Hotel Review: There are always plenty of wonderful hotels throughout a thriving city like London. Luxury chain hotels attract visitors through familiarity, others have ridden on the wave of fame that notable guests have left in their wake. Then there are those who have made a name for themselves by offering something unique: a prime location, a notable spa, restaurant or service. The Athenaeum Hotel boasts several reasons to call it home during your stay in this exceptional city.
One of the neatest things about the Athenaeum is the Whisky Bar. Featuring 270 whiskies, the Athenaeum boasts the largest collection outside of Scotland, including expressions you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere outside of a private collection. Some whiskies of the highest interest to connoisseurs include the Mortlach 50 Year, Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V and the Glenlivet 1948, all lovingly chosen by the hotel’s passionate whisky sommelier, Angelo Gobbi. Whether you are an advanced whisky drinker or a beginner, Angelo’s here to help. You can arrange a whisky tasting down at the bar or in the privacy of your room. Simply stopping by? If you need help navigating the extensive menu, Angelo is on hand to recommend expressions based on your personal taste or meal.
Rooms at The Athenaeum are modern; mine had a splash of burnt orange throughout, with a sitting area next to tall windows looking out onto Piccadilly and Green Park. A high-end espresso machine with an array of flavor pods was a perk you usual find in larger rooms… a nice touch. I was delighted to find that the marble bathroom featured REN products: one of my personally favorite brands. The Athenaeum’s new spa also features REN as well.
I really must say that I did feel at home here during my three-night stay. It has the feel of a boutique hotel, with full-size amenities; in fact the property is quite large, when you include all of the apartments tucked away behind the façade. Between the lovely restaurant, an award-winning Afternoon Tea and one of the largest collections of whisky in the world, the Athenaeum is not only a place to call home during a stay in London, but a destination for locals as well.
Should you be in need of more space than a standard room, the Athenaeum offers multi-bedroom suites with views like you see below, as well as walk-up apartments complete with full-size kitchens. The apartments are ideal for large families, any sort of business traveler or even individuals relocating: the hotel does not put a limit on length of stay. Plus, you really can’t beat the location if you want to stay in the heart of London. Located right on Piccadilly, the Underground is just a couple of blocks away, if you read Visiting London for the Un-tourist here on JustLuxe, you would know my first morning in London, while staying at the Athenaeum, I managed to visit a handful of major tourist attractions on foot in just about two hours.
Dinner at the Athenaeum was one of the best meals I had during my trip. The hotel’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu. During my stay the fall menu was featured, I ordered the Slow Cooked Veal with Pan Fried Sweetbreads, Shin, Sweet Corn, Girolles and Rosemary Jus. Delicious. Our table shared a spread of desert items as well, and despite the fact that I do not personally have a sweet tooth the small bites I sampled were wonderful; the rest of our group gushed over everything offered. I also had breakfast in the restaurant more than once. Classic British dishes are on the menu along with a fresh breakfst bar, so you can eat well and run... making the most of each morning.
And that is the point, isn’t it? Making the most of your time, staying in a prime location with great amenities? Well, it is in my book.
This stay was sponsored by the Athenæum Hotel. All views and opinions expressed are entirely those of Courtney Driver.
