Belgravia has seen the reinvention of one of it’s beloved hotel corners. The property formerly known as Belgraves has received a fresh look, a new restaurant and, most importantly, a new name. This is The Hari Belgravia and it’s most certainly ready for its close up. In fact, I may stretch as far as to say this is a hotel that was born to not only indulge travellers in search of luxury accommodation, but also to satisfy the picture crazed people of this world. Each and every corner of this hotel is an instagram picture in the making. The interior design is brilliantly inspired and the cool, calm and collected staff accurately reflect the contemporary glamour that is sung in every brilliant detail at The Hari (pronounced “Harry”).
Stepping into The Hari for the first time since it reopened late last year, I found myself truly overwhelmed by the impeccable attention to detail given to the design of the space in question. From The Hari’s branded city bikes, parked in line just outside the front door of the lobby, to the plush velvet sofas found inside upon arrival, it felt as if I was entering a beautiful members club of sorts rather than a hotel in Belgravia. There is a cool factor here that is achieved in a very authentic and effortless manner and it’s contagious. As I sped through checkout, I felt as if I belonged in this space, as if this space were home. The only problem being of course that home is not an 85 bedroom house in one of the most decadent neighborhoods of London. There is a dream it could be, one day, but not today.
So yes, I might have sauntered to my room after checkout with a brief and false sense of entitlement. But, my “cool” was blown as the door to my king suite opened. The attendant, who had assisted me with my bags and keys to the room, was privy to a schoolgirl squeal not only in discovering the bathtub with the most incredible view but also in throwing myself upon the velvet sofa and declaring “well colour me happy, there’s a sofa in here for two.” Please, dear reader, tell me you get the Pretty Woman reference.
After I planned my epic bath time, my breakfast on the velvet sofa and my morning of working with a desk that overlooked the hustle and bustle of Belgravia, I donned my finest frock and made my way downstairs to embark on a journey of Italian cuisine in the new hotel restaurant Il Pampero. While the bar was tempting, in it’s marble magnificence, I was absolutely starving and headed straight for my table, which just happened to be one of the circular enclaves in the window (these are the tables you must request… they are the best, in my opinion). The menu was delightfully overwhelming, with an offering of Italian food that had me begging for mercy. This would be a night of epic feasting. For starters it had to be beef carpaccio with parmesan cheese and rocket salad. For a main I went with pumpkin dumplings smothered in cheese and topped with black truffle. You say indulgent, I say getting the best of what a place has to offer. Oh, and I am still carrying around the extra pounds to prove it. So worth the ever so slightly tighter jeans.
It’s just to say really that this is a hotel to watch. In fact, I doubt you will be able to escape it. The corridors, roof terrace, bar, restaurant and guest rooms will no doubt be the pride of social media for years to come as every new guest discovers the charms as I did in this new edition to the Belgravia social scene.
Congrats, The Hari, and welcome to the neighbourhood.
Fashion Foie Gras was a guest of The Hari in London.
