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by Manos Angelakis
The Berkeley
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge,
London SWIX 7RL
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7235 6000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7235 4330
www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Located within walking distance of Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and approximately 45 minutes from Heathrow Airport (depending on the traffic) in the heart of Knightsbridge, The Berkeley is a five-star luxury hotel with a great past and an even more exciting future.
At the turn of the 19th century, The Berkeley stood at the corner of Piccadilly and Berkeley Street on the edge of Mayfair. It was purchased by Richard D’Oyly Carte, and became part of the Savoy Group, in 1901. It, like its sister hotels at the Savoy Group, was as luxurious and up-to-the-minute as it was possible at the time. But, it was difficult to improve facilities because it had not been purpose-built as a hotel and the building was quite old. Therefore, properties were bought near Hyde Park Corner in Knightsbridge and a new Berkeley hotel was build and completed in 1972. A permanent memento of the old Berkeley remains, as some of the wood paneling and decorative carvings from the original hotel were installed in the Lutyens sitting room that eventually became the Blue Bar in 1999. The Berkeley has retained its elegance, charm, and popularity and is now considered one of the best addresses in London.
The hotel offers a superior meet-and-greet service that cuts down waiting time at the airport and ensures a seamless arrival. All guests taking the hotel’s chauffeur driven cars from London Heathrow Airport, are personally welcomed in the arrivals hall, assisted with their luggage and escorted to the car which awaits them, ready to whisk them to the hotel. This service is also available for departures from Heathrow upon special request.
There are 214 bedrooms, including 65 suites individually decorated by some of the world’s foremost interior designers. Amongst them are three signature conservatory suites with large roof terraces and en-suite saunas. All guests can now connect to the virtual world with Quadriga Genesis, introduced to all rooms and suites. These are TV screens that offer 24-hour broadband internet access - via your laptop or the TV, a choice of international TV channels, video-on-demand, music-on-demand, and radio.
 The Wellington suite is a one-bedroom masterpiece. The bedroom is large enough to include a coffee table and two comfortable chairs and the wardrobe space would please the most ardent shopper. The marble en suite bathroom is pure luxury with a personal fitted sauna. Dine under the stars or enjoy fine weather from the stunning conservatory, which features an impressive dining table. The 540 square feet of private roof terrace overlooks both Wilton Place and Hyde Park.
 The Pavilion is a one-bedroom suite with a king-sized bed. The bedroom is spacious with ample wardrobe space and elegant en suite marble bathroom. The sitting room is large and well appointed. The conservatory, with its dining table and private terrace area, is perfect for entertaining or for al fresco dinning. The terrace can be accessed from either the conservatory or the master bedroom.
The Four Poster suite features a king sized four-poster bed. It is a large corner suite with an elegant entrance hall and separate cloakroom. The traditionally designed sitting room has a fireplace and full-length windows that open out onto Wilton Place. The bedroom has the four-poster bed with heavily swaged curtains leading into a large marble bathroom with separate bath and shower unit.
On arrival, the Berkeley offers luggage unpacking and pressing service, if needed, and complimentary shoeshine service. Twice daily maid service is standard. A 24-hour concierge is on duty, and the staff is multilingual.
When it comes to dining, there are many exceptional options.
The Caramel Room is available throughout the day for light meals or drinks. The  name reflects the design by New York designer Alexandra Champalimaud who matches subtle low-lighting with chocolate colored wall coverings and snappy faux-crocodile fabrics, creating a sexy, discreet ambience in which to pass the day. Afternoon tea at the Caramel Room is a modern, stylish affair. From the design of the room to the unusual, striking design of the cakes and pastries this is an afternoon tea experience for those who like to mix tradition with innovation. Prêt-à-Portea, the fashionista’s afternoon tea, consists of a choice selection of loose leaf teas and herbal infusions together with a delectable selection of cakes,  pastries and sandwiches. The Berkeley has added its own creative twists to the ritual, bringing the centuries old afternoon tea institution into the 21st century by producing cakes and pastries inspired by each fashion season’s catwalk designs.
To also match the color palate of the room, a new morning menu incorporates a whole range of coffees created with Illy Gourmet Coffee. All coffees come with a variety of toppings from marshmallow to chocolate chips. To accompany these specialty coffees The Caramel Room provides a special Doughnut Menu. The Doughnut Menu offers a selection of home made miniature doughnuts with a wide range of fillings from red fruit to Valrhona chocolate, from bitter orange to mango and traditional crème patissiere. The doughnuts can be dusted in original sugar or cinnamon.
Gordon Ramsey’s Boxwood Café combines the best traditions of service with a relaxed atmosphere. The decor is inspired by a classical English garden and the seasonal menu reflects ingredients that could be found at a traditional British market. Stuart Gillies, the chef-de-cuisine, has developed the kitchen to the highest standards. Previously at Daniel's in New York and Le Caprice, he presents a very different menu in stylish surroundings. Leaf green, bittersweet brown, and silver tea paper, are the hallmark colors of the space which reflects the Boxwood greenery, a classic icon of an English garden.
Marcus Wareing opened Pétrus at its new location within The Berkeley in the autumn of 2003. One of London's most acclaimed restaurants, Pétrus was formerly located at 33 St James's Street. Pétrus has won many accolades including two Michelin stars. The name of the restaurant comes from the famous Château in the Bordeaux wine region, which is renowned for producing some of the world's finest and most expensive wines.
The restaurant's setting provides the perfect stage for Marcus' theatrical cuisine. Rich with vivid colors, the interior is the work of designer David Collins who takes full advantage of the claret textures associated with Pétrus. Stunning French blinds have a bold circle motif that is echoed as a detail throughout the restaurant . Two large abacuses replete with blown-glass beads provide an unusually comforting feature in this oasis of opulence.
A Chefs Table, available for lunch and dinner and accommodating up to 8 guests is situated in the heart of the Kitchen at Pétrus. This thrilling interactive experience is a must for the culinary connoisseur to witness firsthand the artistry, professionalism and sheer hard work behind one of the world's great kitchens; guests are able to talk through the menu with the chef.
All restaurants are nonsmoking.
Designer David Collins created The Blue Bar in his inimitable style. Its most outstanding feature is the striking color of the room, which he has termed  “Lutyens Blue” from the name of the original sitting room the bar replaced. The white onyx bar and a black crocodile print leather floor add to the sumptuous feel. A guest can choose from over fifty different whiskies, a wide range of champagnes, original and classic cocktails and a selected range of wine by the glass. A specially created Grape and Smoke menu is designed to pair cigars with carefully chosen wines to enhance the aficionado's enjoyment. The Blue Bar is open throughout the evening and guests can order savory tapas-style dishes.
The Berkeley Health Club and Spa has a spectacular rooftop  swimming-pool with panoramic views over Knightsbridge and Hyde Park. A specially designed roof slides open to reveal the sky in good weather. Access to the Health Club and Spa is free to hotel guests. The club's high-tech gymnasium has excellent facilities, including the latest electronic cardiovascular equipment from TechnoGym, free weights and variable resistance machines, personal TV or hi-fi monitors with headphones, complimentary mineral water and fresh fruit juice are provided. The changing rooms have showers, lockers, bathrooms, steam-rooms and saunas.
© November 2007 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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