london hotels by hotels-london.co.uk

The Metropolitan is among the capital's most enduring design phenomena; a hotel that combines cool looks and cosseting service with a contemporary mindset, putting it squarely on the map of travellers seeking to be at the centre of the action. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, look out over a glittering skyline comfortable in the knowledge you are standing right where it matters - on Park Lane, with one of London's best bars and restaurant in the very same building.

Most guests make use of The Met Bar, otherwise confined to members only. Others dine late into the night at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, Nobu. There is a COMO Shambhala Urban Escape with a gym and two treatment rooms offering a number of sophisticated, holistic therapies. The Met also has extensive business facilities for meetings, press functions, parties and launches - hugely popular among the fashion fraternity. A boutique in the lobby area sells a carefully edited selection of gifts - as chic as the hotel's sleek aesthetic.

Bedrooms are superbly appointed with everything you would expect to find in a Five Star London hotel. The hotel's sleek yet serene urban image combines soft whites, pear-wood panelling, suede upholstery and pure Egyptian cottons. Colours are subtle, featuring warm accents of plum. Carefully selected pieces of antique Asian furniture introduce soft, Eastern accents. Natural light floods the spaces, while walls of glass draw you into the city. It is an uplifting perspective, proof of simplicity's power, and the chic appeal of understatement.

egyptian cotton linen

fine goosedown duvet

interactive E-TV with 60 free channels and on demand movies

cd juke box and movie library

steam iron and ironing board

dual line, direct dial telephones

voice mail

electronic in-room safe

individually controlled air conditioning

private fax machine with designated number

electronic 'do not disturb' sign

COMO Shambhala bathroom amenities

UK and US modem points

RJ45 ISDN line (category 5 wired)

video recorders, available on request

printers, available on request

relax

The Metropolitan understands its guests are on high-octane schedules. To counteract the pressure, they have opened a COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at the hotel, dedicated to your continued wellbeing. In addition to a gym, there are two treatment rooms where you can indulge in Asian-inspired, holistic therapies originally developed at their sister resort, COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay. Treatments include:

shiatsu

reiki

reflexology

thai massage

private instruction in yoga

personal trainers

eat

Critically acclaimed Michelin starred 'Nobu', is more than a scene-stealing restaurant; it is an essential experience for any serious gourmand. Breakfast at the Metropolitan is taken in The White Room, a calm space in which to begin the day with a deliciously fresh menu. The Metropolitan's 24-hour room service includes Nobu specialities as well as late-night comfort options, like burgers and club sandwiches.

drink

When it first opened in 1997, the Met Bar became a byword for cool, answering a sophisticated need for privacy and energy, in a space reserved for hotel guests and members only. Interiors are clad in decadent red leathers, waiters in custom-made Armani. Bar staff - called 'mixologists' at the Met - create bespoke Martinis while headline DJs spin London's lounge sounds. From the early evening until 10.45pm, enjoy a Nobu bento box. Later into the night, until 2.30am, graze on fresh crab and papaya tian with coriander oil or aromatic duck pancakes with Hoi Sin sauce, all featured on the Met Bar Snack menu.

meet

The Metropolitan's reputation as a London hotspot has placed it among the top addresses for private and business events, from cocktail parties to private lunches, press days, TV screenings, fashion shows and interviews. Event spaces all combine the formality of a meeting room with cool, contemporary art and the hotel's light-filled style. Each venue can be custom prepared for your specific function, from technical equipment to catering possibilities.

review by hotel critic: harrison brown

Where the beautiful people go ...and an atmosphere to die for. Comfortable rooms with lots of funky bits and pieces, and two superb venues onsite; Nobu - taste sensation (the Bento box is a must, as is the house speciality - 3 day marinated Cod!) but generally bookings need to be placed 1 month out. And, The Met Bar - the exclusive members only hang-out - but accessible for hotel guests - this has to be worth the stay alone. Location is great, the right end of Park Lane next to Mayfair. There are some fitness facilities, but really who cares - this is the place to entertain. Definitely one of the hotel experiences I tend to go on about - so live a little!

Back to top