Tag Archives: Germany

The Villa Spa, Villa Kennedy Hotel, Frankfurt

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After a late night out in the city there is nothing more restorative than a morning at a peaceful spa. Villa Kennedy is located in the quiet, leafy outskirts of Frankfurt, a Rocco Forte Collection hotel of some grandeur.

As a triathlete Sir Rocco Forte insists on luxurious spas in all of his hotels, The Villa Spa is renowned in Frankfurt as the best place to refresh the body and mind. With eight treatment rooms, a Turkish steam room and sauna, a relaxing room and garden, a fitness centre and a granite-lined pool, there is every facility you could need to totally replenish and revitalise. We considered lingering in the retreat all day and cancelling our plans to explore the city!

The pale pristine spa is a joy to experience and I couldn’t understand why there weren’t more guests taking advantage of this blissful bonus to the hotel. After changing into the enveloping bathrobes, we were escorted to the private treatment rooms. There are over 120 treatments to choose from, we were booked in for the ‘Whole in One’ 60 minute massage. My chirpy therapist explained each stage of the massage before we began. Face down on the heated bed I felt able to let go of every tension in my body. Using her arms and elbows she eased away knots in my back, focussing on my tight shoulders. It was incredible.

As I woke from my light massage-induced sleep, I realised how clear-headed and light-bodied I felt. The therapists returned with a strongly scented red rose and a cup of hot ginger tea, to sooth and awaken the senses. In the relaxing room a fresh berry smoothie was waiting, looking exotic and tasting delicious. Resisting the urge to lie on the sun lounger in the garden and sleep, I went through to the sauna and steam room and let the heat cleanse my pores. The pool is the centrepiece of the spa, and certainly cannot be ignored. I jumped into the rippling pale blue water and swam back and forth, the most peaceful kind of exercise.

We left this palatial hotel feeling like we’d been rested and revived, it was like waking from a deep sleep. The Villa Spa is an absolute must for guests wishing to take a break from their city itinerary.

More information and book a spa treatment here.

Many thanks to the Frankfurt Tourist board for their help with this trip, more information here.

Roomers Hotel, Frankfurt

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Many of the hotels in Frankfurt are designed to suit corporate travellers and finding accommodation which caters for holidaymakers can be tricky. Hoteliers Micky Rosen and Alex Urseanu are changing all that with their design-led, luxurious properties. Roomers Hotel is a seductive and stylish example which opened in central Frankfurt in 2009.

The building isn’t much to look at – a converted office block, the exterior doesn’t aim to impress, but swing open the heavy entrance door and you discover a dark and mysterious room with fire blazing, plush sofas, veiled windows and gothic artworks. On the ground floor guests can enjoy a variety of facilities including a casual restaurant and fashionable bar, ideal for an aperitif or late night cocktail.

Our Superior room was number 505, located upstairs among the other 115 rooms. It was petite but decorated immaculately with thick expensive materials and attractive furniture. The luxurious bouncy bed had a cushioned satin headboard, and super soft feathered duvets and pillows that sink around your head. The desk was equipped with glossy magazines, chocolates and fruit, and nearby a smart armchair invited slumping into after a day of sight-seeing and shopping. The moody lighting gave the room a cosy feeling but made it quite difficult to see oneself in the mirror at night, so make-up application was tricky. The bathroom was decked completely in black granite. There was a huge power shower with plenty of space to move about, but sadly no bath. Toiletries were from Eau des Minimes, from Provence, and had a lovely citrus fragrance.

Spa and fitness fans will be pleased to discover the heavenly glass-roofed spa, a lovely place to indulge while admiring the view of the city skyline. Here we experienced the wide range of facilities; glass bead-filled relaxation tubs, Medyjet electronic massage beds, dry sauna and Jacuzzi pool. All guests are welcome in the spa and it really is an unmissable feature at Roomers, I recommend spending an hour here before dressing up for supper.

After a peaceful sleep we went in search of a morning meal. Breakfast is served in the large dining room but we chose to eat on the patio outside where we could enjoy the summer weather. Everything you could desire was on offer, international and continental treats to devour. We sampled the croissants and coffee, returning to the buffet for a cheese and smoked salmon second course!

Roomers is a glamorous base for style-conscious, savvy travellers. With everything you need on site and a clued up concierge at your service, you can have the best of both worlds, hunting down the coolest city hang-outs and returning to the lavish hotel to relax and replenish.

More information and book a room at Roomers Hotel here.

Many thanks to the Frankfurt Tourist board for their help with this trip, more information here.

Carmelo Greco, Frankfurt

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Frankfurt is filled with financiers and businessmen who need a good feed and consequently the fine dining scene is thriving.

Carmelo Greco is a refined ristorante serving authentic Italian cuisine using the freshest produce, and as the weather changes the dishes transform making the most of seasonal ingredients. Chef Carmelo Greco is clearly very passionate about food, he hopes every guest will love their dining experience, whether they are visiting for a simple bowl of pasta or lingering over his immaculate tasting menu.

Carmelo insisted on preparing a special menu just for us, and our lovely smiley waitress introduced each course as it arrived from the kitchen. Initially I was a little disappointed as I had spotted several dishes I was desperate to try on the a la carte list, but I had to trust the man who seemed to be delighting the diners all around us, and sure enough his suggestions didn’t disappoint.

The meal began, as every meal should, with a glass of pink champagne, which we sipped whispering politely and observing the relaxed but smart ambience in the restaurant and the simple but attractive decor. We were seated at a lovely corner table, ideal for surveying the other guests. Wary not to fill up on bread, we only nibbled at the homemade olive loaf.

Mini amuse-bouches of melon with prosciutto and scallop with chorizo and cold pear soup whet our appetite; a taste of things to come. Starters were rich but petite, a creamy duck foie gras that had the texture of butter and pear ice-cream topped with Belper Knolle cheese shavings for me. My guest was thrilled to have Atlantic lobster placed in front of her: coral pink fleshy shellfish with tapioca and orange and olive oil sorbet. She loved the seafood but found the combination of flavours a little alarming.

The next course was delivered in response to my initial rant about ‘loving ravioli more than anything’. As if by magic Ravioli with Parmesan and Sicilian tomatoes arrived. It was exquisite, incredibly fresh and with a nice bite, I could eat this delicious hand-crafted pasta for every meal, everyday, it was THAT good.

For main course we tried Breton red mullet with peach and onion mousse, and Pigeon breast with polenta, cheese and pomegranate. Both were beautifully presented, carefully assembled meat or fish surrounded by ornamental vegetables. The pigeon was particularly impressive, perfectly cooked and coated in a crumbly powdery crust. The fish with a grilled golden edge and pristine white inside was paired with a soft sweet mousse.

The staff warned us about the bizarre dessert: soufflé with vegetable minestrone! The soufflé was light and airy, a sweet delight, thinly sliced and cubed vegetables definitely took on a new personality as the base of the soufflé though I still found the combination strange. Italian dessert wine was a welcome accompaniment to our pudding.

We left the restaurant almost hugging our waitress goodbye, she had been so accommodating, helpful and friendly, offering the most genuine service I have ever experienced. This personal touch, alongside the delicious and inspiring food makes Carmelo Greco a very special restaurant.

More information and book here: www.carmelo-greco.de/en/

Many thanks to the Frankfurt Tourist board for their help with this trip, more information here.