How to Become a Member of a Posh London Club – The Twenty Two

For virtually decades, the posh clubs of London have remained closed off to the public and especially to travelers —virtual sanctuaries of exclusion. Our Very Proper Man in London who belongs to several fine clubs has opened the doors to me a few times – I am always in awe – the clubs are posh and marvelous people watching haunts.

A unique culture which is changing with the recent opening of the sexy and stunning The Twenty Two. My walk though stopped me in my tracks at every corner – the owner, Iranian investor and former owner of Blakes, Navid Mirtorabi and the Newcastle United co-owner Jamie Reuben have created an exclusive nest in which VIP’s and travelers can mingle. It’s a petite 31-room hotel and a private members club in Mayfair.

Even the small rooms are oozing with charm and gorgeous finishes

Location: The massive limestone townhouse fits in on a perfectly manicured park square that was once the home of the U.S. Embassy and Oscar Wilde. In the 1920’s the Bentley Boys took adjacent flats where their day-long parties became something of social legend. So common was the sight of their large, green sports cars parked outside their flats, for many years the location was described as “Bentley Corner”. It seems perfectly natural The Twenty Two has reintroduced the glamour of Bentley Corner.

The Heritage Suite

Stunning residential homes rest amid the tree lined block, it’s posh, dignified, and luxuriously Edwardian. Grosvenor Square has always enticed the powerful and wealthy, it is the centerpiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from the surname “Grosvenor”.

The Audley Suite

The new hotel and club are a splendid gem combining Edwardian grandeur with double height ceilings, wide baseboards, deep thick carpets and walls upholstered in silk, thick layers of velvet drapes cloak the windows. Triple pane glass assures absolute quiet. It’s lushly plush!

For hotel guests this inclusion to a private club provides a traveler with all the amenities of a posh club without membership fees, and if one is tied up all day with meetings, head back to The Twenty Two the utmost in convenience of dining, tipples and if inclined, join in events in the Music Room or dance in the Vault Bar. The perfect marriage of hotel and private Club. Staff is implementing great programming around the brand pillars of wellness, art and film to ensure a constant dialogue among the members and a global community.

Deluxe Room

The dining emphasizes contemporary British and Mediterranean food and features local suppliers. Open daily from 7am-11pm, The Restaurant at The Twenty Two offers an all-day menu of British classics with a Mediterranean twist, overseen by Executive Chef Alan Christie. Christie has developed a seasonal menu, with dishes including chargrilled grass-fed ribeye, and local Devonshire crab salad.

The Dining Room

A plethora of room types provide choices for every type of traveler. All are decorated in luxurious finishes, I would be happy in any of these yummy rooms – many of the rooms and suites have very high windows which provide an abundance of daylight even on a gloomy London day.

The Twenty Two has opened to Rave Reviews!

Need a cure for Bronchitis? The Peninsula Paris, Penultimate Pampering!

The day before I arrived in Paris, it was a beautiful warm spring day. Paris greeted me with snow flurries, I arrived with bronchitis. Since I’ve visited Paris many times, the solution to wellness was abundantly clear – stay in my sumptuous suite, nosh on the delicious French bread, and make multiple visits to the hammam and spa – bake and steam the bronchitis and nibble bread as the cure! I had three more weeks of travel ahead of me.

The Peninsula Paris

In the Heart of the City of Light, deliciously Parisian, The Peninsula is a regal reminder of glamour and steps from some of the most famous monuments, museums, and chic shopping! Perched in one of the most elegant suites, sunshine pouring through the floor to ceiling windows, with occasional snow flurries, I was beyond comfortable with six fluffy pillows and one of the most plush bed ever.

The Peninsula Paris Plunge

There are six dining areas at The Peninsula Paris, but the most spectacular is the rooftop restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc. It’s known as one of the most romantic dining locations in Paris. 

The White Bird – L’ Oiseau Blanc was awarded two Michelin Stars in 2022 its rooftop terrace offering panoramic views, including the iconic Eiffel Tower.

 L’Oiseau Blanc, The Peninsula Paris

LiLi, staffed by Hong Kong Chef Dicky To, brings Chinese cookery to an art form, my first peek into the restaurant was tantalizing- a majestic regal setting. The restaurant offers an impressive operatic decor where Chinese performing art resonates in impressive Haussmannian architecture. LiLi’s culinary score created by Chef Dicky To.  Like the decor, the cuisine offers a tasty blend of Chinese and French inspirations. There are great classics such as dim sum or lacquered duck, alongside innovative creations combining the two cultures with passion and talent. Staying in for wellness, I added a few visits to this delicious restaurant the chef menu was my path, and I was very satisfied. Two days in a row, yum!

The bathroom and deep oval tub are to die for- a little button: Spa, on the tub dims the lights and turns on music – – my name is engraved on this tub! I have to say, I’ve enjoyed some amazing tubs all over the world but this feature with music is très luxueux!

Tub to Die For The Peninsula, Paris

Impeccable service… in my spacious dressing room. a cupboard with ‘Valet Box’ stamped on it… drop your bag of laundry in, press Valet Box Button and several hours later, the most jovial amusing man is at the door with clean clothes, and he kindly never mentions you’ve done this four different times in the space of a few hours… it’s magic!

My Suite The Peninsula Paris

Who raves about a dressing room? Anyone who stays at The Peninsula – another amazing amenity in the dressing room, at your dressing table, push a button for an automatic fan to gently blow air on your nail touch up.

And the woman who brings champagne stoppers, offers to open the bubbly, and seems just steps outside my door whenever I ring for help! Amazing service.

One very mundane but welcome item is the tv controller with giant numbers, it can be read in bed without a light! Grateful for small and grand!!  Ooh, super soft bed, with pillows as light as clouds! Tribe of The Bed Girl was very comfy!

I don’t know about you, but I think there is nothing better than a private elevator straight to The Spa! When the spa menu invites you to arrive in your robe, I don’t need much more enticement. The Peninsula Spa is the French capital’s largest luxury hotel spa. The serene pool at The Peninsula features a striking floor-to-ceiling water cascade. Mani-pedi salon and brow treatment. Excellent hammam, I was a daily often twice daily visitor, and The Peninsula cured my bronchitis!

The Peninsula Paris made history when it opened its doors on August 1, 2014. It became the first hotel in Europe for the Hong Kong based, ultra-luxe Peninsula Group. But it wasn’t the first time the building itself made history. It first opened as the Hotel Majestic in 1908 and was the hotel of choice for chic celebrities of the Jazz Age. In fact, it was at the Majestic that George Gershwin wrote An American in Paris.

With 200 rooms, including 93 suites. Inspired by Haute Couture, the theme suites at The Peninsula Paris hotel – some of the French capital’s most spacious and the world’s most highly customized – are veritable showcases of French heritage and savoir-faire.

Located in the 16th arrondissement, on Avenue Kléber the hotel sits amidst a leavy luxurious neighborhood. A beautiful park with a stone and copper monument tribute to the Americans who fought in the war, it’s a beautiful quiet neighborhood.

In a recent conversation with my rep from The Peninsula Chicago, I mentioned my rave reviews and he said we have that here, we have that here – do come visit! I may just travel to Chicago for a weekend of Peninsula Pampering!

Verified Luxury- Highly Recommend, whether you need a cure for bronchitis or not!