Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Europe's Best: The Berkeley
[This series of Europe hotels are long overdue, but I wanted to wait for them to be published in the magazine before putting them up. Here goes!]Stylish Knightsbridge Redefined At The Berkeley
The epitome of English elegance and luxury for over 100 years, The Berkeley constantly reinvents itself to remain at the cutting edge of hospitality and fashion. JC checks in to style haven.
The Berkeley is a good example of why one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Plain, unassuming and virtually obscure on the outside, the hotel springs to life the second you get past its revolving doors. On the left is the classy Blue Room which gets the thumbs-up from Madonna herself. The right houses Pret-a-Portea – the renowned afternoon tea for fashionistas. Upon arrival, be greeted by neat rows of purple-balled alliums which double up as The Berkeley’s quiet mascot in this quaint, elegant and very English boutique luxury joint.
Located in Knightsbridge – the heart of the luxury shopping district – the hotel is a stone’s throw away from retail legends Harrods and Harvey Nichols, alongside a string of designer boutiques and specialist shops.
The area is known to be one of London’s greenest – offering an open breathing space and stunning views at the nearby Hyde Park. For history and science buffs, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Science Museum, and The Natural History Museum are within walking distance. A 45-minute drive from London’s Heathrow Airport, The Berkeley is conveniently situated between two underground train stations (Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge) which provide direct access to the central city districts.
Rooms And Suites
The hotel houses 214 bedrooms, including 65 suites individually decorated by some of the world’s foremost interior designers. The Berkeley Suites by Helen Green are sophisticated yet understated, reflecting her signature style of timeless, effortless elegance. In contrast, The Chelsea Suite uses a rich and opulent colour palette with its polished wooden panelling, huge purple sofa and sensuous bedroom to spell indulgence.
In addition, there are three individually designed signature conservatory suites with large roof terraces and conservatories, each with its customised touches such as saunas and David Linley furnishings. In the Wellington Suite, the terrace and conservatory also offer glorious views of Hyde Park.
Afternoon Tea At Prêt-à-Portea
Priding themselves as a five-star luxury hotel with a difference, The Berkeley is a natural choice for business travellers, avid shoppers, fashionistas, and celebrities alike. And one of the reasons why people flock to The Berkeley is for its famed afternoon tea at Prêt-à-Portea.
Designed with a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries, Prêt-à-Portea’s fashion-inspired biscuits, fancies and meringues make this a must-visit on the London itinerary. Like the latest fashion trends, the afternoon tea menu is updated twice a year. In fact, Berkeley pastry chefs visit the London fashion week shows to get their inspiration for colours and textures of the new collections.
I sank my teeth, quite literally, into savoury patisserie from the Spring/ Summer 2009 collection, which echoed the season’s trends of block colours, metallic, vibrant orange and exquisite summer chic. Some of the delectable sweet treats included a Josh Goot combination of strawberry pannacotta, mango crème and kiwi marshmallows, an Alexander McQueen ‘Elvie’ chocolate truffle tote wrapped in mint flavoured marzipan, in vibrant summer green, a Christopher Kane clementine bavaroise dress complete with signature oversized circles, and the crown of the collection, Michael Kors’ red and blue striped Regatta dress cake made out of rich Valrohna chocolate.
For the ultimate fashion touch, the hotel, in collaboration with Thomas Goode of Mayfair, serves tea and champagne in a bespoke collection of Paul Smith fine bone china and Baccarat crystal flutes respectively.
Restaurants And Bar
Besides the Caramel Room, where stylish afternoon teas are served daily, The Berkeley is home to some of London’s best restaurants. The famous Pétrus restaurant, now renamed as Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, is an exclusive Knightsbridge restaurant – the first solo venture of two star Michelin chef Marcus Wareing. Serving modern European food, Chef Wareing is known for his theatrical and technically brilliant French cuisine. Be sure to request for a chef’s table where you can watch the action of the kitchen.
Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café is his take on the upscale New York café scene. Set in a relaxed atmosphere and English garden feel, dining here makes for a stylish and charming experience – a far cry from London’s usual restaurant scene. With locally-sourced seasonal ingredients, the restaurant menu reflects a traditional British market with freshness and quality as its hallmarks.
At the heart of the Knightsbridge scene, the Blue Bar is a popular and exclusive top London celebrity hangout. The stand-out feature of the Blue Bar is its striking Lutyens Blue colour scheme by designer David Collins. Some of the bar’s must-try includes the signature Berkeley Champagne Cocktail and the sublime Ginger Cosmopolitan.
The luxury and sophistication of this acclaimed hotel is hard to miss – with its inviting setup, affable staff and diverse culinary spreads – so much so that I arrived at The Berkeley expecting it to be my sojourn in London, but left feeling like the hotel itself had become my destination.
