The Credentials
Based in a charming townhouse in the middle of South Kensington, The Adria is a private and intimate five-star boutique hotel with 24 rooms, which recently reopened after a £1 million renovation. Service is billed as “butler-style” and interiors—including a drawing room, lounge, dining room and games room—are coolly and impeccably dressed in modern classic style, with 16-foot ceilings and Victorian touches.
Sleep
The hotel is exquisite, with a style that could be described as a British twist on Michele Bonan (interior design star of the J.K. Place hotels, among others). Furniture is overstuffed and comfortable; architecture is updated-Victorian-townhouse; and thoughtful details abound, like curated coffee table books and interesting art, which ranges from black-and-white photography of polo grounds to large-scale abstract pieces.
Each of the hotel’s 24 rooms has an individual style and takes its name from a London and/or British emblem (i.e. Bowler, Croquet, Downing, Elizabeth, Fortnum, etc). Rooms aren’t numbered, and the lift is cleverly outfitted to reflect this, so you press letters instead of numbers. (For example, I am in the Elizabeth, so I press E.) The Elizabeth is equally well-dressed as the communal spaces, with a four-poster bed, fireplace and sitting area. The bathrooms have divine Bamford toiletries, smelling of fresh germanium, and gorgeous marble trappings. Tubs are deep and spacious. Everything is immaculate and pristine: kudos to the housekeeping team.
Dine
Each of the stylish rooms on the ground floor flow into each other and are open for guest use. It’s easy to make yourself at home in the lounge, complete with a martini trolley for a pre-prandial cocktail, and there’s also a lovely “winter garden,” for drinks.
There’s no formal restaurant, though guests are invited to make themselves at home and use The Adria’s partnerships with local restaurants: they work with Supper, where local restaurants deliver as room service, and you’re welcome to dine throughout the hotel throughout the day.
Breakfast, however, is served in the hotel’s lovely dining room, and the menu includes a good number of options: everything from a full English and continental to organic porridge and Burford Brown omelettes. Everything is fantastic – the ingredients are all very high quality and the service is perfect.
The Crowd
The Adria is incredibly private (you even have to ring a bell to enter), so this property would be well suited for long-stay business travellers and well-heeled couples looking to spend a few nights in London. The vibe is very mature and sophisticated, though I’m sure they could accommodate well-behaved children.
Out and About
The Adria is fantastically placed on the corner of Harrington Road and Queen’s Gate. The Gloucester Road tube station is a four-minute walk away, as is the South Kensington tube station. There are tonnes of cute little cafes and restaurants in the area to enjoy, and the museums (Natural History Museum; Science Museum; and Victoria & Albert Museum) are right on the doorstep. Despite this proximity, the area is still rather quiet and residential. It’s easy to feel right at home.
The Best Thing
The staff are fantastic; from the glass of prossecco in the stylish lobby on arrival to the ease of check-out, everyone is at the top of their game.
The Worst Thing
A nearby tube line causes the building to shake from time to time, but this is hardly an inconvenience – just something to note.
The Details
Stay from £300 per room, per night for a superior bedroom on a B&B basis.
The Adria, 88 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5AB
