Who doesn’t love a brand-new hotel? One that opened only six months ago. Especially a luxury 5-star hotel set opposite the heart of London’s centre. For it’s set right beside the River Thames in the fast-transforming area of Nine Elms. It’s close to many of London’s iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. It’s by Tate Britain for art lovers and The Oval for cricket lovers. It’s also only a stroll to the new American Embassy.
The world’s 46 Park Hyatts are the cream of the Hyatt range, and this hotel marks the brand’s debut in the UK. The first 18 of the 42 storeys of this glass and limestone gleaming skyscraper comprise the hotel, while the remaining stories are reserved for residences. With so many floors, it’s naturally visible from afar and very impressive with its sweeping views across London.
As I crossed the threshold into the lobby, I felt a huge sense of calm mixed with awe at the utter glamour of the interior. Such space and solidity. Such height and harmony. Such clever architectural design with the light reflecting off surfaces in a shimmering fashion, similar to that of the River Thames. What bright, state-of-the-art lighting! What a long, high, swirling copper and wood sculpture that offsets the strong, solid structure of the building. What a delightful organic artwork and so expressive of the Thames. The entire interior is rich with woods, marble, glass, screens, lacquer, and trellis work. There are lovely different textures, leather banquettes, and wood panelling. All set in an earthy and stone-coloured, neutral and natural colour scheme.
My room (one of 203 rooms and suites that have rates starting from $900) felt perfect in its fresh and fabulous finishing. But it’s all about the spectacular, sweeping view of the River Thames out of which I looked down from my glass floor-to-ceiling windows. All so neutral and natural offset with eclectically textural orange leather seats and William Morris screens. Who doesn’t love plush bedding, a rainfall shower, the heated seat of a Toto loo, or a deep, free-standing, claw-footed bathtub? Not to mention the two electric blinds that reduce or black out the daylight.
There are two main restaurants. I dined at The Nine Elms Kitchen & Terrace, spaciously and informally arranged around an open kitchen, with its terrace, bar, and patisserie. There is intricately cut lattice work in various patterns and different shades of wood that seemingly sing in harmony amongst their very earthy tones. Waitresses, attending in feminine floral dresses, offered a confident menu that was reasonably priced with generous helpings. Embassy workers cross the road for lunch, and American and Chinese guests are already in abundance. For at the other end of the hallway lies the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant Yú Gé.
On the second floor, with lovely views of the broad expanse of the Thames, is TAMISé Tea Lounge & Wine Library. Not remotely subdued as the word means, but rather highly opulent and theatrical. A circular shape and motion, and texturally extremely interesting. There are sumptuous fabrics offset by the metal, stone, glass, and marble. There’s deep black effulgent marble on the bar counters near gold flecked light curtains and gorse glass.
As for the hotel’s bar lounge, just opposite the entrance, it’s extremely opulent and elegant
with its installation of 500 tulip-shaped bulbs hanging from the ceiling and its funky high-backed bottle-green velvet seats. There are vintage Rolls-Royce items on the walls that surround the banquettes and booths. Amongst nooks and crannies are masculine, mechanical, sculptured murals. A warm glow emits from the two massive red, orange, and yellow paintings. All the tonal textures, especially the velvets, bring ever richer colours suggestive of the night-time.
The hotel is kitted out with conference rooms and even a vast ballroom that can hold 830 guests. There’s a state-of-the-art gym with the latest kettlebells, medicine balls, jump ropes, and stability balls. I loved the serene 20 by 8 metre indoor pool. So soothing as the light flickered through the slanted angles of the floor-to-ceiling windows. So stunning an atmosphere and so clever the design. And just perfect after my ‘tea and tonic’ massage at the spa, which comprises part of the entire first floor dedicated to wellbeing. Here I was able to fully unwind with their cultured choice of aroma oil and rounded off with a few resonant sounds from the Tibetan bowl.
The staff are fantastic. Generosity extends to wonderful birthday celebrations for guests. And there’s even valet parking. The hotel’s mission is that of “accommodating guests who are looking for the ultimate indulgence,” and in that it succeeds in spades.
