A romantic getaway at the first hotel to stock Jo Loves Mango Thai Collection

Stunning Views 

The Park Suites are vast, more like a small London flat than a hotel room. As their name suggests, the suites look out over Hyde Park – but also beyond – as far as Crystal Palace to the south, the Shard to the east and Wembley to the north west.

Adding to the “home away from home” feel, the suite is stocked with a lot of nods to London – books with fascinating facts about the capital, a sculpture of a Mini and pieces of art with London references; as well as a Nespresso coffee machine and a kettle (essential, in my view).

But it’s the views that really draw you, especially on a stunning summer’s day, when the sun seems fixed in the sky and the room is bathed with sunshine till late.

The bathroom is marble throughout and stocked with hand, bath, shampoo and conditioner Jo Loves products. And the best thing? More of those views, with blinds raised and lowered by the flick of a switch.

The bedroom is anchored by a king-sized bed and yes, you guessed it, 180-degree views, again with electronic blinds.

The beauty of this collaboration is that there are touches throughout the hotel, in fact from the moment you step into the lobby you smell the mango Thai lime scent, you’ll spot bottles in public areas and in the restaurant, Nipa Thai.

Authentic Food 

For full disclosure, Thai food is my favourite cuisine, so I was expecting great things from the all-female Thai kitchen – and Nipa Thai did not disappoint.

At around 40 covers, the space is small for a hotel of this size. What it lacks in square footage, however, it makes up for in beauty. The dark wood you often see in Thai restaurants is the real deal in Nipa Thai – teak from Thailand; and those flowers, including the Bird of Paradise and the orchids, are also all from Thailand.

We were encouraged to try as many dishes as possible, so not wanting to disappoint we opted for grilled king prawns, Thai beef salad, Tom yum soup, pork spare ribs, bean curd and vegetable curry and green chicken curry.

All of these dishes tasted exquisite; the ribs fell off the bone, the prawns were sweet and succulent and the chicken was tender. The fresh vegetables also impressed me, with the Thai aubergines in my green curry reflecting the authenticity of the meal. 

Somehow there was space for the mango sorbet and a dessert special, Thai panna cotta, which was served in what looked like a ripe mango, but was in fact a delicate white chocolate case.

Thoughtful touches

We happened to be staying at the hotel for our first year wedding anniversary, and when we mentioned that to guest relations manager Diana, she sent a bottle of champagne to our room with a card. In the evening, we found two towel swans, a bed strewn with rose petals and two heart balloons waiting for us.

Quite overwhelming, and not something I’ve experienced outside of Asian hotels. You can really feel the difference when you stay in an independent hotel, particularly one that is family-owned and where service is everything.

It’s these thoughtful touches that continue throughout our short stay and really shine through (signature cocktails delivered to our suite, welcome pastries, taking time to explain the menu and the wine pairings in Nipa Thai). 

As we left, Diana gave us a parting gift – a pot of honey, made by bees on site. And what other central London hotel makes its own honey? It’s the little things that add up to make a truly memorable stay.