MAYFAIR HOTEL REVIEW: THE BILTMORE MAYFAIR, GROSVENOR SQUARE
The Biltmore Bentley - Rent it for the day or let your chauffer take the wheel…
This month, I stayed at The Biltmore Mayfair, a Hilton LXR Hotels & Resorts hotel on Grosvenor Square, and what better way to spend a couple of weekdays in spring? The hotel’s imposing facade always stops me in my tracks when I’m been walking through the square towards Mount Street, so I was delighted to accept a special tour of the hotel.
The Biltmore Mayfair was renovated in 2017, opening to the public in September 2019, amidst plenty of positive chatter from locals. Public spaces are elegant, spacious and ambient, with a soothing, neutral colour palette and contemporary artwork throughout (I spotted an original Matisse in the bar). There are many Art Deco touches - sleek, linear, geometric forms broken up by curved, ornamental elements; bright and deep yellows, reds, greens and blues.
King Grand Deluxe View
After a speedy check in, I was shown to a King Grand Deluxe Grosvenor Square View Room (one of many room types) - the epitome of sophistication, with a killer view of Grosvenor Square. You really could wile away several hours in the room just staring out the window, imagining you’re in 18th century Mayfair (this works particularly well in the early hours of the morning when the roads are nice and quiet). This large room boasts bespoke decor, a king size bed, a comfortable seating area with a smart TV, an espresso machine and a desk area - particularly good for business travellers and couples.
I was travelling with my baby and it was a sunny day, so I was grateful for the cot and baby suncare products that magically appeared by the bed in the afternoon. The hotel staff are conscientious, working seamlessly to ensure guests have a comfortable and memorable stay - nothing seems to be too much trouble (I had to ask for 5 plasters for a dramatic foot injury caused by some new shoes). This is the Mayfair hospitality we expect, know and love.
Bathroom - King Grand Deluxe
The elegant bathroom accompanying the King Grand Deluxe room is complete with one the most high-tech toilets I’ve come across in a London 5-star hotel (hello heated toilet seat); plus bathrobes and slippers, Floris products (Quercus, my fave) and a powerful walk-in shower.
The views of Grosvenor Square from the bedrooms and suites at the front of the building are a huge selling point for the hotel, alongside the excellent location. Fear not if you end up in a room at the back of the hotel, I can confirm that it is also somewhat charming to have a “Mary Poppins” view of the Mayfair’s famous, mismatched buildings.
Cafe Biltmore
Cafe Biltmore - Terrace
Curated by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, Cafe Biltmore offers British cuisine with an innovative, Atherton twist. Fresh, seasonal dishes are beautifully plated and served with wine recommendations and a smile. Light and airy by day, low-lit with a romantic ambience by night, Cafe Biltmore is an ideal spot for all day dining with small and large groups of colleagues, friends and family members - the terrace is enormous, very rare for Mayfair.
James and I visited Cafe Biltmore for dinner and Sourdough bread & cultured butter and Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut, France, 2013 were first to arrive. I glanced over at the neighbouring tables - business and leisure travellers and couples mostly, enjoying dinner and drinks whilst recounting details of their day. I watched an abundance of designer shopping bags walk in with a person attached - someone definitely failed to resist the charms of nearby Mount Street…
To start, we order Crab on toast, confit lemon, natural yoghurt, sea herbs, sourdough; and Grilled King oyster mushroom salad, pickled chicory, truffle emulsion, shallot vinaigrette. Both dishes are light, fresh and flavoursome, an excellent precursor to the main. This is the second salad I’ve tried at Cafe Biltmore this year and with summer fast approaching, I know I will be back on the terrace for many more.
For the mains, we opt for Seabass, mushroom dashi, pak choi salad, spicy ponzu; and Heritage Cauliflower Roasted, couscous, baby turnips, almond foam; Tenderstem Broccoli and Sancerre Domaine Gerard Fiou, Loire, France, 2019. For a moment, I forget I am dining in the heart of Mayfair - I’m mentally in Nantes.
Dessert had to be British and European Cheeses, crackers and chutney; and Date & Walnut Sticky Toffee Pudding with salted caramel sauce, stem ginger ice cream. James and I took turns to be possessive over both dishes and in hindsight, we should have ordered another to avoid any food-related tension.
We finished with some great cocktails - Grosvenor Square - Salcome Gin, Martini Rubino, Lemon, Yuzu Juice, Champagne Syrup (when in Mayfair); and, paying homage to my Royal Navy brother’s recent return from sea, Sailors Swizzle - Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Ruby Port, Pimento Drum, Lime, Sugar Syrup. Any excuse.
The Verdict
The hotel is extremely well positioned, offering a generous slice of luxury in the heart of Mayfair. We particularly love the Biltmore Bentley, the gym, Cafe Biltmore’s expansive terrace and the lounge areas on each floor of the hotel, designed for moments of calm. Whether you’re hopping between meetings on Berkeley Square, partying at Annabel’s until the early hours, or chasing your children through nearby Green Park, you’ll want to end up at The Biltmore Mayfair.
44 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London W1K 2HP
Tel: +44 20 7629 9400 | Email: LONGS.GM@hilton.com
