Simon Wittenberg checks into the five-star, nineteenth-century hotel in Whitehall for lunch on The Terrace, as it reopens for the summer season.
The Royal Horseguards Hotel, which stands near London’s Embankment, is steeped in history. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse – the same architect as the Natural History Museum, it was modelled on the appearance of a French château.
Having started off life as luxury apartments in 1884, some of the building was converted into a hotel in 1971. This was duly expanded in 1985, before the 282-bedroom property was acquired and fully refurbished in 2008, and is today owned by the Clermont Hotel Group.
Passing through the impressive and historic reception area, The Terrace, which is now open until September for the summer season, and is dog-friendly, is accessed via the hotel’s principal eatery, named the “One Twenty One Two” restaurant.
From here, the doors open out onto a secluded 50-cover outdoor area characterised by large parasols, and a number of small tables dressed with pristine white tablecloths, small pots of fresh mint and decorative lamps.
The towering trees of the adjacent Whitehall Gardens bring diners the added benefits of birdsong and being shielded from nearby traffic.
At the far end of The Terrace is a mezzanine level with comfy rattan-style seating, centred around an ornate fountain perched on a barrel – the perfect place to have a drink concocted by The Terrace’s bartenders, and to enjoy the relaxed ambience of this eatery.
However, the “pièce de resistance” has to be where we sat – a private alcove (below) – delivering a more secluded dining experience where one can look up and enjoy birds visiting the seed-filled hanging boxes, admire the magnificence and intricacies of old architecture, as well as the arching branches from the neighbouring park that add a nice touch of greenery to The Terrace.
It’s a relatively concise à la carte menu available when eating outside, featuring a British-style lineup of meat, fish, and vegetable-based dishes. There’s a choice of six different starters to kick things off, spanning a personal favourite – Burrata, to Scottish salmon tartare.
Being generous in its composition, my wife and I shared the “superfood salad” (£18) with an extra helping of sweet potato (£4) – a nicely balanced entrée comprised of a bed of quinoa, morsels of kale, small pieces of cherry tomato, and edamame beans – all finished with pieces of sugar-coated walnut pieces and a delicious citrus vinaigrette for a touch of zing.
With a short pause, we perused The Terrace’s drinks menu, which draws inspiration from the Royal Horseguards hotel’s splendour and opulence, with wine, spirits, and cocktails, such as its signature “The Terrace Spritz” – a mix of gin, elderflower tonic, cloudy apple juice and mint, all listed to tempt diners. There’s an equally good array of mocktails to accompany lunch.
I sampled the pleasant, yet sugary “Delight Dalal” (£10.50), made from white peach puree, pineapple, lime, and lemon juice, plus a drop of grenadine, which creates a reddish hue, matched by the fresh strawberry garnish. My other half tried the refreshing “Splash” (also £10.50), nicely concocted from a blend of passion fruit puree, cloudy apple juice, lime, mint, sugar and soda water – the perfect accompaniment to a meal in the London sunshine.
For the next course, it’s divided into “Mains” and “Signatures”, and there are no sides, as any additions are included within the listed options. In fact, this section of The Terrace menu boasts the likes of chicken supreme, spiced butternut squash, and a Hereford ribeye steak – all dishes that can quash any signs of hunger, with Signature hosting firm favourites, such as fish and chips, and a burger, which proved a popular choice on the day that we visited.
After a spot of deliberation, my wife settled on the medium to rare, succulent grilled salt marsh lamb cutlet (£42) hailing from Wales, which arrived on an aubergine and tahini-based ghanoush puree, some al dente tenderstem broccoli, plus a small jug of mint-infused lamb reduction for an added touch of flavour. The ingredients meshed perfectly together, creating a truly excellent dish.
Just as successful in terms of its taste and composition, I headed for the beautifully-cooked pan seared seabass fillet (£32), which was complemented by a few pieces of samphire, which gave a subtle salty edge to the dish, whilst the fish was also perched on some sauteed baby potatoes which intertwined nicely with the shallot caper salsa.
To finish off what had been a great meal at The Terrace, we split a fresh fruit salad, comprising pieces of pineapple, melon, strawberry, raspberries, and grapes. We also sampled some tasty gluten-free lemon, carrot and chocolate cake served on an elegant black slate, which left us feeling adequately full ahead of a stroll along the bustling River Thames.
In summary…
The Terrace at The Royal Horseguards Hotel in London is a pocket of tranquillity and luxury amidst the hustle and bustle of London’s thoroughfares, and is the ideal location to sit back and enjoy the fantastic service, gastronomy, and atmosphere provided by this eatery, whether with friends, family, or colleagues.
Similarly, the hotel is also brilliantly located for those who wish to do a spot of sightseeing along the banks of the river, or want to catch a boat to see of the capital’s most famous landmarks whilst on the water. Visiting The Terrace will certainly not disappoint.
The Royal Horseguards Hotel, London – Where and How?
The Royal Horseguards Hotel is located at 2 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EJ, United Kingdom. To find out more, or to make a reservation, visit www.royalhorseguardshotel.com/restaurants-and-bars/the-terrace.
See highlights of our visit on the Luxurious Magazine Instagram page.
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