It was a gorgeous spring day, when the sun was shining, the tube was disconcertingly balmy and Londoners were actually smiling (a rare occasion, I know), that I made my way to a swish hotel for an overnight stay with one of my best gal pals. Our destination for the evening? The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in Mayfair, a five-star stay that not only promised plush, inviting rooms, but also a spa and a spectacular restaurant.

The cocktails on The Athenaeum Hotel menu were absolutely delightful.

After dodging suited and booted Central London office workers and camera-holding tourists, I found myself at the snazzy hotel; the side of the building was covered in a luscious, 329-square-metre living wall designed by Patrick Blanc, which was being snapped by pretty much every passerby (but who can blame them, it was a stunner). We popped in through the grand doors, assisted by the kind doormen, and were immediately wowed by the luxurious foyer and its adjoining terrace - but before checking into our room, we headed downstairs for our spa appointment. Calm and serene, the spa was fairly small, but had everything we needed to kick back with a little R&R, including a sizeable jacuzzi, plus a sauna and steam room (you can even order drinks there and book treatments if you fancy).

Feeling totally relaxed, we then made our way up to our Superior Room (prices start at £480). A huge king-sized bed sat in the middle, looking incredibly inviting with its fresh white linens and velvet headboard. On top of that, it had impressive amenities, including a Nespresso machine, huge TV and plenty of storage - there was even a lovely bay window that offered us a unique view of Green Park. The bathroom was especially luxurious, showcasing black and white marble and fragrant Molton Brown toiletries that we adored. 

We had a fantastic night's sleep at The Athenaeum Hotel London Mayfair.

After sprucing up for the evening, we headed eagerly to the ground-floor restaurant, 116 At The Athenaeum. This calm, suave space had a lively buzz while remaining intimate, with smooth jazz playing in the background, which complemented the wooden parquet floors and mid-century-style furniture to a tee. While we deliberated what to eat, we ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir 2019, Bourgogne Cote D’Or, Louis Jadot (£95), a soft, aromatic red with hints of berries and spices that honestly got better with every sip.

Going off a recommendation from our waiter, we decided to start with the cauliflower soup (£12), a rich bowl of creamy, indulgent soup elevated with umami bursts from the crispy capers, peppercorns and generous chunks of 24 month-aged parmesan. Alongside this, we delved into the Cobble Lane cured meats platter (£24) - though it turned out our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, as the hefty board of fennel and garlic salami, bresaola, coppa, cornichons, pickled onions, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, caper berries and ginormous olive and thyme breadsticks turned out to be just a little too much for us and we had to leave a few bites behind.

As for mains, my friend's beetroot tarte tatin (£24) was a perfect example of how to rustle up a gorgeous, flavour-packed veggie main, featuring beetroot slices swirled into the shape of a rose on a bed of chicory and rich goats curd. And my dry-aged beef ribeye steak (£50)? It was cooked medium-rare to perfection, boasting a deliciously charred exterior while remaining succulent on the inside, oozing with Cafe de Paris butter. I often find that hotel restaurants let me down, but this one really knew what it was doing - I highly recommend a visit regardless of whether you're staying here or not.

If you're looking for Athenaeum restaurant reviews, we've got the lowdown right here.

Stuffed to the brim, we finished our evening with a few post-dinner cocktails on the alfresco terrace, choosing from their Garden Party menu. I went for The Lavander (£16), a delicate, aromatic mix featuring El Governador pisco, Roots Mastic, lavender syrup, lemon and egg whites, while my friend opted for The Elderflower £17). A gorgeous, zesty concoction, it blended Diplomatico Reserve rum with St Germain, elderflower cordial and lime, the perfect tipple for spring and summer.

Though we were tempted by another round of these cracking cocktails, we decided to turn in for the night to get a good night's sleep (and watch a bit of TV in bed, of course). We both slept like logs, thanks to the plush cushions, soft linens and the fact we couldn't hear a peep from any other guests, so it was incredibly peaceful. Once morning came around, we headed back down to the restaurant for breakfast. Not only was there a generous buffet, with eggs, bacon, sausages, smoked salmon, pastries and the like, but also the option to order a cooked breakfast (as we had breakfast included, we had access to both). We decided on the avocado with poached eggs on harissa toast; though the harrisa was a lovely touch that really brought the dish the life, unfortunately the avocado wasn't fresh and had a slightly odd texture, but it's worth noting this was literally the only slightly negative thing about the whole experience - everything else was perfect.

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I honestly had an absolutely wonderful time here - it was perfect for my girl's getaway in the city, with its lovely spa, plush rooms and fantastic restaurant, not to mention its gorgeous terrace and expertly prepared cocktails. My friend said the longer she was there, the more she loved it, and I couldn't agree more - it was a total all-rounder. So if you're looking for girl's getaways, romantic trips to London or a tourist on the hunt for a luxurious place to stay, you've found it at The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences.

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