Set within a classic Paddington townhouse, overlooking a quiet square that feels like a place Jane Austen would have felt comfortable, it is hard to believe that mere steps away I was beating my way through the suitcase-wheeling crowds populating the nearby station. As I approached the entrance of The Grand Hotel Bellevue, the façade gave nothing much away, but the buttery lighting and warm colours reflected invitingly through the windows, gave me a small suggestion of what to expect from behind those closed doors.
Casiraghi apparently often begins by imagining a narrative or character around a space, and in this case conceived the hotel as the imagined home of an aristocratic, globe-trotting couple – once you know that part of the puzzle, the characters and the design falls seamlessly into place.
Nestled comfortably opposite the reception, The Pondicherry Bar is – quite literally – the cherry on the top of the design, as a place where all the colours and details pull together to reflect the hotels heritage, while still managing to feel cool, contemporary and of the city.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Hotel Designs.
