No matter where in the world you are, staying in a hotel is always such an exciting experience and the best ones are those closest to home. You can pack light without a worrying if you’ve forgotten something, not have to care about being beckoned into work last-minute and you have the luxury of no luggage restrictions – meaning you can quite literally shop till your drop from the weight of new purchases. We experienced all of that recently while staying at The Arch London. A boutique luxury five-star hotel in Marble Arch.
We arrived at The Arch London after just a short drive from home and to a lovely warm welcome. A modern sparkly entrance, cosy enclaves for siting down in while enjoying a complimentary herbal tea and a rather swift check-in process. That warm welcomed we experienced from the moment we walked through the doors continued into our room with a decorative plate of petit fours which lasted but seconds.
We were staying in one of the hotels well-appointed executive junior suites which were the perfect place to unwind after a day of shopping in London, or like us a rather long lunch. This air-conditioned suite features a very comfy king sized bed, snug sofa, large wardrobe space, high-definition flat screen television and an extensive Sky HD package and DVD library which came in very useful. As did the Nespresso machine – something I can never live without both at home and away.
My favourite part of the room was most certainly the bathroom in terms of amenities. It’s probably the only part of the room which could do with a little updating, but what it offers makes up for that. A large and very roomy bath, spacious floor space, excellent spa products from Malin+Goetz and a nicely sized TV in the bath. The latter my guilty pleasure when staying at a hotel, especially over a glass of bubbles and my favourite movie. For those who enjoy being a little more active, head to the basement where you’ll find a fully equipped gym.
After a lovely long soak in the bath we popped downstairs for dinner in the hotels restaurant, starting with a glass of wine in one of the lounges. Head down the corridor and past the restaurant where you’ll find this hidden little gem of a space. Sit back, relax, get cosy by the fire and press the “magic button”. OK, well there’s no real magic involved – but it’s feels just as close. Located next to all of the seating areas are these very dangerous “press to refresh” buttons. Moments later and we were sipping on a glass of wine and tucking into a bowl of home-made crisps.
Hunter 486 Restaurant and Bar is named after the 1950s dialling code for Marylebone and offers a ‘Best of British’ inspired menu which has been developed by Head Chef, Gary Durrant. There’s a vibrant bar area with furniture by Tom Dixon and some rather lovely glass chandeliers which take centre stage. You even get to watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen.
We started our meal two simple, but delicious starters. I tucked into the duck foie gras terrine with fig, orange and cinnamon chutney – served with some slices of toasted brioche. While the other half enjoyed the red wine braised octopus with slow roast tomatoes, chick peas and salsa verde. The latter definitely the winning dish.
Main courses were a mix of British classics and having visited Hunter 486 previously, I was rather excited to try out their steaks once again because they were excellent on our first visit. This time around they certainly didn’t disappoint and left us feeling incredibly satisfied. This Rose County 28 day aged rib eye was perfectly cooked, had a lovely smokey flavour to it and seasoning was spot on. Steaks also come with a side of French fries, grilled mushroom, tomato and pot of béarnaise sauce. A must order when dining here.
For desserts we opted for some real classics and Winter warmers. A rather decadent clementine and ginger bread trifle which was rich, creamy and refreshing – while the sticky toffee pudding with caramelised banana ice cream was just as good as it sounded. The sponge was moist, the toffee sauce oh-so satisfying and that ice cream so delicious that it really should belong in a tub and stored in my freezer at home.
The following morning we popped open the curtains to those huge windows and got stuck into our favourite hotel directories for a little inspiration while waiting for breakfast to arrive to our room. A quality full-English, fresh fruits, selection of pastries and freshly squeezed juices. This was actually one of the tastiest hotel breakfast I’ve had this year so far and so the late check-out of midday meant we didn’t have to rush.
We had a lovely time at this central London hotel and when it comes to location it really doesn’t get much better than this. The convenience of having quite literally everything on your doorstep, a cosy restaurant featuring some of our most loved comfort foods and a bed so soft you’ll never want to leave it. The Arch London feels like a home from home and we’ll most certainly return someday soon, even if it’s just to enjoy that “magic button” in the meantime.
NB: My stay was complimentary. All views are as always, my own. My views are not influenced by anyone other than my own palate and slightly poor eyesight.
I love the look of your room! The dinner looks lovely too!
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such a cosy little hotel!