accompanied with mango, bak choy and yogurt. Definitely a first for Pierre. The curry was a little bit strong in flavor compared to the lobster, but overall it all tasted quite nice.
The first dessert was a vanilla cream. Typically, at this point in the meal would be a cleansing dish like a lemon sorbet, but the cream was extraordinary. Honestly, I can’t even tell you exactly what all was in it, but it was mind blowing. For my actual dessert selection I went with the mille feuille. This is a layered dessert with a crispy top. A mille feuille always looks very elegant and great for photos. Dessert was paired with a lovely dessert wine from Bordeaux.
If that wasn’t enough, there was yet another plate of sweets served in case you truly wanted to explode. I must say that all in all, the meal was great! All of the choices I made turned out to be very good. I followed my intuition, and it never led me wrong. With such great food, service and the best view in London, I would definitely recommend you have a meal at the TING restaurant!
The Nitty Gritty
Taste - 8.2
Value - 8
Feng Shui - 9.6
Convenience - 9.8
Service - 9.2
9
Superb!
Restaurant
The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU
Phone: +44 020 7234 8000
It was my third trip to London. I took a red-eye flight and arrive at 7:30 in the morning. This was actually great because I arrived fairly rested, and a short while later, I was at the Montcalm Royal London House hotel. The hotel is in the middle of the action. It’s definitely a wonderful spot if you’re looking to come and enjoy the sights of London.
Click HERE to check out the Montcalm!
On the way to my room, I noticed the very stylish hallways. They have lights along the floor which create a unique feel. I opened the door to see a very welcoming and warm room. Lots of grays and blues with a splash of yellow. The hotel has a lovely view of Finsbury Square Garden. In the evening, this really looked nice when the sun was lower.
The hotel was great and sent macarons and a bottle of prosecco. They definitely were prepared for Pierre!
I can’t forget the stylish bathroom. It was mostly white with black marble accents. I would love to have this bathroom in my home! To top it off, they used Hermes brand products which always smell lovely. There was a very lovely shower with a large rain shower head.
Lucky for me, they had recently updated their spa, pool and gym area. This is on level minus one and stunning to say the least. The gym is separated into two rooms with a decent amount of equipment. The spa area also offers a steam and dry sauna for your relaxation. I must say that I am always fond of a powerful steam room!
Many of the higher-end hotels that I’ve stayed at offer executive lounges. The Montcalm Royal London House hotel definitely brings a strong lounge to the table. There you can enjoy breakfast, coffee, snacks throughout the day and evening canopies with alcoholic beverages.
It’s definitely important to mention that they have a restaurant and bar on the rooftop. It’s called the Aviary and I can imagine that in the summer months it would be out of this world! This is where I had the buffet breakfast and I was sure to get everything English style. Overall, the food was good, the service was on point and the view was spectacular.
I was only at the Montcalm Royal London House hotel for one night, but it was enough to see that they had a solid offering. The hotel is just a few hundred meters away from the Moorgate tube station, and conveniently situated to explore London. The staff were especially warm and welcoming throughout my stay and a pleasure to encounter. In the value department, this hotel definitely excels with their club lounge. You’ll get a great amount of quality for your money spent. Therefore, the next time you’re in London and looking for a great place to stay, I would strongly urge you stay at the Montcalm Royal London House hotel.
The Montcalm Royal London House
Hotel
22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX
Phone: +44 020 7479 2233
