Bulgari London Review

Before I get carried away, I would like to focus briefly on the history of the Greek-Italian Bulgari Group, which is certainly worth noting. Bulgari is actually normally spelt ‘Bvlgari’, with the ‘U’ becoming a ‘V’ as is in the classical Latin alphabet. Although I’m sure the name is completely self-explanatory, Bulgari are most well-known for their jewellery, but have since diversified to product lines including watches, fragrances, accessories and, of course, hotels. The themes throughout the London hotel reflect the company’s long Italian heritage, with sleek European style and jewellery adorning the lobby. The Bulgari Hotel is one of London's latest hotel additions, and I’ll say, if a hotel was able to stand with confidence then this is an example…

As we arrived outside we were greeted by smartly dressed staff who took everything from us and walked us to reception. We were shown to our suite on the third floor, and as the door opened to our corridor through to our spacious open-plan suite; the sophisticated space created here was one I was looking forward to experiencing. The trunk style unit which houses the mini bar and Nespresso machine caught my eye - everything in the room has a feeling of wealth; the attention to detail is faultless. An example of which being a card holder, filled with personalised business cards for my use whilst staying at the hotel. Other complimentary services included wifi, naturally, as well as a range of Bulgari products.

"...everything in the room has a feeling of wealth; the attention to detail is faultless"

The bathroom is stunning, with long dark curtains to close across the sliding door this is a room within itself, a walk through the walk-in shower takes you to the bath, which is surrounded with Bulgari products, a huge natural sponge and incense sticks. This is a bathroom that is prepared to pamper you.

The hotel also boasts one of London’s largest spas, which encompasses a whole two floors of the building. There’s a good-sized 25-meter swimming pool surrounded by cabanas, but more worth mentioning is the Vitality Pool - a Jacuzzi pool with air and water massage jets, lined with gold leaf tiles, complete with waterfall. The 11 treatment rooms also offer a wealth of Bulgari treatments, each one more indulgent than the last, as well as a fully equipped fitness suite and a nail salon.

Don’t forget to explore as well... The hotel sneaks 6 floors underground to accommodate surprises such as a ballroom and a cinema as well as the spa. It is a fine example of space-creating architecture.

The restaurant, Il Ristorante, is, as expected, exceptional. But the real breath-taker is the stunning space that is Il Bar. This bar, with its terrace facing Knightsbridge Green is fast becoming one of most stylish places to be seen in London. The incredibly large stainless steel bar is an impressive asset to the whole hotel.

It is also worth knowing during your stay that the Bulgari offers a chauffeur service in a range of cars, from Mercedes to a Rolls-Royce Phantom. It is at additional cost, but worth taking them up on for getting around, as this hotel is situated right in the heart of Knightsbridge; an excellent location for a base of which to explore some of the finer areas of the city. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw away from Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

The prime location is easy to ignore however, if you so wish, as this is a hotel that understands how to create calm and escape. To which they have perfected. The Bulgari Hotel has delivered a stunning piece of Milan in the heart of London. It really is a jewel.