Pure Class Park Hyatt, London Thames River & My Birthday Month - London

Pure Class Park Hyatt, London Thames River & My Birthday Month - London - March 2026

3/3/2026

Another Iconic Birthday

March 2026 is here. My birthday month. My actual birthday is on Sunday 29 March and I will wake at The Emory, in Belgravia, on that day.

Impressive Park Hyatt, London Thames River

My birthday month could not have started any better. I was invited to the 203 room & suite Park Hyatt, London Thames River and it far exceeded my expectations. I love Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, and Park Hyatt Bangkok, and Park Hyatt, London Thames River is also refined quality.

Nine Elms & The New US Embassy

The hotel is in Nine Elms, close to Battersea Power Station, and an easy journey from The Barbican.

A Perfect Park Hyatt Welcome

Japanese Chief Mixologist Mitsuhrio, in Nine Elms Bar, was familiar with www.sifrew.com and recognised me immediately. Despite me being slightly early, GM Mario appeared within minutes.

Personal Tour By Energised GM Mario

GM Mario had only recently taken up his role and was fascinating to tour the hotel with.

He convinced me I must try their 'Yú Gé' Cantonese restaurant, after my birthday, and showed me my first Somadome (meditation pod) in their beautiful spa.

Rooms & Suites with Breathtaking Views

The views from, & size of, 'basic' rooms makes this term inaccurate and the suites were stunning, with so many special features.

The hotel makes up the first 18 floors of a 42 floor tower and the views of the river and city from the rooms, & suites, are remarkable. Mario explained the residences to me too.

A Memorable Lunch in The Nine Elms Kitchen

Chef Stefanos Kokkalis came to speak to us at the start of lunch. Steak, tiger prawns from the grill etc meant the food was delicious but it was chatting to Mario about my time in Cape Town, and the hospitality industry more generally, that made my day.

A Perfect Martini & Unworldly Japan

Back in The Nine Elms Bar Mitsuhiro made me a perfect martini with Japanese precision. Talking to him allowed me an opportunity to reminisce about my time in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka.

My First Birthday Gifts, Including a Chocolate Tart by Chef Jason Ho

When I got back to The Barbican, and opened my first birthday gifts, I almost cried over the number of them, the level of personalisation and The Tides product from the spa.

The Chocolate Tart, included Madagascar vanilla & salted caramel and was too indulgent.

Despite only opening in October 2024, Park Hyatt, London River Thames is already a '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) hotel. Nine Elms is developing quickly and its immediate vicinity will improve. Mario and I joked about when I first worked in Canary Wharf in the late 1990s.

GM Mario Flanagan with me by the Chinese New Year decorations in front of Nine Elms Bar.

The Charlie Whinney installation ‘Ebb and Flow’, inspired by the River Thames, in the lobby.

Spot The London Eye & The Shard in this view from a Park Suite.

Chief Mixologist Mitsuhiro Nakamura making me a perfect martini.

As a friend commented, when he saw all this, is it your birthday or an early Christmas?

44 Comments

GM Mario Flanagan - Park Hyatt, London Thames River

3/3/2026 04:28:51 pm

It was a genuine pleasure welcoming you to Park Hyatt London River Thames today and to personally show you around the hotel.

I very much enjoyed our time together - particularly the opportunity to introduce you to the team, showcase the design and spaces across the property, and share lunch at Nine Elms Kitchen as you begin your birthday month.

Thank you for your warmth, your stories, and your continued passion for luxury hospitality. It means a great deal to have someone with your global perspective spend time with us, especially given your familiarity with our brand.

Should you wish to return - whether for a longer stay, a celebratory dinner, or simply a martini - we would be delighted to welcome you back.

With my very best wishes for a wonderful birthday month ahead.

Si Frew link

3/3/2026 04:33:53 pm

These kind & generous comments from you brought me near tears, as did the beautiful gifts from Park Hyatt, London Thames River.

I will be back, after my birthday.

Chuck - Houston

3/3/2026 07:26:16 pm

Enjoy your month!🎂🎉🎉🎉🎉

3/3/2026 07:28:48 pm

Thanks. Love hearing from you.

Maria - Shrewsbury

3/3/2026 07:27:33 pm

You’re a lovely person Simon xxx💝💝

3/3/2026 07:29:53 pm

You are too! Thanks for saying that.

Mark - Shrewsbury

3/3/2026 07:35:56 pm

A good start to March!

3/3/2026 07:37:28 pm

Yes & hope to see you again next month.

Caron Pollard

3/3/2026 10:28:37 pm

Just read it how lovely! Sounds like it was a great experience too!

3/3/2026 10:29:41 pm

It was my dream day.

Simon G - Shropshire

4/3/2026 01:12:20 pm

Blimey, you need to tell me how you manage all of this, very impressive

4/3/2026 01:13:44 pm

Hope to see you on the Shrewsbury train again & will explain.

6/3/2026 10:57:36 pm

I take the Crewe train these days but we must meet in Shrewsbury or London.

Patricia - Shrewsbury

6/3/2026 10:56:23 pm

Just returned from holiday. Have a great birthday month.

6/3/2026 10:58:47 pm

Thanks & hope you two had an awesome time away.

AISHA

7/3/2026 01:56:00 pm

Oh, Simon as usual a fabulous set of pictures. What an amazing start to your birthday month. The Park Hyatts 18 floors blows the mind with its wonderful features especially the Meditation Pod.
As usual your pictures of this elegant and beautiful hotel are exquisite and the food photos are as usual both interesting and inviting tickling the taste buds with their distinctive and exotic flavours.
Altogether as usual a thought provoking and fascinating look into a world of pure luxury.

7/3/2026 02:05:08 pm

Made my day getting these kind comments from you. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Denise - London

7/3/2026 05:33:49 pm

The comments are well deserved Simon, have a wonderfully exciting Veuve Clicquot birthday month🍾🥂🥃🍸❤️ us lesser mortals only get one day😂🤣

7/3/2026 05:36:19 pm

Had lunch in the Bank of England again recently & thought about Pat & you.

Susan Stirling

7/3/2026 05:39:12 pm

I love the phrasing ' refined quality'. It is so rare to find, but exactly what a well-seasoned traveller most appreciates. Your pictures exactly illustrate that the Hotel has 'got it right'. As I told you, I am hoping to be back in the UK in September and though your reviews give me so many choices, this new hotel is soooo appealling. I have (finally) begun to meditate and the idea of a meditation pod in the spa sounds sublime. I have just started organizing my trip which will begin in the UK, and then head over to Italy, Albania, Croatia and Serbia, and as you know, I always use your blog as my guide in choosing hotels. The only 'flag' I have given myself is to only choose those that serve the SiFrew martini. I see in the picture gallery a beautiful looking martini -- is it a SiFrew? I hope, by September the Park Hyatt has one on the menu!! I am so looking forward to how the rest of March (LOL -- my calender now says, January, February, SiFrew, April) rolls out. I love to see wonderful people have a brilliant life!

7/3/2026 05:46:17 pm

Thrilled to read comments like this. Hope we meet in Shrewsbury in September. It was a perfect dry martini but not an SF one, The bottle of special vermouth for that is currently at Peninsula, London, a story to that.

Nick - KL

7/3/2026 05:39:20 pm

The new Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur supported the Malaysia British Society for the Charity Christmas Fundraising event ✨

7/3/2026 05:40:28 pm

So pleased to hear this.

Peter Gong

8/3/2026 06:27:53 pm

Ah...March came in like a lion indeed as we approach your birthday month, Simon. What a start to the celebration with such impressive events. So excited to hear about your stay at the Emory as you awake on your birthday. Now that's a day to remember.

Such pre-celebration festivities started with an invitation to Park Hyatt London Thames River. Then on to the Nine Elms close proximity to Battersea Power Station (my next visit when I am back in London). How convenient that it is near the Barbican. Nothing was too hard to access. I like that. I am so impressed by the chief mixologist Mitsuhrio recognised you. Volila, the equally impressive GM Mario appeared before you like a genie summoned from the lamp.

GM Mario certainly was generous with a tour of the property and a solid recommendation to try their Yu Ge Cantonese Restaurant after your birthday. I will be waiting to read your review. The meditation pod sounds so interesting and I am curious and can't wait to read your experience.

The hotel sounds like a sumptuous palace of luxury suites, rooms with a view of the river and the city I can imagine to be spectacular. This tour followed by a delicious lunch of steak and tiger pawns and a chat with GM Mario complete the afternoon.

A perfect martini ended the excursion with Japanese precision was a perfection only can be imagined.

What a lovely surprise when you returned to the Barbican and found you had birthday pressies waiting for you. I am sure there will be more. Enjoy your birthday month.

I am late this time around in commenting due the gorgeous weather here in San Francisco was a beautiful sunny, warm weekend. It felt like summer so like a naughty school boy I enjoyed myself and put aside my books. ;)

8/3/2026 06:57:08 pm

Your detailed, & kind, comments made my evening. Thanks from the bottom of my heart & enjoy the weather in San Francisco.

John

8/3/2026 07:19:55 pm

Great choice for a birthday-month stay. The Park Hyatt London River Thames is one of the most interesting luxury openings London has had in a while, and your write-up really captures that balance between new-build modern luxury and London’s riverfront character.

The point you made about the sense of space is especially important. London luxury hotels often operate in historic buildings where room sizes and layouts are constrained, so having larger, modern rooms with full-height windows overlooking the Thames really sets this property apart. That alone makes it feel very different from the classic Mayfair or Knightsbridge hotels.

Your comments about the location in Nine Elms are also spot-on. The area around Nine Elms has changed dramatically in the past decade with the redevelopment around Battersea Power Station and the arrival of the U.S. Embassy London. It’s still not the traditional tourist base, but the upside is the riverfront views and a much quieter environment compared with central London hotel districts.

I also appreciated your mention of the design elements. The hotel clearly leans into the Thames theme — the contemporary interiors and the large sculptural pieces in the lobby give it a very different personality compared with the more heritage-focused London luxury properties.

And for a birthday stay, the wellness and relaxation angle you highlighted really makes sense. Having a proper spa and a large indoor pool is still surprisingly rare for central London hotels, so that alone can make a stay feel more like a retreat rather than just a city base.

Overall your post highlights exactly why this property stands out: modern architecture, real river views, and a quieter but rapidly developing part of London. Curious to hear one thing you only hinted at in the post though — did the service match the physical hotel? With new luxury properties that’s usually the part that takes the longest to fully settle in.

8/3/2026 08:27:19 pm

Great to hear from you & thanks for these comments. Did reply to your mum’s sweet email on Friday.

All the staff I met were cheerful & enthusiastic and service at lunch was flawless. The ‘ceremony’ to make my martini a joy to watch.

10/3/2026 10:10:57 pm

It’s wonderful to hear that the staff were so cheerful and enthusiastic. Those early impressions often say a lot about a new hotel. The martini ceremony sounds particularly delightful — I always think those small touches of theatre and attention to detail are what really elevate the experience and make a stay memorable.

flawless service at lunch is also a very encouraging sign. It suggests the team is already finding its rhythm, which is impressive for such a new property.

Thank you again for sharing your experience — it certainly makes the hotel sound very promising. they should hire you as a consultant

Nick and Rick

9/3/2026 05:18:59 am

John,

Thank you for such a thoughtful perspective. You highlighted many of the same things that stood out to us when reading Simon’s post, particularly the sense of space and the riverfront setting. As you note, London luxury hotels often operate in historic buildings where rooms and layouts are constrained, so having a modern property with large rooms and full river views really does make the Park Hyatt feel quite different from the traditional Mayfair or Knightsbridge experience.

Your question about the service is a very good one. New luxury hotels often take a little time to find their rhythm, but based on Simon’s experience it sounded as though the service was already aligning well with the physical hotel. The welcome from Mitsuhiro and the personal tour from GM Mario suggested a level of attentiveness that goes beyond simply having an impressive building.

We were also interested in your thoughts on the location in Nine Elms. The riverfront views and sense of space clearly give the hotel a different feel from central London districts, and it will be fascinating to see how that part of the city continues to develop as more luxury properties open there.

One thing we sometimes wonder about with Hyatt properties, however, is the balance created by their extremely popular loyalty program and credit card ecosystem. When a hotel becomes heavily accessible through points, the guest mix can shift quite quickly. That can occasionally change the atmosphere in ways that luxury hotels must manage carefully.

In some ways this is what makes brands such as Four Seasons, Rosewood, and the Dorchester Collection so distinctive. Their approach tends to preserve a more traditional luxury environment where the focus remains firmly on service, hospitality, and the overall guest experience. Simon’s many stays at properties across those groups consistently seem to reflect that standard.

We would be very interested in your perspective on this. How do the best Park Hyatt properties maintain that sense of refinement and service consistency when operating within such a large loyalty ecosystem?

Nick and Rick

9/3/2026 08:14:20 am

Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Dorchester Collection etc did not offer loyalty schemes with points & I got burnt over the Hilton scheme, while living in the Nicosia Hilton for months in Cyprus. Will ask Mario about the Hyatt scheme, when next in Nine Elms.

10/3/2026 09:59:07 pm

Nick and Rick,

You raise a very thoughtful point, and it’s something I’ve wondered about as well. The strength of the hYatt ecosystem—particularly the reach of World of Hyatt—is undoubtedly one of the reasons the Park Hyatt brand has such a passionate following. But as you suggest, that accessibility can create an interesting balancing act for properties that are trying to maintain a very traditional luxury atmosphere.

In my experience, the best Park Hyatt hotels manage this by making service and physical design do most of the work. Even if a guest arrives on points, once they are inside the hotel the environment still needs to feel unmistakably refined. That usually comes down to a combination of large, well-designed spaces, calm public areas, and a service culture that feels highly personal rather than transactional.

That’s where Simon’s observations about the new Park hYatt London River Thames were particularly interesting. The sense of space, the river views, and the modern layout already set it apart from many traditional London luxury hotels housed in historic buildings. If the service culture develops in the same direction—as suggested by the welcome from Mitsuhiro and the tour from Mario—it could help the property create exactly the kind of atmosphere you’re describing.

Your comparison with groups like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and Dorchester Collection is also very apt. Those brands tend to rely less on loyalty mechanics and more on a consistent service philosophy across their properties, which naturally shapes the guest experience.

I suspect the most successful Park Hyatt properties find a middle ground: they benefit from the reach of Hyatt’s loyalty base, but they maintain a very deliberate on-property culture that keeps the experience aligned with true luxury hospitality.

It will certainly be fascinating to see how the hotel evolves—and how the broader Nine Elms area develops as more high-end properties and residences arrive along the river.

hYatt should hire SiFrew.com as a luxxxury consultAAnt.

John

Gus

8/3/2026 11:01:48 pm

Wonderful to see the universe has expanded! What a splendid place to start our birthday month!

8/3/2026 11:37:57 pm

Good to hear from you in Uruguay. Yes, Nine Elms is on its way. Sounds like we both had awesome starts to our birthday month.

9/3/2026 05:11:35 am

Simon,

What a wonderful way to begin your birthday month in London. Your visit to the Park Hyatt London Thames River sounded like a remarkable start to what is shaping up to be a very special March.

The hotel itself sounds incredibly impressive. The scale of the rooms, the views over the Thames, and the thoughtful design you described all speak to the refined quality that Park Hyatt properties are known for. A seven teddies debut for a hotel that only opened in late 2024 says a great deal about what Mario and his team have already accomplished.

We especially enjoyed reading about the Nine Elms Bar and Chief Mixologist Mitsuhiro preparing your martini with such Japanese precision. Moments like that always give a hotel its personality. Your conversation with him about Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka added a wonderful international dimension to the afternoon.

Your photographs were superb as well. They captured the architectural details, the river views, and the atmosphere of the hotel in a way that truly made us feel as though we were there with you.

It is also fascinating to watch Nine Elms continue to develop as one of London’s newest luxury hotel districts. Hotels like the Park Hyatt are clearly helping shape what that part of the city will become.

Rick and I are especially excited to see everything that March has planned for your birthday month, particularly the celebrations on 29 March when you will wake at The Emory. If this opening chapter is any indication, it promises to be an unforgettable sequence of experiences.

Nick and Rick

9/3/2026 08:06:26 am

What a way to start my week reading these comments from you two in Seattle. Thanks for making my day.

Samantha Garvin

9/3/2026 06:35:53 pm

Happy BirthMonth Simon!

It looks like March has started off with a bang and I'm very much looking forward to reading of your Emory adventures.

If all goes well we will be in London in July to continue the celebrations in person.

xx

9/3/2026 06:45:25 pm

Thanks for saying all this from Canada & cannot wait to see you all in July.

Barbara

11/3/2026 09:33:43 pm

Si,
What a wonderful way to start your birthday month! The Park Hyatt London Thames River sounds absolutely spectacular. The perfectly crafted martini must have been a highlight. And the personalised gifts (plus that indulgent chocolate tart!) sound like the perfect finishing touch to an already memorable day. Looking forward to reading more about your birthday celebrations as the month unfolds. Happy birthday month!

12/3/2026 05:50:34 am

So great to hear from you in Italy & thanks for saying all this.

The day of my actual birthday will end with dinner in The Aubrey in Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park - the restaurant where we had such a fun evening.

Tia - Pastry Senior Sous Chef, 45 Park Lane

12/3/2026 06:12:41 am

We’ve got some new pastries for you to try!

Graham - The Barbican in London

19/3/2026 01:22:40 pm

Good seeing you today.

19/3/2026 01:23:53 pm

Thanks for the laughs & coffee too.

Johan

20/3/2026 02:24:26 pm

Sorry I’ve been quiet, it’s been super busy - but now I’m in Paris.

20/3/2026 02:26:36 pm

Thanks for the photos of your place in Punta del Este. The infinity pool looks perfect.

the luxury travel blog

Pure Class Park Hyatt, London Thames River & My Birthday Month - London - March 2026

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