Review of The Dorchester - Dorchester Collection

The Dorchester sits on Park Lane – London's most famous thoroughfare - a few hundred metres south of Marble Arch. To the west is the vast & verdant expanse of Hyde Park, to the east is central Mayfair – home to some of the finest boutiques & restaurants in London and finally, Hyde Park Corner to the south. Just a few steps from the front doors is its sister property 45 Park Lane - complete with London's premier steakhouse - CUT and a stunning 20-metre indoor swimming pool.

The Dorchester is 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from Heathrow Airport, just a short car journey from the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras Station, the Heathrow Express terminal at Waterloo Station and from Victoria Station - which offers a direct rail link to Gatwick Airport.

The Dorchester offers 194 individually designed guest bedrooms with king, twin, or queen beds, plus 56 suites and three roof suites - all set over eight floors.

Whether you opt for an entry-level room or a Signature Suite, you will experience the same superlative levels of service, facilities and amenities. The marble bathrooms boast Aromatherapy Associates natural body & skincare products, there is a discreet - and optional - packing & unpacking service, and you are offered views of either Hyde Park or Mayfair.

For added luxury, the hotel’s selection of Signature Suites do not disappoint. They range from the quintessentially-British Oliver Messel Suite: an iconic, listed space designed by theatre set designer Oliver Messel, to the prestigious Harlequin Penthouse - a roof suite with a sparkling history of illustrious guests, and a private terrace with fabulous views across Hyde Park.

All of the Signature Suites are unique and offer guests & their families the height of luxury hotel living. Guests have access to a Butler to service their needs, as well as private entrances and airport transfers in one of The Dorchester’s fleet of cars.

Guest room sizes start at 26 square metres (280 square feet) and increase to 165 square metres (1776 square feet) for the Harlequin Suite.

The Dorchester Doormen hold an incredibly special place in the lives of all the hotel guests. They pride themselves on the service they provide to the guests and indeed those just visiting The Dorchester for a drink, a meal or just to take in the hotel’s unique atmosphere. Valet parking is available through the Doormen. The Concierge is on hand around the clock to book or source anything you need – from restaurant reservations to a golf buggy. 

The Dorchester is a family-friendly hotel, and the Staff enjoy organising birthday surprises for their younger guests. At Christmas, the hotel constructs a special Santa’s Grotto in the lobby - filled with sweets and toys. It is a delight for both children and adults alike!  

The Dorchester Spa offers a host of facials, massages, body, grooming and general beauty treatments - for both him & her - using Carol Joy, Aromatherapy Associates and Valmont products. There are nine treatment rooms including two doubles. There are special treatments available for pregnant mothers, a dedicated manicure/pedicure suite, and an aromatic steam room is available to clear the mind and cleanse the soul after a long day shopping or sightseeing. The Spa offers yoga lessons, personal fitness sessions in the gym and even an accompanied power-walk in Hyde Park. The Dorchester Spa now offers treatments by the award-winning international super facialist Adeela Crown. Guests of The Dorchester can also use the facilities at 45 Park Lane which includes an indoor swimming pool and state of the art fitness centre. 45 Park Lane - The Dorchester's London sister property - is less than a minutes walk from the hotel. 

The Dorchester boasts an impressive roster of hotel cars that can be used to transport individuals or families to/from airports or on shopping & sightseeing expeditions around London. There are three special Rolls-Royce cars available to hire – including a 1964 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine that was once owned by the late Princess Margaret.

The Dorchester is also home to the The Ballroom which can host up to 1000 guests. Over the decades, The Ballroom has been used for society weddings and awards ceremonies.

The Dorchester is fully wheelchair accessible.

The hotel is pet friendly and there is a special pet amenity which includes a food bowl, pet-bed, and yummy treats! However, pets are not allowed in the restaurants or the Spa/fitness area. 

Compared to many of the buildings that house the grand dame luxury hotels of London, The Dorchester is relatively new. Built in the late 1920s, it was the first in England to use only reinforced concrete on the outer structure. Its Art Deco styling is instantly recognisable. Incredibly, the hotels eight floors were constructed in just 10 weeks. The hotel’s first owner – legendary building magnate Sir Malcolm McAlpine stated that he wanted The Dorchester to be “bomb, earthquake and fire proof”. Indeed, in World War Two, the hotel only suffered a few broken windows while many areas of the capital were destroyed. The front of the hotel features three windows on each floor. The façade can be lit up with colour and create a new look – albeit temporary - on demand. Using reinforced concrete meant that the interior did not require huge pillars or supporting walls to hold up the building. Consequently, you will find large open public areas, spacious restaurants and “room to breathe”.

The hotel is blanketed in swathes of marble edged with golf leaf. Opulent chandeliers hang from the ceilings. The Dorchester is a magnificent melange of colour and design down to the dark green uniforms that are worn by the Doormen – introduced in 1980. While many of the guest rooms and suites are classically designed using pastel colours to bring out the feeling of luxury, The Dorchester does feature some contemporary designed rooms that suit the very modern traveller. 

The biggest renovation of the hotel has commenced - starting wirh the main entrance. The Promenade and The Bar at The Dorchester, as well as two guest floors, with this work to be complete by September. 

The Dorchester was the original hotel dining destination in London.

Today, the hotel's jewel in the crown is the three Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.  SImply put, this is one of the top dining experiences in London. Ducasse – whose restaurants internationally have earned him 20 Michelin stars – appointed Jean-Philippe Blondet as his Executive Chef – and he conjures up dishes including sautéed lobster with a chicken cream – which is an epicurist's dream. Blondet has also created a vegetarian menu using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.   

The Grill at The Dorchester offers a contemporary “British grill” experience. With innovative dishes like “The Grill's lobster thermidor tart”, Tom Booton is fast becoming one of the most respected young chefs in London. The Grill Bar offers contemporary and classic cocktails along with the more usual wines and spirits. The Grill at The Dorchester offers an à la carte breakfast that is among the tastiest available in London.

China Tang was opened in 2005 by the late Hong Kongese entrepreneur David Tang. His aim was to bring traditional Cantonese cuisine to The Dorchester and serve it in one of the most beautiful dining rooms in London. This Art Deco Shanghai palace indeed offers the diner stunning cuisine in a magnificent surround. The Peking Duck experience is second to none in London. 

The Promenade offers all-day dining including a traditional English afternoon tea display that is only rivalled by The Ritz. Cakes, sandwiches, and fresh tea make up the offering … and the service is faultless.

The Dorchester Rooftop - on the hotel's 9th floor - is a welcome addition to the hotel's dining experiences. Weather-permitting, diners can enjoy live music, stunning views of London, light bites and cocktails prepared by a host of talented mixologists. (The Dorchester Rooftop is currently closed but will reopen on February 21st).

One of the hotel’s latest additions is the Parcafé. Here you can enjoy coffee and snacks on the move. It is a Mayfair coffee-shop for the well-heeled. 

Finally, The Dorchester offers two other wonderful dining options; The Chef’s Table - located next to the main kitchen where diners partake in exclusive meals while watching the chefs at work and The Wine Vault – where the hotel’s master sommelier takes you on a world tour of wine that would make any oenophile quaff with joy. 

The Dorchester Bar invites guests to relax & unwind … and if they are not up for a restaurant meal, they can always retire to their rooms and order room service.

The Dorchester retains a green team that upholds the company’s responsibility to environmental issues. The hotel actively plants trees and limits water wastage on the property.