On a quiet street in the heart of Knightsbridge, London, The Capital Hotel holds a prime position in shoppers’ heaven. Not only is it surrounded by high-end designers, but just around the corner is Harrods, and Harvey Nichols is a minute’s walk up the road.
The location is easy to get to what with a tube station down the road, buses serving Brompton Road and of course a black cab! But if you are driving in it is worth calling ahead as The Capital has 8 parking spaces underneath the hotel.
Traditional and old-fashioned with true British character the interiors haven’t greatly changed since the hotel opened in the Seventies; in fact, Toby in reception told us all about the fireplace in the lobby which is an original and very welcoming on a cold day!
The old-world charm and Victorian townhouse appeal have been retained which is nice to step into an old looking but stylish hotel in this part of town. Adjoining next door is The Levin Hotel a luxury boutique hotel also owned by the same group.Friendly concierges open the door to décor that mainlines on wood panelling, oil paintings and brassy accents. The ‘mini grand hotel’ has 49 rooms and 8 suites, a small lobby, bar and restaurant, so the atmosphere feels personal the moment you walk in. The reception area is not huge, but the staff are very attentive and quickly checked me in with ease welcoming me like I had returned home.
After checking in I took the elevator to the fifth floor where I would be spending the night and with an old-fashioned key that I had no chance of losing (it has a big wooden block on the end – I recommend leaving your key at reception when heading out!) I entered to find a bathroom on the left, large cupboard area, with lots of hangers and a safe. Venturing further in the room a comfy bed with top quality linen – I found out the next morning you can call down to reception and get different styles of pillows off the pillow menu.
All rooms have Handy Phones, robes and slippers, large televisions with various channels and many amenities you’d expect from five-star hotels, including a good selection of Temple Spa toiletries.
The bathroom is adequate, the water is fine – a good temperature and I had a lovely shower with the provided products, there is a hairdryer and the towels are soft, the bathrobe provided is lovely to slip into after a shower. The only thing I could recommend for them to add is some more products – for two of us we only had enough products for one.In the morning a breakfast buffet is laid out in the bar area and comprises cereals, pastries, breads, yogurts, fresh fruits and fruit salad options. You can help yourself to fresh juice and tea and coffee. Hot options such as French Toast with Bacon (highly recommended), full English and porridge is served to your table. This area is also a restaurant called Outlaw’s which I did not get to try as I was busy drinking cocktails with the fabulous Bar staff Paulo and Kamil the night before! The restaurant I have been informed is fantastic and you can also have afternoon tea here as well.
The Cocktail masterclass that was laid on for us was a wonderful evening with the friendly bar staff and learning how the bar used to be a whisky bar and now vermouth is the “cocktail in a bottle” from Paulo. Rob Roy, Negroni and Espresso Martini’s were made using various liquors and concoctions from Paulo, it was interesting to learn that vermouth should never be shaken and how whisky cannot be insured unless it is in travel mode!
Kamil explained about a whisky masterclass they do where they pair it with cheeses, and we are looking forward to trying that out at another date! The bar area is warm and cosy and there are tall seats at the bar or sofa seats around the side with cushions. The bar menu has a great selection of cocktails or the amazing team will make you anything your heart desires!Food is also available in the bar and the little snacks they give you as you sit down are most welcome; Japanese crackers and nuts – these were very nice while devouring the tasty cocktails! We were looked after brilliantly and even though they were serving other guests it felt like we were having all their time with great chat and laughter. We were given a surprise cocktail from Paulo which we nicknamed “End of the night” as it was a nice, smooth, coffee-based cocktail – a bit like an Espresso Martini but using Red Leg Rum from Jamaica. A nice end to a fantastic evening with the team.
Overall the hotel feels intimate and tucked away, which is a real bonus when visiting the busy capital of London. I had a pleasant stay and could not praise the staff enough for their attentive service throughout my stay. I received nothing but friendly and mindful service throughout – the hotel is the essence of luxury in a classic style and the service is the perfect blend of professional and friendly a capital time was had!
The Capital Hotel
22-24 Basil Street
Knightsbridge
London
SW3 1AT
United Kingdom
