The Hilton Waldorf
We stayed at the Hilton Waldorf. Opened in 1908, it has the luxurious grandeur of an Edwardian hotel with the corporate amenities one would expect from Hilton. The grand pillared dining rooms, art deco glamor, architecture, and regally dressed doorman certainly give this hotel some charm. The hotel is right in the heart of Covent Garden making it easy to access the London theatres and key entertainment areas of the city.
The rooms have a palette of blue and white with framed images of film stars of yesteryear and an art deco print carpet.
The bathrooms are contemporary, the art deco carpet print is incorporated into the light display on the mirror and marble tops. Bathtubs come with large with vintage taps and hoses with a rainforest shower .
The breakfast is pretty decent. You can have made to order dishes and a reasonable buffet selection as a Hilton Honors elite member.
Claridges Bar
Our favourite bar in the world would have to be Claridges Bar. I love the beautiful leather backed chairs, marble bar area, varnished tables and the natural light that flows through during the day.
We start with cocktails before we commence our lunch.
We then move onto lunch. We opt for the Lobster Wellington which is served with truffle French fries, salad and a sauce Americaine.
The dish is the epitome of decadence, lobster from Dorset, buttery puff pastry, prawn mousse with an intense sauce Americane made from the shellfish bones. Each mouthful of flaky pastry is melded with soft mousse and the succulent tender lobster. When paired with the sauce Americane, which is a creamy sauce with the flow of oceanic salinity, its heaven with each mouthful. The pungent aroma and crunch of truffle fries completes the experience while the salad does provide a freshness and balance to the richness of the experience.
We pair this with a bottle of the Domaine Arlaud ‘Oka’ 2017 from Burgundy. The wine is a nice match to the lobster, on the palate it’s got a luscious flow of tart cherry and strawberries flavours with notes of rustic earthiness, while soft tannins and good acidity give the wine a perfect structure and flow.
We continue the afternoon sipping away. It’s the perfect afternoon.
Burger & Lobster
If you thought we might be filled with enough lobster never to eat another lobster again, then think…. well think again. We enjoyed a lovely dinner on our final night in London with burgers, lobster rolls and lobster at the aptly named Burger & Lobster.
London Exploring
We had a beautiful time exploring London for a few days before we commenced our adventures on the European continent. One of my favourite moments was this early morning snap on Westminster Bridge with not a soul in sight.
