Suite spot: why The Hari is more than a luxury hotel

In one of the Studio King Suites with its signature cowhide rug, white marble bathroom and great London views. Distinctly suave with dark furniture, leather upholstery and rich tones, this is definitively the place to put stylish business people up for the night. 

Comfort is a given at The Hari with a king-size bed complete with cloudy pillows. The snug bay window sofa (perfect for curling up in with a glass of wine and one of the coffee table magazines on offer in the room – Vanity Fair, Monocle, Time Magazine) is another plus.  

The ultimate luxury experience, though, happens in the bathroom. There’s a giant walk-in shower but the standout feature is the built-in tub in the bay window. We had a full bubble-bath soak in there while gazing out over the city while enjoying some bubbles of the drinkable variety – bliss. 

Other appreciated amenities include portable ‘handy phones’ providing free international calls, internet, 3G and guides to the local area – ideal for international guests or non-Londoners looking to explore. 

In the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Il Pampero, on the ground floor which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both chefs and staff are Italian, so the food is authentic and waiters are knowledgeable. 

Simple ingredients with big flavours are presented with sophistication. Tender beef carpaccio served with soft artichoke and salty, truffled castelmagno cheese?  Delicious. The squid ink tonnarello served with fresh prawns and lime came with perfectly al-dente pasta and bags of flavour. For dessert, Il Pampero’s signature take on a tiramisu was presented with the waiter pouring the coffee sauce over it tableside, offering a bit of theatre to finish the meal.  

The interiors do their part, too – Italian chic with vintage glamour provide a classic look. The dining room features deep green upholstery, golden accents and fresh shrubbery. We especially like the half-moon window booths, creating intimacy. Thank you, Tara Bernerd (the interior mastermind behind it).

READ MORE: All your private dining needs here 

It’s worth noting that the restaurant comes complete with a private dining room (offering specially designed menus), called The Muse. Seating up to 24 people, the airy space is a rather luxurious spot for a meeting too, with a handy plasma screen and floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of natural light. 

READ MORE: The best spots for a conference 

The attentive service. Fresh newspapers in the morning (either brought to your room by request or picked up in the restaurant for breakfast), porters opening the door for you or the offer of an umbrella when it’s raining are things that don’t go unnoticed. 

We also liked the top-floor bar, which is entirely events-ready with its semi-private mezzanine, The Snug, and outdoor garden terrace. The Snug has a private members’ club feel to it (we love the fireplace and plush cashmere sofas) – we would go for a drinks reception with canapés here. It seats 20, but has a 60-person standing capacity.  

The bar itself holds 180 standing, making it ideal for a party – you’ve got the chance to hire out the adjoining terrace as well for an extra 30 guests. As there are permanent heaters, you can have events here year-round, and we imagine a dinner (for 15 people max), would be pretty spectacular.