The Metropolitan

On arrival
Next to the 1970s tower of the Hilton Hotel, the clear-cut, rectangular building housing the Metropolitan is easily identifiable by is green glass windows. The large revolving doors take you through to the reception desk, warm and welcoming in brown leather and dark wood. To the right is the entrance to the Metbar, reserved for members and hotel guests and popular for its DJs, cocktails and clientele.

To the left of reception, opposite the two lifts, the boutique and the concierge’s desk, a long lounge bathed in natural light stretches out. The light, pure feel of the predominant white gradually moves on to incorporate warmer materials and colours, as white leather armchairs give way to the curved lines of big, bright sofas and the white stone floor is covered in a thick carpet in shades of beige and brown.

The rooms
Bright and functional, the rooms have four defining features: light wood, cream walls, a plum-coloured carpet and large picture windows. On first impact, the geometric lines and intentional minimalism of the décor may appear too simple but it is, in actual fact, a suitably unobtrusive backdrop to create a neutral space which is immediately welcoming, and above all, shows off the light and the views to their full advantage.

With the huge picture windows and access to a large media library, the rooms are the perfect place to retreat to, to relax in whilst observing the city from afar, the sea of trees with the skyline stretching out beyond their lollipop heads, the magical view over Hyde Park – urban meditation at its best !

Forget the multitude of cushions you so often find on hotel beds. Here the beds are simply covered in a soft, light nubuck under which you will find a duvet, pillows and luscious soft sheets. The sloping light-wood bedheads, integrating bedside table, bedside lights and a white fabric headboard, add a touch or originality. The rooms are quiet with the Park Lane traffic a mere purring in the background.

Decorated in squares of translucent glass and light stone with metal basins resting on marble slabs, the bathrooms are large, functional and very pleasant. Most have both bath and shower and all have supplies of the hotel’s own brand “Shambala” products, also used in the spa and massage suite, which combine essential oils and invigorating compounds such as peppermint or eucalyptus.

Large desks make for comfortable working areas which have free high-speed cable Internet access. The hotel also offers secretarial services.

Room types
The hotel has three main types of rooms: Queen, King (Park and City) and its Suites (Park Studio, City Studio, Park Suite and Headline Suites). Rooms vary according to size, outlook and the window seats running the full length of the picture window. The sitting area is separate in some but not in others.

The Headline Suites offer space, equipment and services of a particularly outstanding quality.

Services
All rooms have an evening turndown service and the daily newspaper is delivered to your door each morning with a weather forecast. 24-hour room service is available and, if you are in a hurry, you can pick up a take-away breakfast.

Guests have access to a treatment room, steam room and gym, where the services of a personal trainer are available. The young concierge is on the same wave-length as the hotel guests, up-to-date on the latest London trends and able to provide you with a personalised shopping itinerary.

The hotel’s Nobu restaurant is the “jewel in its crown”. Dining at Nobu, the little brother of Robert de Niro’s famous New York restaurant, is an amazing experience if you are lucky enough to get a reservation. In addition to the traditional sushi and sashimi, there is exciting, inventive Japanese fusion cuisine to be sampled as you enjoy the vibrant ambience.