Travelling is back! But we haven’t ventured abroad yet … not yet. We have enjoyed discovering our own city that we have delayed going back to our old ways of travelling.
For one last staycation, we left the best for the last. Claridge’s is one of our favourite London hotels. We like it so much, we stayed twice. The first time during the depths of lockdown … when there was almost no one around.
The famous checker-board lobby is usually full of activity but we had the whole place to ourselves – to appreciate it!
And we loved it! Wheee!!!
As the hotel was pretty much empty during the lockdown months, we were treated to a suite. It was so grand! We enjoyed every minute of it.
And a note from the Claridge’s Team
Oh, there’s a whole separate living room as well.
And the door bell rang! Well, who do you think was at the door? Our afternoon tea being delivered – of course!
Anything for me?
I had to pose with all those sandwiches but I wasn’t allowed any of them!
We’re not allowed in the The Foyer & Reading Room anyway, but during lockdown, all meals were serve in-room, so this worked out well.
One of the things when we do dog staycations there’s always the walkies involved. Thankfully there’s Grosvenor Square nearby …
Or to Berkeley Square for that matter.
And really if we wanted a good run, we could walk to Green Park. As you know Mum, she rewards herself with a treat every time we go out for walkies – LOL! So the nearby Connaught Patisserie was a destination in our walkies!
When we returned to the hotel, Mum always lets me off the leash when we arrive on the floor. She is always impressed at how I seem to always know which is our room – no matter how long the corridor. She wondered if it is because I could smell the food in the room. Maybe it is simply because I have a good memory? Maybe I can read numbers? Just maybe.
I am sure you’re wondering where’s George. Well, they had a one dog policy then.
But after Mum brought George and I to stay at their sister hotels, The Connaught and Berkeley – they must have reported back that we were really well behaved pooches. 🙂 Because when we returned for our stay at Claridge’s last week, we were both welcomed!
This time around, the hotel was fully booked. No upgrade but the Mayfair King Room was equally beautiful.
And we loved the balcony …
And see what we had in the bathroom! Mum’s dream!
These days whenever someone knocks on the door, we can only expect good things to come …
Anything for us?
What? Just bottled water?
We went for walkies at Berkeley Square and saw the decoration at Annabel’s …
And this art installation …
Of course, we had to visit the Connaught Patisserie and to Marchesi 1824.
There are lots of places in neighbourhood where we could have dined, but we chose to have dinner at The Terrace and a last walkie that night before retiring to our room. As we looked out at the night skyline from our balcony – it looks quiet but many of the lights were on. London is back.
And that’s us looking at Mum as she soaked in the bathtub!
Staycations may not be the trend any more but I think this could be one of our escapes any time we feel we needed a little getting away without leaving London.
May’s comment: Set in the heart of Mayfair, Claridge’s Hotel is an art deco icon and a byword for understated elegance. Since the 1850s, Claridge’s has excelled at the finer things in life: glamorous design, inspiring dining, impeccable service. There are many 5-star hotels in London but nowhere quite like Claridge’s.
We had two staycations there – the first time was in the depths of Lockdown. We had nowhere to go and after months of staying in our flat, we escaped for a staycation in April. As it was very, very quiet, they upgraded us to a beautiful suite, which is not something we would normally do – so it was a treat for us.
When we returned to Claridge’s last week, this time the scene was very different. There was a buzz in the hotel and they were fully booked – which was a sign that things are returning back to pre-Covid days.
Our Mayfair King Room draws on the design and motifs from the hotel’s traditional and art deco style. The former feature period details such as gilded cornices, while the latter are inspired by the fashions and patterns of the 1930s.
Guests with dogs are allowed to dine only in their Terrace Restaurant,
but there are lots of places in the neighbourhood where we could dine inside or al fresco. Here are some …
C London, 25 Davies Street. We have sat inside the rich, wood-toned dining room and mirrored bar serving Italian fare.
Isabel, 26 Albemarle Street. We have dined inside this upmarket restaurant serving local & global fare, plus weekend brunch and an extensive wine list.
Le Comptoir Robuchon, 6 Clarges Street. We loved dining at this Art deco dining room for French haute cuisine sharing dishes from the famed late chef Joel Robuchon.
Sketch – The Parlour, 9 Conduit Street (only between the hours of 07:00 – 16:00). Quirky, 18th-century townhouse tea room that transforms into a cocktail lounge every evening.
Scott’s Terrace, 20 Mount Street, (Terrace is generally walk in only). Huge selection of market-fresh fish, seafood and caviar plus an elegant oyster and champagne bar.
LPM, 53-54 Brook’s Mews. (Terrace is generally walk in only). Chef Raphael Duntoye serves upscale French Mediterranean food to chic crowd in smart dining room.
Not to mention the nearby dog-friendly Connaught Patisserie. Marchesi 1824 and the Hideaway Cafe at 100 Mount Street.
