The welcome
I arrive at Hyde Park Corner Underground station, which is in the middle of a busy traffic interchange. I dodge cars crossing the main road to get to the hotel (there are underpasses, but it’s confusing to a visitor). The 10-storey, purpose-built block, owned by the Singaporean property tycoons Ong Beng Seng and Christina Ong, overlooks Hyde Park and is nicely set back from the main road, so it’s untroubled by noise. At the time I visit, the sleek, minimalist lobby is being renovated, so it’s temporarily a slightly makeshift operation, with a difficult-to-spot side entrance. I’m checked in by a French receptionist who’s friendly, welcoming and helpful.
The neighbourhood
The hotel is on Old Park Lane, surrounded by luxury hotels, including the Four Seasons, London Hilton on Park Lane, InterContinental and Dorchester. It’s a couple of minutes’ walk to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, and about five minutes’ walk to Shepherd Market, a historic, mostly pedestrianised “village” of small shops and restaurants. The area is very popular with Middle Eastern visitors, and wherever you go, especially in summer, you will see Gulf families and hear Arabic spoken. There are a number of Arabic restaurants and shisha cafes nearby.
The room
My fifth-floor room is one of 144 and overlooks Hyde Park. It’s large, with a great, long window with a long window seat, complemented by a sleek, long desk and easy-to-use electric blinds and curtains. Double glazing keeps things blissfully quiet, but you can open the window for fresh air. Air conditioning is very effective, and the bed and bedding are luxuriously comfortable. The whole hotel has just undergone a full refurbishment.
The scene
Guests are mostly British, American and Middle Eastern – couples, families and singles. The ground-floor Met Bar is slick and open until 2am on weekends. The main restaurant, Nobu, is busy, with its own separate entrance. The hotel itself has an unusually calming atmosphere, making it a brilliant change from other hotels.
The service
The mostly European staff are nicely discreet and unshowy. There are some Arabic-speaking staff on the door.
The food
Breakfast is à la carte, and it’s an attractive menu, with continental, English and healthy combos, or you can order items individually. My large bowl of porridge (£6.50 [Dh35]) is too creamy, though; and the “real toast” (£9 [Dh48]) with rye bread, tomato, avocado, rocket and lime is pleasant, but not spectacular.
Loved
A 75-minute Como Shambhala signature massage (£115 [Dh617]) is just the thing to take away the stresses of a long flight – followed by immigration and baggage delays at Heathrow Airport that take more than an hour out of my weekend. My Czech therapist uses flowing strokes with a “comfort” essential oil containing almond oil, grapeseed, evening primrose, vitamin E, nutmeg, lavender, lemon and other natural ingredients. The Tibetan-style music makes me feel as relaxed as I might do in Bali.
Hated
The small, slow lift seems unable to cater for the number of guests at the hotel.
The verdict
A luxurious, serene retreat that I want to come back to.
The bottom line
Double rooms at the Metropolitan by Como (www.comohotels.com) cost from £312 (Dh1,672) per night, including taxes.
rbehan@thenational.ae
