My Stay at The Halkin by COMO, a Belgravia, London Hotel

I recently stayed at The Halkin by COMO, a Belgravia, London hotel, elegant and discreet, tucked away on a quiet side road in Knightsbridge. The next several weeks I’ll be sharing more about my London and Downtown Abbey experiences!

The Halkin hotel is situated on a quaint, tree-lined street, with only walking distance to Knightsbridge shopping, Hyde Park Corner, and Buckingham Palace, in London.

When we arrived close to midnight, and the staff graciously greeted us, getting us settled into our room in no time! The rooms, both studios and suites, offer free WiFi and satellite TV, elegant marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, Nespresso machines, and in-room spa treatments. A fitness center and 24/7 dining is available, and a nice computer/business station (tastefully done) just beside the elevators.

Location.

The location of this hotel is excellent. We took a 10-minute walk to shop at Harrods, a 5 minute walk to the trains and buses (from Hyde Park Corner), and a 12 minute walk to Buckingham Palace, where we watched the “changing the guard” ceremony take place.

We jumped on the Big Bus for a tour of the city!

It was also super easy to get taxis (we used UBER), and all of our drivers knew exactly where the hotel was. We went to a show one night at the Victorian Palace Theatre, not too far away.

You will see two different architectural styles in this neighborhood: Red-brick Queen Anne Revival style buildings and white stucco-fronted houses.

There are little restaurants tucked here and there (English food, Italian food, Lebanese food, etc.) including a lovely pastry shop/cafe within a 5-minute radius. Our favorite hang out spot was L’ETO, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with delicious hand-made cakes to tasty salads and mains. There’s also a supermarket within 5 minutes of this hotel if you need to pick up anything.

The staff.

What really stood out for me was the attitude of the staff, how hospitable and charming they were. The real key to good hotel staff is not simply doing a good job, but actually making you feel like you are valued. They were soft-spoken and very helpful, and the service and amenities were fantastic, including the little touches, such as a light appetizer in our room when we arrived.

The room.

We stayed in Room 206, and even though it faced the road, it was peaceful and quiet. The rooms are spacious, stylish and comfortable; the bathroom was stunning and extra roomy, with a wonderfully large soaking tub.

It was also well-stocked with their own brand of toiletries.

The bed was extremely comfortable, and I have to say that I had the soundest sleep during my stay in London. The white decor was lovely with a classy soft carpet. The electrical power strips in the room made it easy to plug in our computers, hair products, etc., without having to use an adapter. This was a very nice touch, and the only hotel on our trip that offered this.

The controls for heat, air and lighting were in a convenient panel. One easy push to turning on the “DO NOT DISTURB” message in the room.

My favorite touch of class was the robe and slippers, and enjoying espresso every morning without having to leave the room.

The fitness room.

The beautiful fitness center is complete with weights and a variety of equipment, tucked away in the basement of the hotel, but with windows and plenty of light.

The Halkin Bar and Ametza Restaurant.

The intimate Halkin Bar in the hotel is ideal for pre-dinner drinks, which we enjoyed before we dined at the restaurant Ametsa. It also offers all-day dining and afternoon tea, with a tapas menu as well as cocktails. The intimate space also offers a relaxed, all-day dining menu featuring Western classics and impeccably crafted comfort food including pasta, steak, salads and sandwiches.

One of our favorite dining experiences was at the hotel’s Spanish restaurant with glitzy decor, Ametsa (a one Michelin Star Basque restaurant). Ametsa with Arzak Instruction is a unique collaboration between Elena Arzak – voted Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef in 2012 – along with her father Juan Mari Arzak, and Mikel Sorazu, Igor Zalakain and Xabier Gutierrez.

For breakfast, it wouldn’t be quite the “London experience” without trying their Eggs Benedict or a true English breakfast (with black pudding).

And then for dinner, we enjoyed the tasting menu, which was delightful and every bite quite the experience. (A few dishes that I  enjoyed: Scorpion Fish wrapped in Japanese, Vieiras con Rocas de Cebolla (scallops), Atún Asado, Mojo Negro (grilled tuna, black “mojo”), and the very yummy bite of dessert, Torrija De Mango Y Coco (French toast with mango and coconut). Amazing food!

Overall, I’d return to this hotel in a heartbeat and I highly recommend it; a true first-class stay!

Disclosure: The Halkin by COMO generously provided a one-night complimentary stay, plus breakfast and dinner, so I could share my experience with my readers. I am so grateful for the experience. As always, all opinions shared are totally my own.