The Berkeley

Review of Blue Bar – Saturday, 22nd We decided to have a drink at Blue Bar before our dinner at La Mome, drawn in by its charming and cosy ambience. Unfortunately, the experience fell below expectations. A large group was seated behind us, celebrating an occasion, and they were extremely loud—so much so that we struggled to have a conversation. While we fully understood that celebrations can be lively, what made the experience disappointing was the attitude of the staff when we raised the issue. We politely asked our server if it was possible to move to the quieter section of the bar. Her response was that the area was closed. When we mentioned that we had seen it open just 10 minutes prior, she explained that they had to close it due to a staffing shortage. While she remained polite, there was no effort to show hospitality, flexibility, or a willingness to accommodate us. The message was clear: this is how it is and nothing can be done. We finished our drinks and decided to leave, as it didn’t feel like there was any effort to enhance our experience. While we understand limitations like staffing shortages, a more hospitable approach would have made a difference. Thankfully, our experience at La Mome was excellent and made up for the underwhelming start to our evening.

We found this hotel quite stark and unwelcoming. Quite overpriced. The entry is industrial at best, and the rooms are either old fashioned & worn, or far too modern to be particularly comfortable, with wood flooring ‘ rigs instead of carpets. The staff are very friendly and are clearly trying to be welcoming, but the whole environment doesn’t feel particularly luxurious to us. Perhaps it depends on one’s definition of luxury. Have an afternoon tea at the Dorchester and you’ll understand the difference. The Berkeley is good for very young people who haven’t seen too much (or those who are in midlife crisis and like to think they’re young), and those who like the location and don’t really care about aesthetics. For the pricing, we found it lacking, and would rather pay more for proper luxury than be overcharged for every cent in an uncomfortable environment. We went to sit in the lobby lounge to have a tea after being out all morning, and a prissy gentleman dressed like a guest asked ‘do you have a reservation?!’ It’s a lobby lounge darling, and we were (unwelcome) guests, relax. We left… The spa is lovely, but also quite unwelcoming in the end. “If you’re not a guest or a member (yearly fee, useless if you only visit the city 5-6 times a year), then you can’t come here” - kind of fake trying to be exclusive. Overall it feels very contrived and misses the mark for us entirely. Luxury is about being made to feel comfortable and welcome, which we most definitely did not. I’ve never been so happy to check out of a hotel. Well, yes I have but this was one of those on top of the list. We wouldn’t stay here again.