Campbell K.
Yelp
Arriving in London a few days ago, I was already excited for a number of things the dreary city has to offer: (lots of) lager, beer-battered goodness all around, front row seats to an Arsenal match, meeting the editor of Tech Crunch Europe, and the brand spanking new renovations that had been completed on my perennial hotel of choice, the Four Seasons Park Lane.
This has always been where I stay when in the Mayfair/Kensington area, so when it shut down (for TWO WHOLE YEARS) to undergo a serious facelift, I was rather dismayed. They claimed it was so they could add a spa, but in my opinion, if you go to London to patronize a spa, you've got your cities confused. Regardless, for the intervening period I have been forced to stay at another establishment down the road, The Connaught, which was also lovely, charming, and personal butler-inclusive (so no real complaints there). But, as of a few months ago, the Four Seasons has reopened its doors, and I cannot say it has disappointed.
The first major difference one notices upon entering the lobby is the somewhat oriental-chic decor theme that has replaced the stuffy, classic British tones that used to define the space. Ornate black and gold vases accent some startlingly red panelling and leatherwork splashed on the walls, and the grand staircase is redone in a similar fashion. When I say red, I mean RED (think the color of the stars on this review). While I do admittedly miss the traditional/stuffy nature of the previous incarnation, I can certainly appreciate a new twist, and the decorators have clearly made a solid effort to keep vestiges of the original spirit mixed in with the chic, new surroundings (see: oil paintings of horses everywhere).
The hallways and rooms are redecorated in a similar fashion, and the patio outside of my room overlooks a posh social club across the street where I can see old men in their tuxedos and women in their mink stoles enter and emerge from their chauffeured Rolls Royces (whatever you may think of this, it inarguably emphasizes the setting as well as one could hope).
The truly new aspect, as mentioned earlier, is the penthouse spa, which exceeded all of my wildest expectations. Beautiful robes with silk trim, wrap-around windows and relaxing bars, this is all I could hope for after a workout (I still believe I am too young a man to receive massages from someone with whom I am not copulating). Suffice to say, the temporary shutdown certainly allowed the designers to reach their aesthetic goal with this space, and this is no more apparent than with the spa's rooftop balcony, which boasts the most incredible view of Hyde Park and the Marble Arch to which I have ever been witness.
Obviously the area, food, and drink are spectacular, and probably don't require further elaboration (except to mention that the food is a sharp divergence from what one typically imagines "British fare" to be). Let's just say, if you're ever in London, this is the place to call your temporary abode.