The Jist
It took months of research and visits in London to find the perfect hotel for our micro-wedding this Spring. London is in no shortage of luxury hotels, but finding the right one that fit my now-husbands and my style was a venture. The second we stepped into the lobby of the Berkeley Hotel for our first site visit, we knew. This was the one. We chose Marcus Wareing’s eponymous restaurant for our wedding lunch to follow our ceremony at the Old Marylebone Town Hall, so it did make sense to stay on site. But the Berkeley sold us on so much more before we even checked in. And the subtle luxuries that followed were so memorable and will be an experience will share on and on and this will most likely be our go-to staycation / anniversary celebration hotel.
There’s a wealth of amenities and facilities on site and we tried to tackle them all in the few days we were in residency. The rooftop pool is serene with sweeping views over Hyde Park that no other pool in London can boast. The gym was quiet and tucked away. The spa? Spacious. Pastry wunderkind Cedric Grolet had recently moved into his patisserie on the lobby level so we enjoyed the pricey yet impressive croissants.
But what is going to keep me coming back over and over again is not the facilities, its the service. Pre-check in, I had regular email correspondence with their front desk team regarding any needs I had for my stay, reservations, taxis, deliveries incoming for our wedding, etc. They handled everything with professionalism and grace, and couldn’t be more welcoming from front to back.
You can read more about our lunch at Marcus here or find out about their incredible bars here. I truly could go on and on about the Berkeley Hotel but I will let the photo gallery and our round up below speak for themselves.
The Room
We were booked into a deluxe junior suite, which was wildly spacious and grand while still feeling intimate. Fresh flowers, pastries and a bounty of amenities greeted us upon arrival. These suites are filled with Dyson Airwraps, multiple charging banks, shoe shine kits, espresso bars and some of the best toiletries I’ve found since the Carlyle in New York.
The bathroom was larger than those you’ll find on the strip in Las Vegas, lined completely with Carrera marble and the best lighting I’ve ever found. The shower water pressure? You guessed it, strong. The tub? Sunken. The floors? Heated. What more could a girl ask for?
During our stay at the Berkeley Hotel, we most certainly made a mess of our room pre-wedding which was embarrassing to where all I wanted to do was go up and clean the joint before they came through. When we came back after our ceremony before lunch, it was sparkling, with new fresh flowers on our coffee table and more treats to celebrate us. They have leather clips to tie your chords together, refreshed our memory foam slippers. Little touches like these that just make you feel so at home.
HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS
OUR KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE BERKELEY HOTEL
- WE LOVE – Luxury: It’s not over the top and gilded but its understated while making sure every single one of your needs is met.
- WE LOVE – Details: The team noted all of our requests and prepared the perfect experience for us. Housekeeping completely took care of us during our stay in ways I’ve never experienced before. It was perfection.
- WE LOVE – THE FOOD: Okay this one needed all caps. Obviously our wedding lunch at Marcus was the ultimate, but we loved loved loved the breakfast options (which are everything and anything you want!) at the Collins Room.
- WE LOVE – The drinks: They’ve got two bars of the highest caliber, one which has graced many World’s Best lists. Beautiful boltholes all over this gorgeous property.
- WE LOVE – The Roof: Insane views of Hyde Park and Knightsbridge from the serene pool and rooftop.
- NEEDS WORK: Price – Not value, price. It’s just… a lot. So it’s more likely I’ll spend my time here in the F&B offerings than long stays but it will always be my go-to for big celebrations.
- NEEDS WORK: The Roof – while we loved the temporary digs they had set up during construction, we miss the cabanas of the old rooftop and cannot wait to visit again once the new rooftop deck is revealed!
THE BERKELEY HOTEL PAIRS WELL WITH…
Staying in Belgravia? Visit some of our other London Picks:
