LONDON
Gentle treatments aptly named ‘ Fairy Tale ’, ‘ Dreamy ’ and ‘ Awakening to Care ’ exclusively use Bonpoint ’ s carefully crafted skincare products , which are formulated for children ’ s skin using natural and hypoallergenic ingredients and are another nod to Pan Pacific ’ s finger being firmly on the pulse . A lot lot of people want to travel and experience luxury as a family with younger kids in tow ; a fact other hotels could do with taking on board .
Having floated , a picture of tranquillity , from my spa afternoon , it was time to redress the balance and dive headfirst into Pan Pacific London ’ s lauded food and drink scene . With six different bars and restaurants , it is very much a destination-scene as opposed to an afterthought or a simple hotel necessity , with people travelling far and wide to eat and drink here . Bottling the buzz and excitement of Singaporean bar culture in London , Ginger Lily is a luxe bar decked out in gold-flecked marble , dark green money trees , kentia palms and velvet-soft furnishings in shades of plum and grey . The extensive drinks list and exclusively curated , rum-based cocktail menu showcases an eclectic mix of signature Singaporean classics and contemporary creations crafted by experts to suit the modern palate .
As evening approaches , the bar segues into a vibrant London cocktail bar , as occupied by the hotel ’ s global crowd as it is regulars that flock there for the unmistakable ambience . My second Light After the Storm sunk readily ( a refreshing , spicy and sour twist on a classic Dark & Stormy made with Diplomatico Mantuano rum , Diplomatico Planas rum , ginger shrub , citrus and sparkling water ), it was time to sample the hotel ’ s signature
restaurant , Straits Kitchen . Authentic Singaporean food is actually pretty tricky to come by in the Big Smoke and , with a respectful menu based on heritage recipes that highlight a melting pot of cuisines from Singapore ’ s many cultures where traders and neighbours have brought ingredients into the island country through the Straits of Malacca , it ’ s no wonder that diners flock from far and wide to eat here .
Using pure Asian ingredients sourced and grown locally to minimise their carbon footprint , the Straits Kitchen team , headed up by executive chef Fabrice Lasnon , promise authentic flavours and boy do they deliver .
Moreish pani puri appeared as deep-fried spherical shells packed with native lobster and spicy mayonnaise , pops of caviar adding a salty hit to the sweet , rich filling , while spicy Atlantic king prawns udang on a bed of sweet and sour sauce with pineapple salsa brought wave after wave of chilli , ginger , garlic and lime juice laced with a natural tart-sweetness that elevated the briny , succulent prawns . Melt-in-the-mouth rendang of braised Scottish beef slow-cooked and infused in spices and coconut milk to deliver a meaty , buttery dish with back notes of cinnamon , cardamom and star anise followed alongside the freshest , lightest steamed wild seabass marinated in spicy perapan peppers , aromatic Szechuan lada oil and salty soya sauce .
The surprising star of the show ? Kuey teow goreng kosong stir-fried flat noodles – a beautiful side dish of big tangy flavours packed with traditional Singaporean vegetables that brought everything together . The food is nothing short of divine here and the service is impeccable with attentive , highly knowledgeable staff manning the restaurant but entirely unobtrusively . Unsurprisingly , the rooms follow suit . Available in three main categories : Deluxe , Premier and Executive , with variations within these according to your view ( ours overlooked the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie ), they ’ re decorated in a restful , pastel palette of blush , blue and grey , featuring subtle , natural accents such as shoots of lucky bamboo , soft scatter cushions and dreamy paintings depicting orchids , Singapore ’ s national flower . High-end perks include rainforest showers , Diptyque toiletries and Dyson hairdryers in the exquisite marble bathrooms , and beds that cocoon you in an impossibly soft embrace while you slumber .
An unexpected and wonderfully modest hotel that puts guest experience at the very heart of everything it does , the Pan Pacific London is a sleek masterclass in design , dining and wellness – a combination that soothes the very soul of everyone that stays there . Chic and minimalist without being clinical , the feeling it leaves you with is that of utter serenity , which , especially when teamed with a distinctly urban locale , is worth its weight in gold .
Pan Pacific London 80 Houndsditch London EC3A 7AB
020 7118 6888 www . panpacific . com
panpacificlondon www . insidekent . co . uk • 113