And food and drink has not been forgotten either .
There are specially designed children ’ s menus in all of the hotels restaurants , whilst complimentary dining is also available for children aged six years and under at The Promenade , The Dorchester Rooftop and The Grill at The Dorchester , where we headed for our first staycation dining experience .
Located at the heart of the hotel , the revamped restaurant showcases The Dorchester ’ s youngest ever head chef Tom Booton ’ s take on a modernday British grill . The dishes are as vibrant and exciting as Booton ’ s personality and talent , and the atmosphere of the dining room . At lunch , guests have the option to peruse the main à la carte menu or opt for the incredibly reasonable set menu which boasts two- or three- course options from just £ 23 .
Whilst the little Readys enjoyed perfectly seared steak , fries and peas followed by chocolate fondant and banana cheesecake respectively ; Mr R and I were spoilt by Booton ’ s menu . With Mr R ’ s delicate Cornish mackerel , tomato and black olive starter just pipped by my own divine crispy oxtail , braised tongue and artichoke barigoule , we declared a tie for the main course of the day courtesy of the depth of flavour from the roasted cod , bacon , lentils and chives ; and the wonderful textures and tastes of my lamb rump , potato Anna , borlotti beans and onion . Each dish was beautifully presented , well conceived and wonderfully paired with the atmosphere ( and cocktail menu ), instantly elevating the dining room to our recommended list !
There is also the opportunity for younger guests at The Dorchester to partake in their own signature afternoon tea too . Taking a seat at a beautifully laid central table in The Promenade , we were treated to the wonder of The Dorchester ’ s blooming tea , faultless service and renowned scones and cakes ; including their signature chocolate rose . Whilst the children were treated to a ‘ designed by children for children ’ menu boasting chocolate milkshakes , sprinkles , mini doughnuts and teddy bear sandwiches .
We paused for a brief respite to allow the children to enjoy yet another exclusive Dorchester family activity .
In what proved to be our littlest reviewers ' most special moment , children ( and parents too !) can delight in a behind the scenes tour of the kitchens courtesy of wonderful executive chef Mario and his team .
First stop , a brief chat with the remarkable , awardwinning and wonderfully welcoming Tom Booton and his Grill team , who had delivered dish after dish of wonder at our earlier lunch . Next we descended the escalators ( yes the kitchens here are so large there are indeed escalators !) to the inner enclave and hive of activity that keeps all of the hotel ’ s restaurants and private residences running to food order .
From sneak peaks of the chef ’ s table to watching freshly baked scones appear from the oven . A visit to Mario ’ s office to be officially presented with their own signed chef whites to a cheeky pitstop in the chocolate room ( yes a whole Willy Wonka room of delight ) for a little taste of heaven , it was an unforgettable experience – for us all ! And one that guests can elevate further with additional masterclasses and cook-along experiences .
The evident passion , enthusiasm and commitment of the whole team here to the littlest guests was palpable . Whilst The Dorchester ’ s child-centric approach respectably stems beyond an utterly wonderful array of signature experiences especially for guests , to a commitment to the local community which sees local primary school children have access to the kitchens , design menus and benefit from feeding the community food waste initiatives , championed by executive chef Mario .
Our entire stay , from service to food , abode to added experiences was one of wonder , awe , delight , and memories that will stay with us all for a very long time … ( especially as the littlest Ready ’ s new class teacher thinks we have a butler called Miguel at home … if only !).
Family Time at The Dorchester starts from £ 815 * per night for a superior king room and £ 2,770 per night for a suite .
This includes luxury accommodation for a family of four . 50 % off a second room for the children , or when booking a suite , a complimentary second room for children . English breakfast for two adults and children ’ s breakfast for two children . Cookies for the children . Quote ‘ Family Time ’ to book .
Additional experiences such as glamping , movie night and chef Mario tours and masterclasses are pre-bookable via guest relations in advance of your stay .
* The rate shown is the total per night for both rooms .
The Dorchester Park Lane London W1K 1QA www . dorchestercollection . com / en / london / the-dorchester
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