Berkeley, London, United Kingdom
Berkeley 5 Stars
"Knightsbridge's renowned luxury hotel is a firm favourite among the rich and famous, not least for its impeccable staff."
Hotel Overview
Review of Berkeley, by Matt Morley
Classic hotels in London can be divided roughly into two camps: those that are prepared to modernise in order to attract the next generation of hotel guests, and those that aren't. The Berkeley already falls well within the former camp thanks to its association with contemporary design guru David Collins, and they aren't done yet either.
The aptly named Caramel Room, where breakfasts and the hotel's infamous Pret-a-Portea afternoon teas are held each day, will soon be extended out into what is currently the hotel driveway, adding much-needed table space and a perfect opportunity for an aesthetic spruce-up courtesy of Mr Collins himself.
You can just imagine the conversations between management and London's designer-du-jour, "David, you're doing the informal dining room for us, you've already done the fine dining restaurant… why don't you just re-do the Blue Bar as well while you're here?" And why not indeed?
Potentially more controversial however will be the creation of a Presidential Suite on the top floor of the building where the fabulous outdoor pool and rooftop gym currently stand. The spa will move into a basement space instead, allowing the hotel owners, Quinlan Private Equity, to invest in a superlative penthouse Suite with views directly out onto Hyde Park. Apparently the demand for an uber-luxurious apartment-style space was simply too great to ignore!
The final component in the 3-5 year development plan is a residential component involving a number of neighbouring buildings recently acquired by Quinlan. Plans are as yet very much under wraps but if current form is anything to go by, The Berkeley will be out to impress here as well.
One of the few areas of the hotel that is already performing to the required levels of excellence, and therefore needs no tweaking at all, is the Marcus Wareing fine dining restaurant. On our mid-week visit the room was pleasantly full without being busy and the service was some of the finest we've experienced whilst this side of the Channel.
Although the £35 set lunch looked temptingly good value for money, the 9-course Tasting Menu might well have taken up the rest of the afternoon, so we opted instead for an a' la carte selection; and a fine choice it was too. Chef Wareing proved to be a formidable force in the kitchen, sending out a series of carefully composed dishes that artfully united both French and British culinary influences.
Roast loin of monkfish served with parsnips, chicken wings, chanterelle mushrooms and truffle shavings was the perfect example of his distinctive, bi-cultural approach, and it's one he's now executing as well as any other chef in the city, bar none.
Wareing may keep his kitchen well hidden from view but one suspects things remain remarkably calm in there, despite the pressure and heat. It's indicative of how things are run throughout The Berkeley in fact, a result of some well-placed confidence and a lot of hard work. We wish them luck in their plans for the future, but somehow we don't think they'll be needing it…
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Awards
"Best London Hotel for Service" Conde Nast 08
Who stays here?
The Berkeley remains a firm favourite with A-list celebs. Past guests include Sienna Miller, Madonna and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Come for...
- Afternoon tea
- Taking a swim under the stars in the rooftop pool
Not Suitable for...
- Shallow pockets
Children
Cots, highchairs, bottle warmers, babysitting services, children's bathrobes and slippers and a selection of childrens books & board games are available.
Eating in
There is a choice of three restaurants: destination eaterie Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley for Modern European, Ramsey's Boxwood Cafe or, last but not least, the more informal Caramel Room. Room service is 24 hours.
The Press Say
"The Prêt-à-Portea might just be London's best afternoon tea." Telegraph 08
Reviews
Review of Berkeley, by Devanshi Mody
The Berkeley, together with Claridge's and The Connaught, comprise the legendary Maybourne Hotels trilogy. This London institution overlooking Hyde Park is enviably located in Belgravia, the city's most prestigious neighbourhood. Furthermore, the Berkeley is minutes from city's most celebrated department stores, Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
Recent refurbishments have infused the classic design with fashionista-luring wha-wha-whoom. The courteously crisp service distinguishes the hotel from clumsy London counterparts (request a dental kit and it arrives immediately; you'd be amazed at how many top London hotels would fail here). The hotel's lobby-lessness enhances discretion whilst rendering the walk-in Caramel Room restaurant perennially lively.
Uniquely possessing London's only roof-top spa, indoor pool with retractable roof and sexy sun deck, you can see why the glam set come here in droves. Gastronomes splurge at Boxwood Café and the classy two-Michelin-starred, Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, which is rated amongst London's finest French cuisine restaurant.
Try too the en vogue Prete-a-Por-Tea afternoon tea: the hotel's pastry chefs visit Fashion Week shows and re-incarnate in chic comestible avatars the catwalk collections. They can deliver the sweet sensations to your room, but we'd recommend you enjoy the young and fun tea time ambiance.
The hotel's suave grey-hued Berkeley suites are spacious enough to harbour your shopping purchases (if you've been good and bought only half of Harrods). Less stylistically exciting suites can be immensely terraced (useful extra storage space?...) Endless beds swaddle in lush linen. Full-sized Asprey luxury toiletries embellish marble bathrooms bigger than most London flats. In-suite internet is free and housekeeping offers complimentary fruit, nuts, biscuits.
Temptation is to breakfast on private terraces, but the breakfast buffets zing. They offer ultra-light Birsche muesli and many breads: "White bread, brown bread, grain bread…" One guest exclaims exasperated, "May I have bread bread!!!" Toast is sometimes conveyed in a rather endearing fruit bowl.
Review of The Berkeley, by Nadia Latif
The Berkeley manages to toe the line between London hotel institution and comfortable, home-away-from-home. How it manages this is largely on account of its excellent staff - though the polished, unpretentious atmosphere within certainly helps. It's the sort of place where, on check-in, Sienna Miller casually saunters past on her way to the health club.
The Berkeley boasts three restaurants, which are a massive draw for guests and non-guests alike. There's the ultra-chic Boxwood Cafe, the elegant Petrus, which serves up exquisite French cuisine, and the Caramel Room, the infamous home of fashionista favourite Prêt-a-Portea. This delectable afternoon tea has an ever-changing selection of haute-design goodies, from Christian Dior pink chocolate bikini biscuits to the Chanel lime tea cakes.
This luxury hotel is not only about the food however. The Blue Bar, designed by David Collins, is a small but perfectly formed cocktail venue with a big personality. The wood panelling was actually part of the original Berkeley, when it stood in Piccadilly. Along with vintage cognacs and cigars, the bar has signature drinks ranging from the classic Berkeley Champagne Cocktail to the kookier Ginger Cosmopolitan.
After all of that indulgence, the Health Club and Spa provides a tranquil place to unwind. The spa is delicious, with a lengthy list of treatments available, from LaStone massage to traditional Balinese therapies. The main focal point within this luxury hotel, however, has to be the rooftop pool. It looks like a Roman villa, with a retractable roof for swimming under the stars.
The Berkeley's 214 bedrooms and suites take a lead from the rest of the hotel; they are undeniably classic and English, but with a fresh, modern touch. The flat-screen televisions are hidden behind antiquated cabinets and the king and queen-sized beds have Egyptian cotton sheets and beautiful bedding. There are well-stocked mini-bars in every room, along with complimentary internet access and a pay-per-view service. There's even a torch, left 'just in case'.
The marble bathrooms are enormous; most have separate bathtubs. Asprey toiletries, soft towel bathrobes and slippers and huge walk-in showers are just some of the features that lift the Berkeley above many of its competitors.