Number Sixteen

I bought a Miller Harris candle (citron citron) as a souvenir of my recent stay at Number Sixteen. The London perfumer's scent lightly wafts through the hotel premises. Now that I'm home in the States, the candle serves as a mental transport to the memory of a delightful stay at one of the best hotels I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. However, I'd much rather be at Number Sixteen in person.

Without exception, the staff members were friendly, helpful, super competent, and polite. Our room was comfortable, quiet, and beautifully decorated. The bathroom was small to the point of comical, requiring some crab-walking to get from shower to sink, but I decided it was a minor (very clean, nicely appointed) inconvenience compared to the wonderful benefits provided by a stay at this place.

There's no restaurant, but the room service menu provides ample choices to assuage hunger. My daughter and I enjoyed excellent grilled sandwiches and drinks in the hotel library one night after a day fighting crowds and never once considered London's multitude of glittering dining options a better choice. Breakfasts are served in a conservatory that opens onto a verdant courtyard garden, dotted with white geraniums and red rose standards and cloistered by leafy, arching branches overhead. I enjoyed warm, soft-boiled eggs; perfectly-cooked bacon; toast, and a bottomless teacup while contemplating that peaceful view. I should have asked where to buy that tasty marmalade; I could use another sensory memory prompt to help satisfy my desire to return to Number Sixteen.

You have to have an interest in beautiful places that feel like home to love this place. They are not your ordinary hotels, but I go out of my way to stay at the Firmdale hotels because I have never stayed at a hotel that made me feel more at home, cozy and surrounded by beautiful things. The rooms here can be smallish, compared to the rooms that I have stayed in at The Covent Garden, but then, the price is smallish compared to The Covent Garden. There is a lovely honor bar, where you feel just like you have landed in your wealthy English cousin's sitting room, over stuffed couches, nice wines and big juicy delish olives. Slightly avant garde art in a beautifully overblown, yet intimately designed setting, beautiful linens, marble baths (even the smallest rooms have gorgeous perfectly laid out jewel box baths). And very high ceilings, that seem to make the more petite rooms seem not so small. Lovely staff too, I have stayed at Firmdale hotels 4 or 5 times and I have never met an unpleasant staff member. Quite seriously, I just want to live in this hotel.

The room, and hotel in general, is cleverly decorated, and has great attention to details. Like stepping into an interior magazine. Fantastic bathroom, and lovely little chocholate boxes are nice touches.

The breakfast was very good indeed, althoug the small breakfast lounge was pretty cramped, and we had to argue over whether it was included or not (it was).

The location is not particularly interesting, and it is overpriced (unless you can get a good deal). The self service bar is amusing, but surprisingly expencive for a self service feature.

The staff in the reception were flat out unfriendly, and are the sole reason why I will not return to this hotel anytime soon.