Check into the iconic Claridge’s in Mayfair, London, the abode of many a king and queen, for a taste of true luxury

It’s not often that you fly halfway across the world on a holiday and spend most of it cooped up in a hotel, thinking up excuses to not step out of your suite. But when the posh Claridge’s 
at London is the hotel in 
question, then it begins to add up. From the moment you step in through the unassuming revolving door, it is as if you have taken a step back 
in history.

Black and white photos of visiting royalty and Hollywood celebrities stare back at you from the walls while the heavily polished black-and-white tiled floor reflects the gleaming chandeliers (the Dale Chihely sculpture made of 300 hand-blown glass pieces in The Foyer is reminiscent of the gigantic one in the Atlantis lobby in Dubai) and artfully arranged floral bouquets welcome you into the foyer.

And to add to the atmosphere is the ride up the quaint little elevator with its old-fashioned grille and comfy sofa (where you can park your weary self after a quick jaunt to neighbouring Oxford street). But once you enter the lair (in our case the quintessentially British Linley suite), you are caught up in a warm cocoon of luxury from which you don’t ever want to escape.

Whether it is the ultra comfy high deck mattress from where you don’t want to surface or the subtly lit wardrobe with a drawer for possibly every knick-knack you could be carrying, the room is a beautiful blend of luxury and functionality. The Linley suite features original deco objects as restored silver fireplaces, lamp shades and elegant deco dressing tables which blend in with the aesthetics of the room so well that you are never for a moment made conscious 
of the fact that you could 
well be in a museum.

Check into history

While most hotels worldwide market themselves as the glitziest, the sleekest and the most opulent one in town, it takes guts to stick to your inherent style. That is exactly what Claridge’s has done. Referred to as the “Art Deco jewel of Mayfair”, it has retained its eclectic blend of modernist design with timeless glamour and sleek functionality that has been its calling card for ages. “It’s a kind of tradition among our long-term clients, “ explains Paula Fitzherbert, Group Director of Public Relations of the Maybourne Group of Hotels. “Grandmothers bring their grandchildren here for the time-honoured indulgence of the afternoon tea.”                                                                                                                               

Every Saturday, the hotel hosts an Art Deco tour where guests are taken on a journey back to the heady days of the Roaring Twenties, with anecdotes and little-known tales from the Deco decades thrown in for good measure. From its colour trends to the patterns inspired by the Cubist movement to artifacts that are a faithful interpretation of Parisian designs, Claridge’s unique architectural quirks have become a must-visit destination for art lovers.

Claridge’s has also been able to comfortably straddle the classic with the modern. So while the glass lamps and restored silver fireplace in the Linley suites hark back to the days of old grandeur, the heated bathroom floor and the television screen reflected in a seeming mirror show that true luxury is when style meets functionality. Claridge’s has both in ample measure.

ambica@khaleejtimes.com

(The Linley Suite is available from £1305 per night  — Dhs7432 — including a traditional English breakfast.

www.claridges.co.uk) 

Royal chambers

When the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William stepped into the Claridge’s recently for a black-tie event, they were merely following the tradition of many a royal visitor to the iconic hotel. Famously referred to as “an annex to Buckingham Palace” one of Claridge’s early royal visitors was Queen Victoria who stepped in to the hotel in 1883 to pay a visit to her friend Empress Eugenie of France. Ever since it has been a hotbed of royalty with many visiting dignitaries preferring to stay put here, rather than in their own residences. During World War II, the hotel was the preferred state-of-residence for many an exiled royal figure — from the kings of Greece, Norway and Yugoslavia — to the Presidents of Poland and Czechoslovakia. Queen Elizabeth was recently a guest of honour at a Moroccan feast hosted by King Hassan at the hotel.

High tea

‘There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” — Henry James, <The Portrait Of A Lady>.

And while we are the first to admit, downing copious amount of tea-infused hot water is not exactly our idea of an afternoon well spent, the Pret-A-Portea offered at The Berkley has us singing a different tune.

Not so much for the tea as for the accompaniments on the tea stand. Exquisitely shaped iced biscuits vied for space (and our attention) with miniature handbag cakes and an array of couture-inspired desserts. To offset the sweetness of the desserts came a selection of finger sandwiches and elegant canapés and taster spoons that had us ruing our early lunch. Served on exquisite striped Paul Smith china, the designer afternoon tea is the stuff of any fashionista’s, well, let’s just say ‘dream binge’.

A selection of the finest tea that would have appealed to the most fastidious tea-drinker — from the refined Earl Grey and Assam tea to fruit and herbal infusions for the more adventurous tea drinkers — completed the experience. 

Food for thought 

Time magazine placed him in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world this year. A quick glance at Rene Redzepi’s (pic, left) resume leaves one in no doubt about his gastronomic skills. The fact that the man credited with placing Copenhagen on the culinary map, courtesy his “new Nordic cuisine”, has deemed to set shop in Claridge’s kitchen during the ongoing Olympics speaks a lot about the hotel’s passion for serving up the best.

Redzepi is currently in residence at the Claridge’s till August 6. The man who famously “foraged for ants” at the hotel’s terrace during a recent photo shoot will serve up his signature flavours using seasonal British ingredients in a five-course meal.

‘A Taste of Noma at Claridge’s’ will be available for both lunch and dinner in Claridge’s Ballroom. The five-course menu is priced at £195 (Dhs1110) per person.