THERE are some addresses that immediately evoke glamour and style and 45 Park Lane is one of them. First opened as a Dorchester Collection hotel in 2011, it has become renowned among those in the know as the place to find the best steak in town, best secret pool, best penthouse view and the best after dinner cocktails.
Art curated by Lily Ackerman in the lobby
Let’s start with CUT – the legendary steakhouse at the hotel and the first European restaurant from renowned Austrian-American chef Wolfgang Puck. Currently helmed by culinary director Elliott Grover, CUT offers an exceptional selection of steaks including rare Wagyu cuts. I tried the Wagyu filet mignon, which melted in the mouth like butter, with a phenomenal homemade pepper sauce and a side of bone marrow.
None of these were complex ingredients but the magic of CUT is the incredible results that highly skilled hands produce with excellent, simple raw materials. To create the best tasting piece of meat you’ve ever tasted in your life with nothing more than some basic seasoning is truly an art.
The penthouse suite terrace
The swimming pool
Moving on to the spa, it is easy to see why it has been named one of the best spas in the UK list by the AA. The large subterranean pool is surrounded from floor to ceiling by stunning floral mosaics and there is a sauna, hammam, state of the art gym and stunning relaxation lounge.
The spa menu offers tailored facials featuring products from brands such as ishga, which uses the natural powers of Hebridean seaweed and blends ancient methods like acupressure and Ayurvedic massage with cutting-edge, clinical-grade products.
As you journey through the hotel you will notice the wealth of art dotted around. This is part of an ever-evolving collection created by Lily Ackerman, the hotel’s resident curator. Lily chooses an artist for each floor and on that floor explores the artist’s works throughout the rooms and suites so that each guest will have a different experience of that artist. All pieces have been created for or embellished for the hotel, with many pieces being exclusive commissions.
There is so much more that could be said about 45 Park Lane but words cannot do justice. You simply have to experience it for yourself.
by Nicola Kavanagh
Rooms starting from £950 per night