From the outside, the Westbury Mayfair is pretty unassuming.
The only hint that there’s some magic lurking inside, is the smartly dressed doormen and luxury cars standing on call outside.
With the doors swiftly opened to welcome me in, I soon forgot about the hustle and bustle of the London streets beyond.
The Westbury has a way of transporting you to a world of old school sophistication, with dark lighting, art deco-styled furnishings, swathes of wood panelling and fresh flowers setting the tone.
I’d stepped into the 225-room venue to check out one of its top pads, a superior corner suite on the fifth floor, which comes in just over £900 a night.
I was attending a James Bond themed dinner at The Distillery in West London that evening, so thought I’d round out the night in true style.
You can’t get more Bond than the Westbury!
‘This is one of our top rooms in the house,’ a friendly member of staff told me as he took me up to my inn for the night.
The hotel recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment and as I navigated the corridors, I spied springy carpets, sparkling surfaces and smooth swathes of fresh paint.
The first thing I noticed on walking into the corner suite was how light it was.
The sun was beaming in through the windows as it slowly set over the Mayfair rooftops.
From the hallway I stepped onto a spacious lounge area, complete with a large mini bar cabinet, TV sofas and dining table and desk area.
Double doors on the other side of the room led through to the bedroom, with a king-sized bed dressed in crisp and neatly-folded linens.
Completing the room was a master bathroom, clad from floor-to-ceiling in swirling marble. Other alluring features included a deep tub, magnified vanity mirror and fluffy robe hanging on the door.
There was also an array of luxury Aspery bathroom products to play with, including bath salts – a cleaning condiment which is often neglected!
Next to the lounge there was a small toilet for guests.
Bidding the butler adieu, I settled into the suite and got ready for my night out.
Next to the bed there was a sound system that was compatible with my iPhone and the quality was more than ample.
Indulging in a spot of champagne, I swiftly got changed and had a quick shower.
I took a final glug of the sparkling elixir before stepping out.
The Westbury has a way of making you feel a little like a movie star, and in the elevator a black and white photograph of Marylyn Monroe added to the sense of revelling in some lost, forgotten golden era.
At my dinner in west London, all I could think about was the suite awaiting my arrival and the big bed was calling my name.
Immediately, after my James Bond dining experience ended, I darted out the door, called an Uber, and transferred back to my palatial home for the night.
The doormen were there to greet me, their smiles a silent comfort in my slightly intoxicated state.
I put my key into the slot and walked into the suite with a spring in my step.
The sun light was no longer, but the lighting in the suite was soft and flattering to the skin.
I slipped into my fluffy robe and decided to take a bath, with a glass of champagne to hand.
The night soon turned into a haze, as I passed out in the soft king size bed.
I woke the next morning at 8am. The entire suite was dark thanks to the effective black-out blinds.
Rolling out of bed, I got dressed for the day and sauntered down stairs for breakfast.
It was the first time I’d been to a hotel and there was a waiting line for breakfast.
I was ushered into the salubrious Polo Bar to enjoy a coffee until my name was called.
‘It’s extremely busy – everyone comes down here at the same time at the weekends,’ a butler told me as he showed me to a velvet-clad chair.
But the breakfast was worth the short wait.
The morning meal is served up in the Alyn Williams restaurant, which has a convivial yet private atmosphere.
I was informed there was a buffet to choose from or I could order from the menu.
There was a mix of things to choose from, including American-style pancakes and kippers, but I plumped for the buffet, as fruit is usually my go to in the morning.
There was a nice concise spread to choose from, with big bowls of fresh pineapple, sweet strawberries and big blueberries.
Other knickknacks included dried banana chips, flaked almonds and walnuts.
It was hard to resist the fresh-baked bread basket, with rounds of creamy butter adding to the lure.
Slithers of smoked salmon, bowls of capers and three times of cheese – creamed, cottage and ricotta – also made for a fanciful mix.
My fruit medley was spot on, as was the strong coffee on the side.
After spending a good hour reading the morning papers, and filling up on the fine spread, I checked out, taking one last look at the sunny street views from my suite window.
A stay at The Westbury promises to make you feel like a movie star.
Unfortunately, I was just missing my Bond!
The Westbury is located at 37 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 2YF
To book a stay or for dining reservations call +44 20 7629 7755 or visit www.marriott.com
