As soon as I walked in to the Hotel Xenia, the friendly,
helpful staff welcomed me warmly. All my stresses and strains started to melt
away.
I had just moved home and decided to check into a hotel for
the night as I had not had the time to unpack.
After all the turmoil I had endured I felt some pampering was
required.
Hotel Xenia, is on London’s Cromwell Road and
is convenient for Earl’s Court, the museum district and is also not far from
Kensington Gardens.
It may be a
Victorian building with 99 rooms, but this boutique hotel is thoroughly modern.
Wi-Fi, a necessity these days, is free. The glitzy reception spells fun. Decked
out in Tom Kirk chandeliers, armchairs in striking colours, unusual wallpaper
and a huge television, you are made to feel at home instantly. Another plus of
this hotel is the event room with pool table, sofas and another giant TV.
My bedroom was cosy and relaxing. This understated
elegance makes it the sort of place that you are glad to escape to after a long
hard day. Decorated in neutral colours with hints of green, grey and brown, it
had some rather lovely photographs of London landmarks which gave it a sense of
place.
There was also a Samsung tablet in the room loaded with useful
information about the hotel and surroundings. It was great for doing a little
bedtime reading.
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| Hotel Xenia |
The bathroom, a combo of bath and rain shower was smart.
There were L’Occitane toiletries which always perk up a shower. Another super
touch was the plush fluffy bathrobe.
After a quick refresh, it was down to the Living Wall
Bar which was abuzz with residents and locals – always a good sign. Don’t
forget to visit the heated outdoor herb garden.
There is a rooftop terrace and bar, ideal in the summer, as well as the Xenia Lounge which is
the perfect place for a coffee during the day and in the evening for an
aperitif or a relaxing night cap.
Dinner in the Evoluzione, under the auspices of Michelin-Star-
awarded Italian chef Andrea Angeletti, was a superb dining experience.. He
creates dishes using seasonal produce that have their roots in tradition but
infused with modernity.
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| Bar and lounge |
I had roast octopus followed by roast scampi to start.
(I couldn’t choose, so the chef suggested that I have some of both.) Both
were delicious. For the mains, I opted for baked rack of turbot with potatoes,
sauteed lettuce and black olives. It was absolutely scrumptious. There are
plenty of tempting wines to choose from to accompany your meal.
Not normally a dessert lover, I was seduced by the
innovative hot orange sponge with aubergine cream and extra virgin oil. It went
down a treat.
The buffet breakfast offered a huge selection of dishes, but
I couldn’t leave this gem of a hotel without having a full English breakfast
.It was cooked to perfection and set me up for the day. Service throughout the
hotel is slick and professional.
My most enjoyable mini escape over, it was back to
reality with a huge bump.
By Daralyn Danns
Hotel Xenia is a member of Great Hotels of the World Premium
Collection. Double room including breakfast from £150. For more information or
to book, visit www.ghotw.com/xenia-hotel or call 020 7380 3658
