Hotel Xenia London – New Boutique Hotel in South Kensington

Heidi Fuller-love visits the latest boutique hotel to open in South Kensington, Hotel Xenia.

Seamlessly linking the modern chic of a glass-conservatory-style restaurant, with the ageless style of a Georgian building that wouldn’t look out of place in Moll Flanders, the façade of this brand new hotel along the Cromwell road neatly reflects the blend of olde-worlde charm and sleek mod cons within.

As the doors of Hotel Xenia swished open there was a heady whiff of beeswax and hot coffee, then the doors hissed shut and I was standing in the lobby with its dusty gold club chairs, cranberry curtains and elegant Tom Kirk crystal chandeliers dangling from the high ceiling.

After a welcoming iced orange juice cocktail in the lobby, I followed the porter upstairs and along an endless warren of corridors to my executive suite.

Spread out over five floors, Hotel Xenia’s 99 rooms are decked out in tones of beige, caramel and pistachio, with splashes of colour in scatter cushions and curtains.

Extra luxurious touches include deliciously soft, hand-woven cashmere blankets, Samsung tablets loaded with easy-to-navigate tips on local travel and attractions, and L’Occitane bathroom toiletries.

The Hotel xenia’s rooms come in four categories: classic rooms provide a cosy space that’s ideal for couples, whilst slightly more spacious executive rooms have king-size beds.

Perfect for families, or couples who need more space, deluxe rooms have a small, but comfortable lounge area and the extra perk of complimentary light refreshments in the lounge from 5pm to 7pm.

Honeymooners, or families who plan to stay for a  while, will want to choose the hotel’s sumptuous suite, which has a separate lounge area, private balcony with panoramic views over the city and vast Turkish-hammam style bathroom, complete with steam room.

That evening I had dinner in Evoluzione, Hotel Xenia’s glass conservatory-style restaurant, whose chef, Pasquale D’Ambrosio, is an acolyte of Cucina Evolution.

Seated on the top deck of the split-level dining room I admired the colourfully intricate Bohemian wallpaper, patterned with drinking goblets, that was designed by Cole & Sons.

Sipping a cooling spritzer, I leafed through the menu. Cucina Evolution is a pioneering Italian culinary movement whose idea is to serve dishes made from healthy food that is known to have anti ageing properties.

Translating as a lot of fresh ingredients packed with vitamins and minerals, it sounded a bit like eating at a health farm.

Luckily the Parmigiana di melenzane Aubergine millefeuille with buffalo mozzarella, caramelized tomatoes, sundried tomatoes and basil was ‘full of lycopene and antioxidants’ and the Ricordi d’ infanzia Pacchero with fresh fish, asparagus and cannellini beans ‘packed with Vitamin-B’ were so delicious that I forgot that they were good for me too.

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