The Arch, London – Review

Conveniently situated less than five minutes from Marble Arch station, The Arch London spans seven Grade II townhouses and oozes Georgian charm from the outset. Behind the somewhat understated period exterior that could almost be mistaken for a grand private residence, lies a chic, modern interior that immediately feels welcoming.

On arrival we were greeted by the friendly reception staff and swiftly shown to our lower ground floor suite, Sullivan 785, and given a comprehensive run through of the rooms many features and facilities. It was immediately clear that no detail had been spared in the design of The Arch’s 82 guest rooms. Each are individually and sympathetically decorated to emphasize the properties architecture, resulting in a stylish but relaxing ambience.

The focal point of our room was the huge glass doors that led out onto a private courtyard, an unexpected treat considering only minutes before we had been fighting our way through the hustle and bustle of nearby Oxford Street. The room was extremely well equipped with a luxurious king size bed, a generously stocked mini bar with complimentary soft drinks, enough wardrobe racks to accommodate the unpacking of even the largest of suitcases and a spacious dressing area. The room also features a seating area with chars and a sofa, offering a comfortable space to unwind and make use of the extensive selections of teas and coffees on offer. I must also mention the bathroom, which for a central London hotel is extremely well sized and offered the choice of a large bath or luxurious double rain shower.

As a self-confessed technology buff, one thing that cannot go unnoticed is the abundance of gadgets on offer. Our room boasted not one, not two but three flat screen televisions including one discreetly concealed in the foot of the bed and another in the bathroom for those wishing to watch television whilst having a soak. The room also had a comprehensive music system with Internet radio and an iPod docking station, a Nespresso coffee machine and high speed complimentary WIFI.

As we were only staying at The Arch for one evening we quickly unpacked our overnight bag and made our way to the bar in search of a pre-dinner drink. The stylish bar area is situated within the Hunter 486 restaurant and we opted for the barman`s recommendation of Gin & Elderflower Collins cocktails. We were not disappointed, the cocktails were fabulous and the staff were extremely friendly and attentive.

We decided to eat dinner at the Hunter 486 restaurant and this turned out to be a great decision. The menu combines fine dining with simple, wholesome cuisine, just what we needed after a busy day in the Capital. I opted for the white onion and smoked bacon tart followed by the stone baked Scottish salmon with nicoise potatoes and mustard hollandaise sauce and was pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes. My partner chose a simple Caesar salad followed by a rocket and egg pizza which was equally delicious. We followed the main course with a serving of seasonal fruit crumble with mascarpone cream, a delicious end to a wonderful meal.

If you are planning a visit make sure you allow time for a leisurely breakfast. The comprehensive buffet and mouth watering A la Carte menu will set you up perfectly for a busy day of business or leisure in the City. The cooked breakfast is very tasty, although I would also thoroughly recommend the porridge, which is served with an array of treats including fresh berries, banana, granola and syrup. Also make sure you try the orange juice – trust me, it`s really, really good.

Overall we had a wonderful stay at The Arch and it has certainly made our short list of favourite boutique hotels in London. If you prefer the personal touch when it comes to five star luxury and value attention to detail over the offerings of an International chain, The Arch will not disappoint. With it`s central location, friendly staff, well equipped spacious rooms and stylish décor, this is a home from home boutique hotel that you will not want to check out of!