Detailed Review
The Baglioni Hotel is a touch of Italian luxury style in London. Situated in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea, the Baglioni Hotel overlooks Kensington Gardens and enjoys wonderful views of Kensington Palace. A charming mix of light and space.
Elegance and atmospheric. An international luxury hotel where it is possible to enjoy the characteristic traits and charm of the Italian way of life.
Press Quotes
"The Baglioni may not be an ideal destination to get away from the excesses of city life. But, as a place to spend a decadent weekend, it's a whole lot of fun, especially in the evening when the theatrical decor really comes into its own." Independent 06
Independent Reviews
-
"Beautifully cut, the sleek crash pad is ideally located across from Hyde Park, although arguably more Milan than Jermyn Street."
TI's top choice for luxury: it's slightly OTT, with lots of Italianate flair; every floor gets a butler; there are Illy espresso machines in every room and a club in the basement.
Baglioni London
By Angela Moore
The first British venture for this Italian hotel group, the Baglioni certainly brings a slice of haute Milan to stuffy old Hyde Park. It’s housed in an attractive red-brick listed building opposite Kensington Gardens; so far, so traditional. Step inside, though, and we’re not in Kensington any more, Toto.
Two black Murano chandeliers provide moody lighting for a hallway of dark wooden floors leading to a burnished bronze reception desk, which is lit in turn by the brilliant smiles of the sharp-suited reception staff. Water trickles over a glass panel to your right, screening the hotel’s lounge-restaurant-bar. Here there are ten-foot beaten bronze urns; banquette seats in gold, copper and wine-red velvet; more black Venetian glass lighting; bare-faced plastered walls and swathes of dark leather and satin. This is where guests come for breakfast and for the devilishly black-hearted espresso, in place of Kensington’s usual genteel afternoon teas. There’s a restaurant, Brunello, which was named in Tatler’s ‘Best Newcomer’ list for 2005. There’s also a bar, and a downstairs cocktail bar and club where you can lounge lizard to your heart’s content.
The rooms
Sharp (if a bit showy) Italian styling upstairs, too. The Baglioni has 52 suites of varying sizes and just 16 rooms. The best rooms in the house are the first and second floor suites, which benefit from the high Victorian ceilings. The front-facing first-floor rooms have little terraces with a view over Hyde Park. All are spacious and beautifully equipped, down to the Illy espresso machines, should you feel the need for a midnight caffeine boost.
Walls are striped bronze and purple, or pale gold and chocolate, setting the colour tone for the rooms. There are opulent, baroque touches, like the contemporary arrangements of twiggy flowers in huge vases on either side of a bed and the beautiful dark wood wardrobes and desks. Fabrics are tactile and sensuous and the lighting is take-home good. Bathrooms are roomy, smart black marble.
There are nice touches: the use of natural light, the witty votive candles, the working fireplaces, the genuinely charming staff. All internet and TV access is free, which is an unusual courtesy. Best of all, each floor has a couple of personal butlers on 24-hour duty – just the thing when you can’t work out how to use your espresso machine.
© Travel Intelligence. All rights reserved
