I have been to some wonderful hotels — mostly in the course of this column — but the Bentley is right up there.
It opened last October and is tucked away in South Kensington, London. Originally built as four private residences, lavish refurbishment and conversion have provided 64 stunning bedrooms and suites.
My chosen one is the Imperial which comes complete with three bedrooms, a grand piano and a dining room for 12 guests. I’d move in there permanently if I could, but sadly it’s £4,000 a night.
But even the smaller suites, starting from £250, include huge bathrooms, walk-in showers and Jacuzzis.
The public rooms are beautifully decorated without giving way to corporate blandness, while an atmospheric spa in the basement includes a full-size Turkish bath as well as the more usual gym and saunas.
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The food in the two restaurants — a brasserie and a more formal fine dining restaurant — is simply terrific. You can choose between grazing menus, eat a conventionally shaped meal or do something in between. We opted for the latter and enjoyed two starters apiece and a main course.
There are three private dining rooms, seating from 12 to 150. For conferences, the Alexander Room overlooks a garden square and can take 60, with a number of breakout options.
For such an amazing hotel, daily delegate rates are not hideous, and include a three-course lunch and room hire. More astonishingly, relatively few people seem to have discovered the Bentley — we had the restaurant to ourselves — but that state of affairs surely can’t last much longer given a place of such top-notch quality.
Good for: The most fabulous comfort and luxury
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But: A little off the beaten track Sample rates: £80 day-rate; for 24-hour, add overnight costs
The Bentley, 27-33 Harrington Gardens, London, SW7 4JK; 020-7244 5555, www.thebentley-hotel.com