Although our last visit was five years ago, the staff deftly demonstrated their power of retention, recalling our partiality to halal food and anything chocolate. This allowed us to enjoy some of the best in-room dining options and a special entry pass into the Chocolate Room (more later). A mere mention of their signature strawberry shortcake would soon see the staff running to the Boutique and surprising us with the dessert. At breakfast in the laidback and atmospheric The Verandah, the server – and they were never one of the same – always knew how we preferred our eggs. We’re not sure how this was so, but The Verandah soon became our favourite part of the hotel, thanks to the insanely generous breakfast spread that had the most delicate onsen tomago we’ve ever tasted. So back to that Chocolate Room. This latest addition to the hotel, with its colourful glazed mosaic tiles, is a narrow strip in the back kitchen and the epicentre for all of the hotel’s chocolate creations. Off limits to guests, we were given the privilege to enter and meet Maître Chocolatier, Marijn Coertjenshaute, who creates exquisite chocolate butterfly centrepieces and everyday bon bon indulgences (think lemon and basil, caramel with sea salt and heartwarming apple pie). Thankfully, guests can purchase them at the Peninsula Boutique.
The Chocolate Room was not the only thing we adored. The Peninsula has long been known for pioneering the next generation of in-room technology. A recent refurbishment now has at least three nifty tablets in every room that lets you work on everything. From controlling all room functions to calling for in-room dining and whatever else tickles your fancy, it’s the one gadget that rules them all. Oh, and did we mention you can also make free international calls with its wireless VOIP phone? Yes. Perhaps next they could think of video calls – since the views from our room were simply too amazing not to share. Yet, amid all these refinement, The Peninsula never forgets age-old traditions that have defined them. Case in point: the legendary afternoon tea. Still hosted
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