March 7th, 2017
The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in Mayfair, just opposite Green Park, is one of London’s only remaining family-run five-star hotels. An independent spirit is therefore present throughout every aspect of the hotel’s operations.
The Athenaeum is a historic building with an interesting story not confined to hotels. It started as an extravagant private mansion called the Hope House in 1850, before it was converted into a private art gallery. The Hope House then became a gentlemen’s club during the Victorian era before it was again transformed into an art-deco apartment building in the 1930’s.
The Athenaeum as we know it today has recently undergone a thorough renovation, and the result is a contemporary, cheerful interior behind its classic façade. The property offers guest rooms, suites, and luxury serviced apartments as accommodation options. One of the hotel’s most recognizable features is its “Living Wall,” a vertical garden installed by French botanical artist, Patrick Blanc. The garden covers an entire wall of the hotel’s building from the ground all the way up to the tenth floor penthouse.
The hotel’s restaurant, The Galvin at the Athenaeum, is the brainchild of two brothers and Michelin-starred chefs, Chris and Jeff Galvin. The restaurant offers homegrown British produce in an effort to support local farmers and take a refreshing step away from classical French cuisine in favor of British classics. The Athenaeum’s bar is known for its famous whiskey collection but also features signature cocktails that make it a destination in its own right.
There is a fitness center and a spa that offers all kinds of treatments and packages. With Hyde Park, Green Park, and St. James’s Park all within walking distance, guests wanting to take a stroll or go for a bike ride have plenty of options.
HotelSwaps is pleased to welcome The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences as its newest member in London.
