Baglioni Hotel, London, United Kingdom
Baglioni Hotel 5 Stars
"Beautifully cut, the sleek crash pad is ideally located across from Hyde Park, although arguably more Milan than Jermyn Street."
The Press Say
"The Baglioni may not be an ideal destination to get away from the excesses of city life. But, as a place to spend a decadent weekend, it's a whole lot of fun, especially in the evening when the theatrical decor really comes into its own." Independent 06Hotel Overview
Review of Baglioni Hotel, by The TI Review Team
By TI Reviewer Rosalie Craft:
An oasis of Italian opulence brazens it out in the heart of London's Kensington. The Baglioni certainly stands out from the crowd with its haute-designer feel and unrepentantly lavish decor. Upon entering, you are immersed in a dark and decadent world of bronze and gold, smooth hardwood flooring and gorgeous Murano chandeliers.
Service at the Baglioni is impeccable. Within seconds of arriving, a member of staff, chicly dressed in black, swiftly approaches. Personal butlers are on hand during check-in, ready to whisk you away to the sanctuary of your room. The Rejuvenation Spa is thoughtfully pointed out along the way, home to traditional Ayurvedic treatments and anti-ageing therapies.
The Brunello Restaurant is included in the mini-tour, too. Mouth watering smells of contemporary Italian cuisine wafts out into the communal areas, and by evening sounds of lively banter filter through; the eatery is well-loved by guests and locals alike and has a great selection of fine wines.
Breakfast is also served in Brunello and is the perfect spot to enjoy the decadent espressos, a true Italian staple. There's also a downstairs cocktail bar and club, as lively as the restaurant by night - a place where the Prosecco flows freely.
The butler comes in very handy to get your head round the sheer amount of services that the place offers. From a complementary limo service, to a personal shopper and even dog sitting; the Baglioni has all bases covered.
With sensual mood lighting and calming Italian music, the 52 suites and 16 rooms are perfectly crafted. Covered in rich chocolates and golds and with furniture that's heavy and antiquated, everything here feels expensive and well-proportioned. Italian artwork lines the walls, lit up by the flickering fireplace and the bed it utterly soft, decked out in sumptuous fabrics.
The rooms certainly do not skimp on technology. Flatscreen televisions, complimentary internet and free movies make staying in an easy option after a hard day's shopping. A discreet service button reminds you that the butler is on call 24 hours a day. It makes it very tempting to set up camp here.
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Rooms
67Awards
"Hotlist" Conde Nast 05Who stays here?
The guest list is fairly corporate.
Come for...
- The basement nightclub
- Watching free Fellini films while your butler uncorks the Prosecco
Not Suitable for...
- Anyone who can't see in the dark
Children
The hotel welcomes children and has a babysitting service for guests. They can provide an extra cot in the room for children and interconnecting rooms are also an option for families. The hotel restaurant has a special kids' menu.
Eating in
Classy modern Italian cuisine is served to Euro-glam people at Brunello, which is itself glamorous - lots of burnished gold and deep blacks.
Reviews
Review of Baglioni London, by Angela Moore
The first British venture for this Italian group, the Baglioni Hotel certainly brings a slice of haute Milan to Hyde Park. It's housed in an attractive red-brick listed building opposite Kensington Gardens; so far, so traditional. Step inside, though, and we're not in London any more.
Two black Murano chandeliers provide mood lighting for a hallway of dark wooden floors leading to a burnished bronze reception desk, which is lit in turn by the brilliant smiles of the sharp-suited reception staff. Water trickles over a glass panel to your right, screening the luxury hotel's lounge-restaurant-bar. Here there are ten-foot beaten bronze urns, banquette seats in gold, copper and wine-red velvet, more black Venetian glass lighting, bare-faced plastered walls and swathes of dark leather and satin. This is where guests come for breakfast and for the devilishly black-hearted espresso, in place of Kensington's usual genteel afternoon teas. There's a restaurant, Brunello, and a downstairs cocktail bar and club where you can lounge lizard to your heart's content
Sharp Italian styling continues upstairs as well. The Baglioni Hotel has 52 suites of varying sizes and just 16 standard rooms. The best rooms in the house are the first and second floor suites, which benefit from the high Victorian ceilings. The front-facing first-floor rooms have little terraces with a view over Hyde Park. All are spacious and beautifully equipped, down to the Illy espresso machines, should you feel the need for a midnight caffeine boost.
Walls are striped bronze and purple, or pale gold and chocolate, setting the colour tone for the rooms. There are opulent, baroque touches, like the contemporary arrangements of twiggy flowers in huge vases on either side of a bed and the beautiful dark wood wardrobes and desks. Fabrics are tactile and sensuous and the lighting is take-home good. Bathrooms are roomy, with smart black marble.
There are nice touches: the use of natural light, the witty votive candles, the working fireplaces and the genuinely charming staff give the luxury hotel character. All internet and TV access is free, which is an unusual courtesy. Best of all, each floor has a couple of personal butlers on 24-hour duty - just the thing when you can't work out how to use your espresso machine.