Top Tier

Offering a sumptuous slice of hotel heaven in the heart of London – the Biltmore Mayfair is a home-from-home oasis you won’t want to leave. Abode2 pays a visit

In the hoity toity square mile that’s already home to The Connaught, The Dorchester, and Claridge’s, The Biltmore Mayfair effortlessly holds its own with the established, haute-gamme sprinkling of places to stay in this niche neighbourhood. Parent company LXR Hotels & Resorts(Hilton’s top-tier brand), has chosen the perfect red brick block of Grosvenor Square, complete with soaring cream columns for their first London property. Formerly the Millennium Hotel, the £60 million makeover has the residence effortlessly vying with rival hotels in the vicinity.

As you’d expect from this prestigious address, the hotel attracts a well-heeled, globetrotting clientele – and the charm offensive begins immediately upon check-in. Everywhere you turn, hovering staff are on hand to assist with your every need, from luggage drop, top-line theatre tickets and hard-to-secure restaurant bookings to haute-couture shopping tips.

The striking lobby and entrance foyer pack a glamorous punch - art deco accents and a dramatic, icicle-like glass chandelier casting its light upon a heady scented floral arrangement. Head to Reception and the décor takes on a more oriental vibe – rich filigree gold and crimson red accessories offset by elegant mirrors and coordinating floaty, designer floral drapes.

If you’re not here to stay – you’ll still want to linger for a delicious afternoon tea served in the Tea Lounge, a bespoke Symphony of the Forest cocktail in the velvet-adorned Pines Bar or a mouth-watering lunch or dinner in the stunning Café Biltmore, which also boasts a verdant outdoor terrace –a discreet hideaway for balmy summer evening drinks. The Biltmore menu overseen by Executive Chef Luis Campos, focuses on modern-grill fine-dining with a mouth-watering array of dishes, heavy on wood-fired fish and meats; think freshly shucked Jersey oysters with Vietnamese dressing, citrus yellowfin tuna tartare with braised baby Pak Choi, washed down with a crisp glass of Paul Bara Grand Cru Brut Reserve or perhaps the Hereford dry-aged beef ribeye with Napa cabbage or slow roast miso Norfolk pork belly with drizzle jus. Desserts are equally devilish – lemon posset with rhubarb compote, mixed berries vacherin with yoghurt ice cream, not to mention the sublime platter of European cheese with quince and home-baked olive bread.

For those fortunate enough to be staying over – the impeccably dressed 307 rooms (of varying sizes), sport pretty mirrored panels, light-wood chevron floors, contemporary art and a calming colour palette - many with views overlooking leafy Grosvenor Square. Marble bathrooms are decked with Penhaligon’s goodies and have Japanese loos with heated seats. The lavishly appointed Signature Suites are the epitome of sophistication. Offering a choice of one or two bedrooms, a dining table, sit back and relax living area, plus a dedicated Butler service, some of the bigger suites also have cavernous freestanding baths – perfect for a candle-lit dip.

Complementing the lush décor, practical aspects haven’t been overlooked either, with Ruark sound systems, slinky flat-screen TVs, and oversized coffee-table books depicting London through the ages. The shopping hubs of Oxford Street, New Bond Street and Saville Row are all within pootling distance for racking up shopping bags, while a handful of the city’s top attractions– Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square included – are all close enough for a leisurely stroll, as is the bustling Strand and theatre district. While you can easily slip under the radar in many of London’s big-name hotels, The Biltmore manages to bridge the guest relations’ gap with considered touches, such as attentive staff who remember your favourite Whittard tisane, tailored private dining options and a warm, inviting front of house welcome. A gold-standard getaway.