How timeless. How glamorous. How delightful to be amongst the very first to stay at 2 Chesham Hotel.
I felt the freshness everywhere: in the exterior, the décor and the paintwork. It really is brand new having only opened at the end of May 2024.
Formerly The Diplomat Hotel, 2 Chesham Hotel is a well-preserved Victorian Grade II listed building and was, for many years, an aristocratic family home. I love boutique hotels. The smaller they are the more personal and warmer they become. Home from home. More romantic and cozy. It’s so nice not to be lost in a crowd.
It’s set with its elephant’s breath grey façade in Belgravia, an area renowned for its grand white stucco terraces and one of London’s two most elite residential neighborhoods. This intimate, boutique hotel is directly placed in the middle of ‘Embassy-land’. It’s an easy walk to both Knightsbridge (an area with the world-famous department stores of Harrods and Harvey Nichols) and Sloane Square which is the start of the luxury shops of Sloane Street.
But it’s nicely cut off from the area’s hustle and bustle, this five-star luxury modern bolthole. Being tucked away it’s ideal for guests to feel restored and replenished after shopping and exploring the sites of London. And it has the most discrete of entrances that I almost walked past it.
As I stepped inside I sensed instantly the clean, fresh, timeless elegance of the reception. Indeed the workmanship and finishing throughout this completely renovated building is of the very highest standard. There’s a large green graduated chandelier that tinkles when tickled by the wind. Above is a stunning spiral staircase, with gorgeous classical molding, that climbs to the top of the building up to a glass cupola.
Up this grand staircase by lift or by foot are the rooms. The 19 en suite rooms have rates that are priced fairly and start from $500.
Each room has excellent dimensions and is wonderfully spacious, with lots of natural light. They range, in ascending order, from the Standard to the Superior to the Deluxe. The two spacious suites (Belgravia on the 1st floor and, my favorite, Victoria on the 3rd), can be connected to a corner room to create two-bedroom suites.
They all feature a signature magnolia motif on the wall and have the smoothest oak parquet flooring underfoot.
The spectacular signature chandelier with its concentric rings very much set the tone for my room. It was offset by the gold finishes on the chairs. It reminded me of citrine crystals with their optimistic and cheerful energy. The gold brought an uplifting sense and the wood a timeless grounding.
And such lovely textures. On top of the scrumptious rug, the beautifully upholstered ochre chairs came in velvet with wooden inlay and with woven fabric and scattered cushions. My marble bathroom came with a rainforest shower and delightful Etro products.
Downstairs, in the basement, the hotel’s restaurant is discretely promoted with a street sign. The seven tables are positioned spaciously and the helpings are generous from the affordable, broad-choice all-day menu.
The menu had excellent health-conscious options. It put a spring in my step as did a lovely glass of Prosecco Superiore Spumante from Asolo Docg, Ca’morlin, Veneto. I loved my spice vegetable Soup of the Day and my Superfood Salad comprising quinoa, broccoli, soya beans, avocado, spinach, pomegranate, and pumpkin seeds. To follow I had an organic grilled chicken breast, organic gem lettuce, avocado sunflower seeds, and grilled asparagus before indulging in a chocolate mousse. I chose to pair it with a Vinha Grande Douro Rose from Casa Ferreirinha in Portugal.
The signature chandelier was a marvelous centerpiece. It shone brightly above the beautifully finished velvet-coated chairs and banquette that were green and burnt orange and neutral in tone and a thick plush rug with a floral theme that echoed the garden beyond.
I had my breakfast outdoors on the sunken courtyard terrace. It came in the form of a crescent: a shape in keeping with its round marble tables set before a carved wooden trellis bordered with jasmin and other climbing plants.
The facilities are stripped down to bare essentials with rooms and a dining area. It doesn’t need a bar, a library, or a gym. Though perhaps not a place to scintillate children or placate a dog, it’s ideal for couples. Ideal for anyone visiting London or after a day’s shopping.
