"Why book? Ten years after its opening, the Bulgari Hotel London still feels like one of the city’s best kept secrets. The central Knightsbridge location is one of its biggest draws, thanks to its proximity to Hyde Park, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Harrod’s, to name but a few nearby attractions. The hotel blends history with modernity, mixing Bulgari’s timeless glamor with a contemporary flair. The rooms are surprisingly spacious, particularly by London’s standards, and there many treasures within, like a glimmering spa recalling a Roman bath, a coveted cigar lounge, and a private, state-of-the-art cinema. \ Set the scene From the street, it’s easy to mistake the hotel for a residential building. There are no flags out front and the exterior feels quite discrete, despite its location in the heart of Knightsbridge. Inside, the residential spirit continues in The Bulgari Lounge, a recently revamped living room space that invites guests and locals to stop for a quick lunch, coffee, or a meeting with colleagues. Thanks to its popular gym, led by Workshop’s Lee Mullins, the hotel is also a hot-spot with locals in the city. Its newly-renovated restaurant, Sette, and bar, Nolita Social, are local hangouts, as is the Cigar Shop and Sampling Lounge, boasting the vintage collection of internationally renowned and multi-awarded cigar merchant, Edward Sahakian. The pocket-sized room is filled with cedar wood cabinets baring Sahakian’s private collection of vintage and pre-embargo cigars. The hotel attracts a diverse mix of backgrounds, including actors, musicians, sports personalities and entrepreneurs, all of whom are drawn to the timeless Italian design, the expansive interiors, and the attentive yet relaxed service. The backstory The Bulgari Hotel opened in London ten years ago this spring, just before the 2012 Summer Olympics. It was the third property to open under the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts collection, and was built from the ground up. Because of this, the hotel feels more like a Knightsbridge residence than a typical luxury hotel. Today, the property is privately owned, and the top three floors boast sprawling penthouse residences.The rooms Each of the 85 rooms, of which 23 are suites, are notably generous, particularly in a city like London where space is at a premium. My Knightsbridge Suite, No. 408, was a whopping 925 square feet and had a beautiful sitting room wrapped in glass and laid with contemporary Italian furniture and Bulgari coffee table books. The bedroom opened to a large and striking bathroom covered in black Marquina marble. The seven Bulgari Suites are a treat in every sense with large living rooms and 10-person dining tables, modern kitchens, and beautiful master bedrooms, with his-and-her walk in closets, striking onyx showers, and terraces in some. All of the rooms boast neutral colors thanks to sumptuous marble and polished Sapele Mahogany, with gem-colored rugs that recall the stones in Bulgari’s jewelry. I loved the detail reflected in the design, like the fine Damask fabrics, which featured a floral pattern inspired by the silver chatelaine motif from a 19th century Bulgari brooch. I also loved the leather-wrapped travel-trunks-turned-mini-bars that were made exclusively for the brand. Food and drink Located just off the lobby, The Bulgari Lounge is a popular place to stop in for a quick lunch of Italian classics. To commemorate the hotel’s 10th anniversary, The Lounge is introducing an Italian Afternoon Tea at the end of the month, led by the Italian pastry chef and chocolatier Gianluca Fusta, who is doing a one-year residency at the property. They’ve also introduced a Dolci experience showcasing Fusta’s contemporary artisanal pastries. The hotel’s primary restaurant, Sette, is a modern street-level space that beckons with handsome leather furnishings and a menu of Italian classics, along with homemade pastas and breads. The relaxed yet polished venue is the latest from New York’s Scarpetta restaurant group and is a popular gathering place for locals from Knightsbridge and neighboring Kensington. Aperitivo is served every evening at Sette’s bar with cocktails and cicchetti bites, and there’s a private dining room for up to 18 guests tucked into the back of the restaurant. Downstairs from Sette, Nolita Social, named after New York’s “North of Little Italy” neighborhood, brings the energy of New York’s nightlife to London with live music and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. Light bites such as burrata and puttanesca bruschetta or cacio e pepe arancini are served alongside New York-inspired cocktails with names like “The Highline” and “The MET.” The spa As with all of their properties, The Bulgari Spa is a hallmark of this hotel, with a dramatic 80-foot colonnaded swimming pool, which is the longest luxury hotel swimming pool in all of London. Set over two floors, materials such as onyx, Vicenza stone, and glass mosaics express the Bulgari aesthetic of timeless glamour and contemporary Italian design. During my visit, I passed saunas, ice showers, and steam rooms on route to the dim-lit relaxation lounge. With its dramatic vertical fireplace, I felt a world away from the hustle and bustle of London. Thanks to its coveted membership program, The Bulgari Spa is a landmark for locals and a center of wellbeing in the city. The Spa recently partnered with award-winning beauty brand Augustinus Bader and is introducing new treatments, like the Augustinus Bader Exclusive Bulgari Facial. The neighborhood/area The prestigious Knightsbridge neighborhood is home to the city’s most exclusive addresses, not to mention beloved shopping destinations and iconic cultural institutions. Guests at The Bulgari Hotel London enjoy all that this central location has to offer. Mega department stores like Harvey Nichols and Harrod’s are mere steps away, as is Hyde Park and landmarks such as The Royal Albert Hall and The Victoria and Albert Museum. The Knightsbridge Barracks is directly across the street, and much to my delight, my room offered a unique vantage of the groomed horses stabled within. The service The staff here has an English elegance and panache, though there’s a palpable friendliness and Mediterranean warmth. I came down with the flu shortly after checking in but their kind and accommodating team made me feel at home. The concierge arranged a private doctor’s visit and sent up a steady supply of tea, toast, and medicine from the local pharmacy. I loved the personalized calling cards that were printed on arrival with my name and the hotel address, and the pillow menu was another nice touch, with selections ranging from lavender aromatherapy to rosemary, mint, and flax seed. The concierge can organize all sorts of unique experiences, from private river cruises to helicopter rides and tailor-made excursions, such as a private viewing of the Crown Jewels or a culinary adventure exploring the history of London’s food scene, from jellied eels and Sweeney Todd pies in the East End to the Queen’s favorite cheese purveyor in Mayfair. Another popular experience is the private Rock and Roll tour exploring the side streets and alleyways, recording studios and watering holes of the world’s greatest performers through the decades. For families The hotel’s relaxed ambiance and spacious rooms make it a great option for families traveling through the British capital. The hotel also has a citywide treasure hunt worth noting. Families partake in a four-hour quest across the city to institutions like Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden before ending either at lunch or at Hamleys, London’s largest toy store. Furthermore, the London location is home to one of Bulgari’s Little Gems Kids Clubs to ensure young guests have a memorable stay. Eco effort London’s Bulgari Hotel was built and developed according to best practices in BREEAM certified design. The hotel was the first of its kind in the UK to use Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pumps to generate geothermal energy. The building also has a green roof by the London Biodiversity Action plan with support boxes for birds and bats, along with energy-conserving intelligent lighting and rain water collection. There are electric car charging points and bikes are available to guests for exploring Hyde Park and the city beyond. The hotel is also working on reducing plastic as much as possible. Today, all of their slippers are made in fabric and cork, cocktail straws are made from sugar cane, and laundry bags are made in compostable fabric. Accessibility The hotel is ADA accessible. Anything left to mention? During my visit, I got a sneak peek of The Bulgari Private Cinema, a 47-seat theatre that is dedicated to the late Lord Richard Attenborough. The private rental space, which pays homage to Bulgari’s historic connection to the silver screen, is popular for film premiers, business presentations, and for private screenings. The hotel has a curated library of 300 new and classic titles available to choose from. I also highly recommend a private training session with Lee Mullins, Founder of WORKSHOP. Mullins has created the premier destination for health and fitness in London at his gymnasium, where clients begin with a FRAMEWORK assessment that leads to a goal-oriented, personalized guidebook for working out and achieving optimal health. Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List? There are few options in the British capital that are as stylish as they are spacious. The Bulgari Hotel is one of those places. The property’s roomy and residential feel, contemporary Italian design, leading wellness program, buzzing food and beverage offering, and unbeatable Knightsbridge location make it a classic ten years after opening its doors." - Sallie Lewis
