Metropolitan by COMO London

The Scene

Mayfair’s Old Park Lane possesses all the charms and exquisite taste of the “new” Park Lane---and don’t let anyone tell you any differently. The Metropolitan by COMO London sits catty corner to both Hyde Park and Green Park, 10 minutes from Buckingham Palace itself. In fact, you can even walk to Piccadilly Circus in 20 minutes if you were so inclined. London’s top neighborhoods are at your doorstep, costing you but a short walk: aristocratic St James’ is just northeast and the shopping mecca of Knightsbridge is southwest. Should you wish to travel like a local, you’re decently connected via Tube and buses; should you wish to dress like one, Savile Row is 15 minutes away on foot. The concierge desk is tremendously helpful in recommending offbeat places and neighborhoods to visit, so be sure to stop by for some local advice.

The Concept

The Metropolitan by COMO London is possessed by a strong sense of Zen tranquility with the sleek minimalism favored by high fashion. Indeed, creator and owner Christina Ong’s eye for perfection is what imbues the Metropolitan with its signature atmosphere of fashionably refined elegance. (The Armani-clad staff also helps, but of course you can credit COMO’s mistress for that.) Where nearby sister property The Halkin is more of reclusive hideaway, the Metropolitan embraces its more visible role in the London limelight. Nobu, made famous by the venerated chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, occupies a sacred space at the Metropolitan, complimenting the elegant and suave atmosphere with Michelin-starred Peruvian-Japanese cuisine. (The black miso cod is as tantalizing as ever, by the way.) The Met Bar, revived in 1997 by Ong’s daughter, has thrown out the members cards yet retained its cultivated atmosphere that keeps London’s in-crowd coming back again and again. To cap the experience, Ong set up a full COMO Shambhala Urban Escape Spa that offers trademark wellness programs as well as well-loved COMO treatments.

The Look

The Metropolitan’s--and, for that matter, COMO’s--signature super-refined minimalism echoes the tranquility you expect to find in a spa and drives the design concept. Uncluttered spartan style is the order of the day, but you’ll find yourself absorbed in the luxurious details and energized by the simplicity of regal purple carpets, sleek pines, and bright white. The rooms are exceptionally large for London, drawing on the natural light and view that come with such a location as Hyde Park and Park Lane. The Como Suite penthouse is utterly stunning with its expansive views, but truthfully we love the Park Studio rooms for their ample space for exercise (to make use of the conveniently-placed yoga mats in the room) as well as the views over Hyde Park. The City Rooms are just the thing for a business traveler or avid letter-writer with perhaps the largest desk we’ve seen in a long while.

In Short

The Metropolitan by COMO continues to provide the absolute tops of what modern, health-conscious travelers are after: a sophisticated respite from the grind of daily life and rejuvenating atmosphere.