The Capital Hotel, London
STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
If you are sick of soulless, identikit hotels, then The Capital could be for you. There's only 59 rooms which gives it a surprisingly homely feel for such a stylish hotel. What makes the hotel different is the staff – many of whom have been there for years. The concierge I spoke to, Jose Romin-Portilla, from Santander, has been here 20 years; his boss Clive Smith, head concierge, has been at The Capital for three decades. That continuity gives the hotel a relaxed, almost family feel which is unusual in such a high-end location.
SLEEPING MATTERS
The rooms are decorated with original art and antique furniture. All suites and double rooms have super king-size beds from Savoir, with hand-stitched mattresses and the Egyptian cotton bed linen. Our room quickly became somewhere we thought of as our home for the weekend.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The Restaurant at The Capital has a set lunch menu, with three choices per course, at £33 for two courses and £39 for three courses. The dinner menu offers five options per course and is £49 and £59 per person respectively. The menu is probably best described as modern British with plenty of fish dishes.
DRINK IN THE SIGHTS
The Capital offers traditional English afternoon teas with homemade pastries, scones, and jams and the bar has an impressive whisky cellar. It also makes a good people-spotting spot.
NICE TOUCH
Guests get a drink voucher when they arrive. I traded mine in for a wondrous 15-year-old Bowmore – and a very generous measure it was, too.
ABOUT THE AREA
The Knightsbridge hotel is no more than a stone's throw from Harrods – not that you'd want to throw a stone here – you might break a window of one of the many designer stores that crowd these elegant streets such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Hermès, Prada, Chanel. Harvey Nichols, Sloane Street, and Hyde Park are on the doorstep. The theatres of the West End are two miles away and the Piccadilly Line, Knightsbridge Tube Station is less than a minute's walk away so London is your oyster(card).
The Capital Hotel (www.capitalhotel.co.uk), has double rooms from £310 per room per night based on 2 sharing B&B. See www.capitalhotel.co.uk or call 020 7589 1200
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