LUXURY

Nahm
Thai cuisine with a Michelin star
If you’re thinking of variations on Pad Thai and the other
familiar classics, stop right there because the menu at Nahm
offers a taste of a very different world.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
THE HALKIN, LONDON
OUR RATING: 9.1/10
Australian Executive Chef David Thompson has devoted
decades to researching and recreating the classics of Thai
banquet cuisine. Nahm has devised a menu that embodies
the classic Thai virtues of balance and purity of flavours
that has resulted in a prized Michelin star – the first to be
bestowed on any Thai restaurant in Europe.
A word with the Halkin concierge secured our table at Nahm,
and we entered the restaurant with our hopes high. The meal
began with an explanation of the Thai banquet approach and
although you can order à la carte, it’s well worth going with
a five-course mini banquet. This entails choosing a sequence
of dishes from the menu so that you experience a succession
of flavours – starting with soup and proceeding to salad, a
stir-fry, a classic Thai curry and relish.
All the dishes arrive together and diners help themselves.
With a little guidance from the waiter, we selected a palatefreshening
soup followed by a crunchy salad with spicy
prawns. Stir-fried squid with spring onion and chilli delivered
the classic hot and spicy Thai flavours, contrasting nicely with
a roast duck curry. The standout was a green curry with
exquisite salted chicken and fresh Thai basil. Ingredients had
been carefully blended to tantalise the palate and deliver a
succession of contrasting yet complementary flavours.
This is one of the best dining experiences you can look
forward to in London – a reminder that the British capital is
now home to some of the world’s greatest chefs.
COMO Suite
day, pressed, pinned and folded as if they were brand new.
There is nothing quite like putting on a crisp new shirt, and
this level of service makes one feel like a million dollars.
Breakfast was served in the ground-floor restaurant and
included an assortment of organic variations on English
and Continental themes. I enjoyed the delicious homemade
muesli and fruit selection, and also tucked into some
perfectly poached, organic, hens’ eggs. The Halkin is also
home to one of London’s finest Thai restaurants, Nahm
(see the separate review for more details).
We were impressed by the Halkin’s fusion of European
and Asian style, and completely won over by the service.
The Halkin offers travellers a superb base from which to
explore the cosmopolitan delights of London, with a
relaxing ambience that makes one want to stay for weeks.
Without spending a cent on advertising, it has attracted a
devoted following who return to its suites time and time
again. Understated yet luxurious, this is high modern style
in the best possible taste.
Room cost:
Double Room from NZ$880
per room, per night
Reservations: For bookings or enquiries please
call Mondo Travel on 0800 955 655.
Opened: 1991
Location: Halkin Street, London.
Ambience /style: Contemporary British with Asian/Euro
influences.
Clientele: Private individuals, international VIPs and a
sprinkling of celebrities. 60% of guests are repeat customers.
Awards: Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers’ Awards
2008 Favourite Hotels in London; AA 2008 5 Red Stars;
Visit London Awards 2007 Best Small Hotel, Gold Winner;
Zagat Guide 2007 Best Thai in London: Nahm; Visit London
Awards 2005 Small Hotel of the Year; Visit Britain Awards
of Excellence, Silver Winner.
Interesting facts: Personally designed by Christina Ong,
the owner’s daughter. The Ong family is behind the Asianbased
COMO group of luxury resorts. They couldn’t find a
hotel they liked in London, so opened their own!
Room number: 41 guestrooms.
Room type: Rooms range from King Double Rooms around
30m 2 , to the premium COMO suites with a king-sized
bedroom, separate sitting room, bathroom and dining
table for six.
Bathroom: All bathrooms have separate bath and shower.
Sumptuous honey-marble fit-out and COMO Shambhala
toiletries and accessories come as standard.
Business needs: Wireless broadband in all rooms, plus
secretarial services on demand.
Deluxe Bathroom
Deluxe Room
Spa facilities: None on premises, but guests have access
to COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at the Metropolitan
London, a five-minute walk away. Two treatment rooms
offer Asian-inspired holistic therapies such as reiki
and reflexology.
Restaurants and bar info: 1 (Nahm, on ground level
off lobby).
Stuff for kids: The Halkin is aimed at individual and
corporate customers rather than family groups, although a
small family group could be easily accommodated in a suite
plus separate room.
‘X’-Factor: A great location, minutes from Hyde Park Corner
and within easy walking distance of the West End and
Knightsbridge. A superb base for business or leisure in the
sophisticated heart of one of the world’s great cities.
What’s great: Ultra-modern but understated design that
blends Asian and contemporary European influences. With
only 41 rooms and suites, service is personal as well as being
very polished.
What’s not so great: It may be asking too much in central
London, but I would have loved a swimming pool to relax
and catch up on exercise after a hard night on the town.
Editor’s tip: Ask for one of the King Superior Rooms, which
face onto the private internal garden. Or treat yourself to
a Suite and enjoy more space and privacy.
Website: www.halkin.como.biz
Reservations: for information or enquiries please phone
Mondo Travel on 0800 955 655.
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