LONDON
TIMELESS ELEGANCE , SOPHISTICATED COMFORTS AND 5-STAR LUXURY , FIND YOUR SENSE OF PLACE AT
ROSEWOOD LONDON
BY SAMANTHA READY
IT ’ S OFTEN EASY TO REALLY HONE IN ON THE ‘ ONE ’ SPECIAL HOOK , MOST ENJOYABLE MOMENT , MOST AWE-INSPIRING IMPRESSION , OR INDEED THE USP OF A LUXURY HOTEL . AT ROSEWOOD LONDON IT ’ S HARD TO EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN .
Located just steps from the hustle and bustle of Holborn , and some just 15-minutes from the heart of Covent Garden and the West End , as you arrive at the former Pearl Insurance building which is now home to Rosewood London ’ s 262 rooms and 44 suites , don ’ t rush your entrance . Instead , cross back over the road and just take a moment to take in the simply breathtaking Grade II listed , Edwardian facade of one of the finest five-star hotels in the city .
Designed by H . Percy Monckton and dating back to 1912 , the building has undergone a sensitive yet contemporary transformation , taking it from its former guise as Imperial era offices to an idyllic and in-demand residence that seemingly effortlessly moulds style , service and personality .
Initial wow-factor absorbed , it ' s time to walk through the cast iron gated carriageway entrance to be enveloped by the welcoming calm of the inner courtyard . Here , bags will be effortlessly relieved and you will be transported through the grand entrance to the main lobby area .
A first glimpse into the realisation of Rosewoods ’ ‘ Sense of Place ’ philosophy , which reflects each hotel location ’ s history , culture and sensibilities , the exquisite black and white marble floors act as an artistic tour guide , past the simply stunning rose bronze hallways ( which lead guests around the courtyard to various inner sanctums ), through the glass cases and oak armoires filled with curios and contemporary artworks , all with a nod to London or the collection of the great and the good who have passed through the walls here , ( think Dickens , Milton , William Morris and you ’ ll get the drift ). Tear yourself away from the one off paintings , paint-dripped Mini Coopers and antique books piled high but cleverly illustrated with playful characters , and you ’ ll be met with Rosewood ' s exemplary professional service .
Swiftly checked in we began our tour through the wonder of the hotel . Following that rose bronze corridor as if falling down the rabbit hole , we gaped at the Mirror room , location of Rosewood ’ s sell-out afternoon teas , where guests stop not just for refreshment but for the instagrammable installations that change on a regular basis and inspire the patisserie . We pit-stopped at Scarfes Bar , the living room-esq bar with its roaring open fire , 1,000 handpicked antique books and adjourned with original illustrations courtesy of its namesake Gerald Scarfe . A throng of bartending activity and sociality , it ' s not to be missed . Stop for a drink without question , but if you can time it for a regular jazz session you ’ ll be in for even more of a treat . Then concluded with a stroke-of-luck-timed visit to The Holborn Dining room , the hotel ’ s main brasserie-style restaurant and our evening dining destination , which is also home to The Pie Room .
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