A New Look Will Take You To New Heights At The Dorchester

All of London is stretched out before you, and you can just about spot the tops of Hyde Park’s trees turning from green to amber. If it wasn’t for the faint noise of traffic below, the sun umbrellas, potted olive trees and tubs of scented rosemary and thyme would transport you straight to the Mediterranean. This is the Dorchester Rooftop where, until last week, head chef Bastien Bertaina was busy serving up the sunshine-infused menu devised by Jean-Philippe Blondet, executive chef of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.

Since it launched in 2021, the rooftop restaurant has been a stalwart on London’s summer dining scene. As well as the glorious views, guests are attracted to Blondet’s pleasingly delicious menu of dishes inspired by his childhood in the French Riviera. To start, for instance, there’s Sea Bass Ceviche, or creamy Burrata with heritage tomatoes and basil; for mains there’s the silkiest Pasta with Truffle or the standout Chicken for Two, with tomatoes a la Provençale (make sure you pre-order this as you take your seats as it takes a good hour to cook); while your meal has to be finished with the signature dessert Tarte Tropézienne. If the lofty heights of the rooftop doesn’t place you within touching distance to heaven, then this cloud-like brioche cake, filled with oozy cream and laced with orange blossom water, certainly will.

Factor in Champagne cocktails, live music and DJs (in partnership with the Molto Music Group, Yamaha Music London and Pioneer), and this spot has turned out to be one of the buzziest in town, with heaters and blankets at the ready if the weather took a turn.

With The Dorchester may still shrouded in boards, due to its ongoing renovation due to be unveiled by the end of the year, this eaterie, found at the peak of the grand dame hotel, has been a welcome distraction. While its residency at the top of the hotel has just closed for the season, rumour has it that it may be reincarnated for winter months – so watch this space.

Meanwhile, there’s much more to keep guests impressed at the address. Down below, the hotel’s transformation is also coming to an end with anticipation growing for the big reveal. Renowned for his ebullient flair, seen at Four Seasons George V in Paris and at Grand Hotel Cap-Ferrat in Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat, French interiors guru Pierre Yves-Rochon was chosen to redesign the lobby, The Promenade, the new Cake & Flower Boutique and the first tier of guest rooms and suites.

Perhaps one of the most famous areas of The Dorchester, The Promenade will still continue to offer the hotel’s famous afternoon tea, once it reopens, but will also feature a new glamorous dining spot, where guests can enjoy Champagne, seafood and entertainment. Walls will display an original collection of contemporary artworks by British artists, with the pieces all offering a take on nature to evoke the sensation of strolling through a cultivated British landscape.

The redesigned bedrooms have a light, fresh feel, with rooms and suites designed in varying colourways inspired by an English garden – from leaf green and rose pink to heather blue and lemon yellow.

With its own entrance on the Deanery Street corner of the hotel, Cake & Flowers is a new offering for the hotel. Windows will feature creations by in-house designer florist, Philip Hammond, and executive pastry chef, Michael Kwan. Inside, guests will be wowed by a dizzying array of signature pastries and cakes, floral bouquets and artisan chocolates.

Known for his maximalist, glam take on interiors, Martin Brudnizki was the designer of choice to oversee the hotel’s legendary bar, with his new design championing the spirit and elegance of the 1930s. Ornate details run throughout the bar, including a 1930s Palladium leaf ceiling, which creates a glamorous effect, as Martini hour transitions into the evening. A series of Cecil Beaton pieces remind guests of the long-standing connection between the photographer and the hotel. Some of Beaton’s original drawings and celebrity photographs will be brought together with work by contemporary artists, such as Rosie Emmerson, who were inspired by both Beaton and the energy of that time.

It’s a match made in heaven – a blend of the timeless and the new.

For more on the new renovation visit: The Dorchester