The Berkeley hotel review

In brief

Selected by the editors as one of the best hotels in London

First impression Art Deco grandeur.
Staff Utterly charming.
Food & drink Luxurious.
Bed & bath Extreme comfort.
The crowd Well-dressed, well-connected.
In a nutshell A totally sophisticated London classic.

Why stay?
Because it’s a Knightsbridge institution – with scene-stealing Michelin-star
food and sophisticated design.

What is it?
Undoubtedly one of London’s grande dames, the Berkeley has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a luxury hotel – plus some serious suites. And it’s in a prime location overlooking Hyde Park and within easy reach of Knightsbridge and the capital’s glitziest stores.

Behind the scenes
Part of the Maybourne Group – which also manages Claridge’s and The Connaught – the Berkeley is a bit like both but not much like either. A child of the early 1970s, it has no heritage trappings; instead, the look is cool, low-key, non-specifically modern. There’s a pretty rooftop pool (though too small to be of much use to anyone who actually wants to swim), and a much-lauded, world-class spa; book in for Bamford treatments and facials by natural skincare line Oskia.

Sleep
With their refined neutral palettes, subtle pops of colour and bathrooms awash with marble, rooms are stylish and classic. Pick of the bunch are the Andre Fu-designed suites; first, the Hong Kong-born architect designed the two-bedroom Opus Suite – supposedly the largest in the capital – before unveiling the Crescent Pavilion and Grand Pavilion Suites at the beginning of 2018. The first has wood-panelled detailing on the walls, tufted rugs and prints by American abstract painter Agnes Martin; the second is set within a three-sided glass pavilion, surrounded by a sweeping terrace overlooking Belgravia and has luxury touches such as bronze chandeliers, wool-covered chaise-longues and leather-accented sofas.

Eat
Marcus Wareing supplies Michelin-starred gravitas at modern British restaurant Marcus. There’s also the Collins Room, designed by Robert Angell and the setting for the hotel’s Prȇt-à-Portea, an afternoon tea that pays homage to the world of fashion with catwalk designs recreated as cakes and sweet treats served on bespoke Paul Smith china. Don’t miss the chic Blue Bar, with its range of more than 50 whiskies and colour-coded cocktails (red for rich and complex, blue for crisp, yellow for elegant and effervescent). The newest addition, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace, is hidden away at the back of the building with a tiny, secret heated terrace. Those in the know hole up in the coral and dusty pink snug (which can be booked for exclusive use), below New York-based artist TM Davy’s swirling mural of female faces painted across the curvy wall. Drinkers are left undisturbed – until they press the nifty call-for-service button.

Who stays here?
The afternoon tea attracts well-heeled ladies in twos, threes and 12s, as the room hums with the charming tinkle of conversation and soft music. In fact, pretty much everyone who comes here is well-heeled, and well-dressed; the hotel has many collaborations with top designers. And families are well looked after too, with sweet little touches such as personalised dressing gowns and teddy bears.

We like
When you want to play dress-up, you can delve into the Berkeley Fashion Trunk and borrow a vintage Dior necklace or Hermès handbag for the night – complimentary for guests booked into a Chelsea Suite or above. And the chauffeur service bookable by the hour (minimum two hours) for shopping and sightseeing.

Out and about
With two Royal Parks on the doorstep (Hyde Park and Green Park), there’s plenty of green space; the concierge desk has cleverly created its own running guides, with routes passing the Serpentine and Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Then there’s the shopping, with both Harrods and Harvey Nichols just minutes’ walk away, plus the upmarket boutiques of Sloane Street and Knightsbridge. And at the end of the road, there’s the former home of the Duke of Wellington, Apsley House, fondly known as ‘No 1 London’ – which gives an indication of just how centrally located you are.

Address: The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1 7RL
Telephone: +44 20 7235 6000
Website: the-berkeley.co.uk
Price: Doubles from £540