Tag Archives: Marriott

JW Marriott Absheron Hotel, Baku

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The Marriott brand is known worldwide for their luxury hotels and five star service. I experienced this first hand at the Marriott Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Absheron, where I was invited to try the spa and Fireworks restaurant. The Marriott fits into the impressive Baku skyline, it is a huge building with an imposing façade. Centrally located, I imagine this hotel is a popular choice for business visitors to Baku, yet when I visited I noticed crowds of young locals enjoying the outdoor eateries.

The spa is up on one of the highest floors, with incredible views of the city and a calm, quiet atmosphere. The therapists were very smiley and happy to be attending to our every need. Face down on the massage bed, I could have been anywhere in the world and for a moment I definitely forgot I was in Azerbaijan’s booming capital city. As I’d expect from a Marriott establishment, the massage was wonderful, personalised and attentive, relaxing and soothing. The treatment concluded with a glass of refreshing iced tea to hydrate and wake us up. We sat for a while in the relaxation room, in the comfiest chairs overlooking the entire city and the amazing Caspian coastline. After an invigorating shower, we travelled back down to one of the Marriott restaurants.

There are four dining options, we were in the oriental terrace restaurant, Fireworks. On Fridays this restaurant holds a beer and kebab buffet, a casual, fun night equally popular with tourists and locals. I cannot fault the service which was amongst the best I experienced in Baku… very friendly and accommodating, English-speaking waiters made our dinner very enjoyable. Luckily, the head chef was on hand to choose our meal for us as I was completely bewildered by the choice and variety on the menu.

After glasses of chilled Prosecco, a selection of Middle-Eastern meze was delivered to us: mangal (aubergine) salad, hummus, halloumi salad, and warm flat bread. The flavours were vibrant and the dishes were extra moreish, I couldn’t resist nibbling away for ages. A mixed grill arrived soon after for main course: an array of juicy fragrant meats dressed with spices and presented with grilled vegetables. Fresh watermelon was a palate-cleansing, healthy end to the meal.

Wandering away from the epic Absheron building, lit up gloriously, I knew I would remember my evening here fondly for years to come. It is a giant in the Baku empire that offers everything a guest could ever want.

More information here.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled with British Airways, London to Baku.

AC Marriott Hotel, Seville

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There are three Marriott hotels in Seville to choose from, each with its own advantages. We stayed in the most centrally located, convenient for both tourists and business visitors, though very much geared to the latter.

The facade of the building is attractive and charming, however inside the tone is muted with a dull grey colour scheme and rather tired dated decor. The Spaniards are not renowned for their English speaking and this was a bit of a problem at check in… the sweet girl tried desperately hard to understand us but it still took a while to communicate! Our twin suite was up a few floors in a very jumpy lift. The rooms were plain and anonymous though perfectly functional and clean. For a weekend break it is sufficient though with a little updating it could be remarkably improved.

Grey was the overall vibe of our private space too, with simple furniture and a few pictures adding a little colour to the walls. The beds were surprisingly comfortable with miraculous mattresses and plush pillows. The beds were topped with a light sheet and blanket which we found was enough once we worked out how to control the overactive air con!

The bathroom was big and bright with a comfortable bath and plentiful towels and toiletries for our use.

For those wishing to keep up their fitness routine a lovely outside pool and exercise equipment are located on the top floor. If we’d had more time I would have liked to explore this appealing area.

Breakfast is served in the basement, near to the conference rooms. With no natural light this could have been miserable but in fact the cheery staff and appetising food made the atmosphere very convivial. With a Nespresso machine and fresh croissants, I had everything I needed for my morning meal.

For visitors requiring internet you will need to find it in the lobby area where access is free and easy to connect to; in the rooms it is an additional cost and requires a special code.

Helpful and kind, it is the staff at this Marriott branch that make the hotel appealing. With close proximity to the airport and city centre this accommodation will be convenient for all Seville visitors, though the lack of character inside means that presently it suits business travellers best.

More information and book here.

The Luggage Room, Mayfair

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The Luggage Room is my kind of bar: secret, sophisticated and not located in East London.

I love this recent addition to the five star Marriott Hotel on Grosvenor Square. They have cleverly converted one of the old luggage rooms into an intimate and cosy (and hidden) cocktail bar. I will admit I got rather lost trying to navigate my way to this obscure little venue, though any member of the Marriott staff will happily escort you to the door. The bar captures the style of the 1920’s and without trying too hard manages to conjure up a calculated, cool vibe.

Bar manager Abdulai Kpekawa, formerly of Roux at the Pembury, and his team have created a menu of beautifully crafted cocktails. On view at the bar I could see they take real pride in the drinks they make and mix. At the table nextdoor I overheard a fussy woman complaining about the absence of strawberry martinis on the menu, I wanted to scream at her. Be brave and try something new… I found the recipes exciting and palate stimulating. There is little point coming to Luggage Room if you want an alcoholic frozen fruit juice, these concoctions are all about style and surprise.

We tried Luggage Cocktail, Caspers Trail, Pretty in Pink and Clover Club – all created specially for and by the team. The aptly named Luggage Cocktail is perfectly balanced, a lovely mix of gentle rose syrup and zesty lemon with a hint of the exotic from the basil. Pretty in Pink is the perfect Thoroughly Modern Milly drink, pink, punchy and potent! Made with Bacardi Superior Rum and Martini Dry, it is a strong cocktail with a girly twist. Clover Club is a less experimental option for less experienced cocktail drinkers! Tanqueray, lemon juice and raspberry syrup are mixed expertly to create a very drinkable ensemble. And finally the Caspers Trail… served short in a tumbler with a large chunk of ice this drink changes as the cube melts… made from Kamm & Sons, Grand Marnier and Framboise Eau De Vie it is a wonderfully stern drink, moody and manly, ideal for the male cocktail fan.

A concise menu of bar snacks are on offer too. We tried the Melton Mowbray pork pie with pickled wallys and English mustard and the Potted ‘two hoots’ Barkham blue cheese, spiced cider pear chutney and sour dough shards. Both were immaculately presented and delicious. Along with the complimentary salted vegetable crisps, we almost felt satisfied enough to skip dinner.

Innovative and exciting, this cocktail bar won’t remain a secret for long. And with drinks this good, I think the Marriott may be receiving an extra spontaneous visitor whenever I’m near by.

More information here.

http://luggageroom.co.uk/