Discover the spirit of
Whitehall Penthouse
Writer’s Penthouse
Discover the spirit of
IT’S ALL HISTORY
The Corinthia started life in 1885 when it was the prestigious Metropole Hotel. It was taken over by the government in the mid 1930s and used as Ministry of Defence offices, but in 2008 the building underwent an
72
HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
incredible restoration to return it to its original function and former glory – many of the original features have been preserved so staying here really does give that full and proper London feeling. Now as the Corinthia, this Victorian building has 294 guest rooms, including 36 suites and seven penthouses - which are all two storey and offer the ultimate in luxury accommodation as well as the most glorious, sweeping views across London’s most popular landmarks.
SLEEP hello!
checked into a Junior suite and not only was it the biggest we have ever had the pleasure of staying in while on a city break, it was also simply stunning and so tranquil. Beautiful décor, meticulous attention to detail, a glorious bathroom and two balcony doors which overlooked The Courtyard. We happily flung open the doors as soon as we woke each morning to let the fresh air and sound of Big Ben chiming pour into the room, as we snuggled into the divine bed… And thought about how much we would love to have the suite’s jaw-droppingly fantastic walk-in wardrobe in our own apartment!
EAT
The hotel features two world-class restaurants and a bar. The Northall (which has Michelin star winning chef Garry Hollihead at its helm) celebrates the best of British cuisine– so you can expect to find the likes of roast Cumbrian Duck, rump of Herdwick lamb and Angus steak on the menu, along with many fresh fish and salad options. It also serves a fantastic breakfast and hello! assumes we’re not alone when we say that sometimes there really is nothing better
WORDS: SONJA STEPHEN
N
ow summer is officially here, there’s no better way to escape the stifling heat than with a trip to London. But before you jump on a plane and head over to the exciting English capital, make sure you’ve booked your stay at The Corinthia Hotel. Although a word of warning – and this comes from hello’s experience – once you check in, there’s a chance you might fall so in love with this luxurious and decadent hotel, venturing out to take in all of the wonderful London sights (which are literally right on your doorstep – it’s a two-minute walk from The Thames, five-minute walk from The Strand and a 10-minute walk from Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, The London Eye, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey…) might be a bit of a struggle. The Corinthia is one of those hotels that you will just adore. From the rooms, restaurants, afternoon tea and spa, it’s pretty special. It’s rated amongst London’s finest 5-star luxury hotels and as soon as you walk up the grand stairs to the even more grand entrance and into the breathtakingly beautiful lobby area you will know why. It’s traditionally grandeur but it also has a wonderful modern freshness. Although you will only realise that when you manage to drag your eyes away from the magnificent soaring dome in the center of the lobby lounge. It’s adorned by a full moon chandelier made from over 1000 crystal baubles, so it goes without saying that it really is something to behold.
Bassoon Bar
Royal Penthouse Lounge
than a decent hotel breakfast. There is also modern Italian dining courtesy of Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar. It was here hello ! chose to dine on a Friday night and it wasn’t just our taste buds that were buzzing. Massimo attracts quite a crowd of discerning guests all after a burst of fresh Italian flavours. The food and service are faultless, but just being in such opulent surroundings is a treat. The restaurant is all glistening gold and marble, mixed with glossy browns and beiges and the lighting is beautiful – baubles which give out just enough light to create that perfect relaxing and slightly intimate atmosphere. When in London afternoon tea is, of course, an absolute must, and the Lobby Lounge is the perfect setting to enjoy the British tradition. It’s a real sanctuary away from the bustle of the city, providing a tranquil and graceful ambiance for guests to enjoy the delicious sandwiches, cakes, pastries and teas. Light dining is also available here as is a wonderful glass of bubbles. hello! has to admit, we did lose a whole afternoon sitting in one of the divine armchairs as we caught up with a good friend… Before moving outside into the elegant Courtyard (perfect for enjoying summer days and evenings)… and then enjoying drinks in the hotel’s chic bar, Basson.
Massimo Restaurant and Oyster Bar
SPA
ESPA Life at Corinthia is heaven sent. Spread over four floors, it’s a magical haven dedicated to relaxation, health and fitness. hello ! forgot our worries as we relaxed on the extensive thermal floor – shuffling between the sauna, steam room, heated marble loungers and vitality pool in a little bliss bubble before losing ourselves completely with the most wonderful of treatments. We went for the Signature Massage and would do so again in a heartbeat. There’s no two ways about it, this is one special and mightily luxurious spa. And to make it even better, you don’t even have to worry about having ‘spa hair’ as there’s a Daniel Galvin salon situated just outside the spa entrance – female readers will appreciate the brilliance of this. The Corinthia Hotel London offers world-class luxury with the added bonus of being in a fantastic central location. For the ultimate London experience, make this your bolthole. www.corinthia.com/london HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
WORDS: SONJA STEPHEN
LONDON
For the ultimate hotel experience, hello! checks into the Corinthia Hotel…
73
Writer’s Penthouse
Discover the spirit of
IT’S ALL HISTORY
The Corinthia started life in 1885 when it was the prestigious Metropole Hotel. It was taken over by the government in the mid 1930s and used as Ministry of Defence offices, but in 2008 the building underwent an
72
HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
incredible restoration to return it to its original function and former glory – many of the original features have been preserved so staying here really does give that full and proper London feeling. Now as the Corinthia, this Victorian building has 294 guest rooms, including 36 suites and seven penthouses - which are all two storey and offer the ultimate in luxury accommodation as well as the most glorious, sweeping views across London’s most popular landmarks.
SLEEP hello!
checked into a Junior suite and not only was it the biggest we have ever had the pleasure of staying in while on a city break, it was also simply stunning and so tranquil. Beautiful décor, meticulous attention to detail, a glorious bathroom and two balcony doors which overlooked The Courtyard. We happily flung open the doors as soon as we woke each morning to let the fresh air and sound of Big Ben chiming pour into the room, as we snuggled into the divine bed… And thought about how much we would love to have the suite’s jaw-droppingly fantastic walk-in wardrobe in our own apartment!
EAT
The hotel features two world-class restaurants and a bar. The Northall (which has Michelin star winning chef Garry Hollihead at its helm) celebrates the best of British cuisine– so you can expect to find the likes of roast Cumbrian Duck, rump of Herdwick lamb and Angus steak on the menu, along with many fresh fish and salad options. It also serves a fantastic breakfast and hello! assumes we’re not alone when we say that sometimes there really is nothing better
WORDS: SONJA STEPHEN
N
ow summer is officially here, there’s no better way to escape the stifling heat than with a trip to London. But before you jump on a plane and head over to the exciting English capital, make sure you’ve booked your stay at The Corinthia Hotel. Although a word of warning – and this comes from hello’s experience – once you check in, there’s a chance you might fall so in love with this luxurious and decadent hotel, venturing out to take in all of the wonderful London sights (which are literally right on your doorstep – it’s a two-minute walk from The Thames, five-minute walk from The Strand and a 10-minute walk from Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, The London Eye, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey…) might be a bit of a struggle. The Corinthia is one of those hotels that you will just adore. From the rooms, restaurants, afternoon tea and spa, it’s pretty special. It’s rated amongst London’s finest 5-star luxury hotels and as soon as you walk up the grand stairs to the even more grand entrance and into the breathtakingly beautiful lobby area you will know why. It’s traditionally grandeur but it also has a wonderful modern freshness. Although you will only realise that when you manage to drag your eyes away from the magnificent soaring dome in the center of the lobby lounge. It’s adorned by a full moon chandelier made from over 1000 crystal baubles, so it goes without saying that it really is something to behold.
Bassoon Bar
Royal Penthouse Lounge
than a decent hotel breakfast. There is also modern Italian dining courtesy of Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar. It was here hello ! chose to dine on a Friday night and it wasn’t just our taste buds that were buzzing. Massimo attracts quite a crowd of discerning guests all after a burst of fresh Italian flavours. The food and service are faultless, but just being in such opulent surroundings is a treat. The restaurant is all glistening gold and marble, mixed with glossy browns and beiges and the lighting is beautiful – baubles which give out just enough light to create that perfect relaxing and slightly intimate atmosphere. When in London afternoon tea is, of course, an absolute must, and the Lobby Lounge is the perfect setting to enjoy the British tradition. It’s a real sanctuary away from the bustle of the city, providing a tranquil and graceful ambiance for guests to enjoy the delicious sandwiches, cakes, pastries and teas. Light dining is also available here as is a wonderful glass of bubbles. hello! has to admit, we did lose a whole afternoon sitting in one of the divine armchairs as we caught up with a good friend… Before moving outside into the elegant Courtyard (perfect for enjoying summer days and evenings)… and then enjoying drinks in the hotel’s chic bar, Basson.
Massimo Restaurant and Oyster Bar
SPA
ESPA Life at Corinthia is heaven sent. Spread over four floors, it’s a magical haven dedicated to relaxation, health and fitness. hello ! forgot our worries as we relaxed on the extensive thermal floor – shuffling between the sauna, steam room, heated marble loungers and vitality pool in a little bliss bubble before losing ourselves completely with the most wonderful of treatments. We went for the Signature Massage and would do so again in a heartbeat. There’s no two ways about it, this is one special and mightily luxurious spa. And to make it even better, you don’t even have to worry about having ‘spa hair’ as there’s a Daniel Galvin salon situated just outside the spa entrance – female readers will appreciate the brilliance of this. The Corinthia Hotel London offers world-class luxury with the added bonus of being in a fantastic central location. For the ultimate London experience, make this your bolthole. www.corinthia.com/london HELLO! MIDDLE EAST
WORDS: SONJA STEPHEN
LONDON
For the ultimate hotel experience, hello! checks into the Corinthia Hotel…
73
