biG getaway
biG getaway 01 The wraparound balcony of the London Suite
A Night at the Playboy Mansion
02 CUT at 45 Park Lane
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As a big fan of the Dorchester Collection, I’ve been longing to visit 45 Park Lane in Mayfair, formerly the site of the notorious Playboy Club, for a long time. This legendary gentry playground was reopened in September 2011 as The Dorchester Collection’s third outpost in the UK - after The Dorchester which is just steps away from it, and Coworth Park - bringing high class hospitality to Hugh Hefner’s former London haunt.
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Borneo.Insider’s.Guide
The entrance to 45 Park Lane 06 Big Eye Tuna Tartar 04
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Text: Wan Zainal Abidin Images: Dorchester Collection
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03 Penthouse dining room
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I arrived at 45 Park Lane on a sunny October afternoon and was immediately greeted by a dedicated host who guided me through the hotel and completed the check-in procedures in the comfort of my own suite. Each guest is assigned a host who looks after your every whim and fancy from arrival to departure - an experience that is usually associated with the finest private clubs.
terrace and soaking in the London vibe while capturing some of the best views of The Shard and The London Eye to post on my Instagram account, much to the envy of my friends. Of course one of the star attractions of my stay was having perfect steaks and salads created by the chefs at Cut, Wolfgang Puck’s debut restaurant in Europe. What makes this restaurant special is the constant flow of guests - from eccentrics and ladies-who-lunch to media darlings and starlets - who flock to this restaurant for its outstanding cuisine. While Cut offers some of the best dining experiences in London, The Dorchester offers some amazing cuisine from Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse and halal Cantonese options from China Tang. As a matter of fact, my host organized quite a few in-room meals for me from the Dorchester kitchens including the most scrumptious scones from The Promenade.
Thierry Despont, the famous French designer who is responsible for the interiors of most of the hotels in the Dorchester Collection, has successfully infused a contemporary edge with an Art Deco design into this landmark building featuring distinctive aluminium fins that wrap around the exterior of every floor. The hotel is wellknown for its dynamic art collection that includes paintings and unique prints by art luminaries such as Sir Peter Blake, Christian Furr, Brendan Neiland and Damien Hirst.
The Bar at 45 Park Lane, with its perfect setting, lavish Art Deco detailing and a sumptuous bar menu with Wolfgang Puck’s dishes that include mini kobe beef sliders and spicy tuna tartar cones, seems to be the favourite hangout of visiting scenesters who come in to indulge in pre-dinner cocktails and nightcaps. With so many offerings within this hotel, it is very easy to not want to venture out at all. But then the myriad designer boutiques just behind the hotel lining Mount Street are begging to be discovered.
I was assigned the luxurious London Suite that has an adjoining living and dining room and a wraparound balcony. The suite is so big it occupies one corner of the sixth floor of this 45-room hotel. I spent most of my evenings having pre-dinner cocktails on the
45 PARK LANE Mayfair, London W1K 1PN Tel: (44) 20 7493 4545 Borneo.Insider’s.Guide
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