First impressions
Charlotte Street is Soho's most salubrious address, the street crammed
elbow-to-elbow with bars, brasseries and cafes, whose sophisticated
clientele spill out onto the pavement all year round.
Allegiances to the various eateries come and go, but in the six years since
its opening, the appeal of the Charlotte Street Hotel has endured. The hotel
is a soft green, lined with elegant French windows and fronted by a
sharp-suited doorman. On entering the spacious lobby guests are greeted by a
striking bronze Botero sculpture and modern artwork by Roger Cecil.
Why it's special
The staff throughout the hotel are efficient and personable. This almost
faultless service, combined with the modern art, slick clientele, good food,
and sophisticated ambience make for a stylish urban retreat.
Hitting the sack
The 52 bedrooms, including eight suites, have just undergone a complete
refurbishment. Each is individually-designed, with modern art, coffee table
books, contemporary furniture and chic wallpaper and soft furnishings
creating a modern feel. The rooms all have air conditioning, CD and DVD
player, satellite television, safe, and minibars with fun items such as an
Oscar and Dehn travel toiletries kit, Krug champagne and Pierre Marcolini
chocolates - all very posh brands, I assume.
The granite bathrooms have anti-mist mirrors, walk-in showers and Miller
Harris toiletries, which come in large bottles to take away. There's also
CDs, DVDs, Playstation consoles and iPods to borrow for free from the
reception. The full restaurant menu is available 11am-11pm from the room
service menu (with a reduced menu outside of these hours) so you can
bed-down and keep yourself amused for hours. There's certainly no feeling
when staying here that you're not getting your money's worth.
Sampling the food
All meals are served in the bar/brasserie Oscar, which is painted on all sides
with a bright mural and fitted with deckchair-striped banquette seating,
which sounds horrible, but works. Residents at the hotel should book - even
breakfast (7am-11am) is popular with non-residents at the weekend, thanks to
the extensive buffet and a la carte menu.
It's pricey, at £24.50 for the full buffet including English breakfast, but
worth it if you've got some time to relax with a newspaper and get a couple
of platefuls (you'll need some time - it took 40 minutes for my dish to
arrive). The buffet has fresh fruit, yoghurt, granola, freshly-baked
pastries, breads, and cereals. Then there are smoothies and juices from the
bar, the usual hot drinks and an extensive a la carte menu, from which I had
a tasty plate of grilled figs with honey and yoghurt and a bowl of porridge.
The evening meal was also good. The bar was busy with an after-work crowd and
the tables at the restaurant filled from 8pm. To start the tuna and salmon
sashimi (£10.50), was fresh but small and followed by the more filling
scallop risotto (£19.50). Together with a pre-dinner cocktail, wine and
service, the bill topped £50 per person, and although the food was superb,
there are plenty of cheaper dining options nearby.
Access all areas
Wheelchair users can access the hotel and restaurant up a ramp and there are
larger rooms that allow wheelchair access, with some lowered fittings,
although rooms are not fully adapted.
Added attractions
The lobby leads to two private drawing rooms, with open fires, an honesty bar,
board games and sumptuous décor including artwork by local artists. Also,
downstairs there is a small gym and a private screening room, which on
Sundays has a film club that offers a three-course meal and a movie for £35
(excluding drinks and service).
What we think
A sophisticated hotel in an unbeatable location, but be prepared for a big
bill.
Bottom line
Doubles start from £205, superior doubles from £230 and suites from £340,
excluding VAT and breakfast.
Need to know
Charlotte Street Hotel, 15-17 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RJ, tel: 020 7806
2000, www.charlottestreethotel.com
