Nick Walton checks in at Claridge’s, one of London’s most historic and luxurious hotels, to see how this iconic hotel caters to today’s affluent traveller.
Background
Few hotels in the British capital have the reputation of Claridge’s. Since Queen Victoria visited her friend Empress Eugenie of France at the esteemed hotel, Claridge’s has had links with royalty, heads of state, and the celebrity set.
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The modern incarnation of the hotel, created by Harrods designer C.W.Stephens, opened its doors in 1898 and has since witnessed more than its fair share of history, from Winston Churchill declaring suite 212 Yugoslavian territory (complete with a clod of Yugoslavian earth under the bed) so Crown Prince Alexander II could be born on his own country’s soil, to Bulganin and Kruschev’s controversial Royal Suite cocktail party in 1956 that was said to be so crowded that ‘buttons popped off jackets and wine was spilled on ladies dresses’.
Today it’s a home-away-from-home for powerbrokers and movers-and-shakers from across the globe.
The Room
My Mayfair Suite, one of 203 rooms and 64 beautiful suites (signature suites designed by Diane Von Furstenberg and Veere Grenney are especially coveted), is a sumptuous Art Deco space that boasts original architectural features, including an ornate fireplace. Bright and elegant, the suite’s bathroom is decked out in Italian marble and black and white tile, with Bamford amenities; there’s a cavernous master bedroom with king-sized bed, and gently curving timber wardrobes (home to Burberry trench coats for guest use); and beyond, a beautifully-appointed sitting room with its own entrance.
While there are modern touches, from flatscreen televisions to iPod docking stations, the suite is a beautiful preservation of an illustrious era in British history.
Happy Hour
Just as popular as its suites are the hotel’s two cocktail bars, The Claridge’s Bar and The Fumoir. Claridge’s Bar is a popular enclave for hushed business gossip and has its own entrance from Davies Street. Home to an exceptional list of vintage champagnes and sought-after spirits, the bar regularly works with craft spirit producers to introduce new flavours and products to their affluent and loyal clientele, while also maintaining an exclusive collection of now discontinued tipples.
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An icon of both mixology and the 1930s, The Fumoir is a small and exclusive hideaway off the hotel’s lobby that’s served the who’s who of London society for generations. Today, under a magnificent mirror etched by Basil Lonides, modern mixologists create homages to classic Prohibition-era concoctions, from swizzles, daisies, and crustas, to cups, sours, and juleps, all from original recipes, and served in Renee Lalique glasses.
Fine Dining
Claridge’s signature dining experience is one Michelin-starred Fera, which was opened in 2014 by Simon Rogan, the innovative chef behind L’Enclume in Cartmel (where he holds two Michelin stars), and The French in Manchester.
Driven by seasonal produce and exacting technical skill, Fera offers an unashamedly contemporary dining experience overseen by executive chef Dan Cox and restaurant director Raphael Rodriguez. Dishes are matched with an enviable wine list and are served amidst interiors by British designer Guy Oliver that fuse Art Deco elements with contemporary lines.
For a truly spectacular dining experience, book well ahead for one of six seats at Aulis, the restaurant’s Development Table.
No visit to Claridge’s would be complete without enjoying the iconic Afternoon Tea. An English institution for 150 years, the coveted Afternoon Tea at Claridge’s includes a selection of over twenty teas curated by Henrietta Lovell of the Rare Tea Company, sourced from some of the oldest tea plantations in China, Sri Lanka, Africa, India, and even the UK, and complemented by delicious finger sandwiches, warm scones, and sweet pastries.
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Find Your Zen
One of Claridge’s best-kept secrets is the David Linley-designed Map Room, a joyous hideaway at lobby level only open to hotel guests. With plenty of Art Deco accents, this serene space is great for travellers looking to read or hold an intimate meeting. While creating an ideal hideaway to read, relax, and be inspired, the Map Room marries the needs of modern travellers with the style and art deco flair for which Claridge’s is renowned.
Elegantly designed by internationally renowned British design workshop Linley, who has balanced sophistication and functional design with technical innovation, the Map Room keeps travellers in touch and ‘in the know’ however far from home they may be.
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Alternatively, seek solace at Claridge’s Health Club & Spa, home to a comprehensive fitness centre and sumptuous Claridge’s beauty treatment rooms, a calm sanctuary where you can relax completely and emerge refreshed and rejuvenated. A menu of indulgent treatments, using Sisley spa products, includes massage rituals, facials, and beauty and anti-aging treatments.
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