THE DISTILLERY, LONDON
In “Gin Lane,” William Hogarth’s iconic engraving from 1751, Londoners appear to be going to hell in a handbasket (or wheelbarrow) full of gin. Now, 265 years after the Gin Act halted the flood of the liquor that aggravated so many social ills, the distillers of Portobello Road Gin have opened what must seem like heaven to modern fans of the drink: the Distil- lery, a gin-themed boutique hotel. In its mix: three guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar, an actual distillery and the Ginstitute, which offers classes in gin- and cocktail-making that include the colorful history of the colorless spirit.
Setting: Notting Hill, along the busy “market” street of Portobello Road. There’s no shortage of bars and restaurants, while bus lines and the Underground (via Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill Gate stations) put many London attractions within easy reach.
The appeal: If you’re a teetotaler, not much. But others will enjoy immersing themselves, not quite literally, into the city’s modern craft cocktail culture. The handsome rooms, which include a minibar featuring spirits distilled on site, are also a relative bargain in pricey London — book well in advance.
Insider tips: If you can’t spend three hours (or $137) crafting your own blend in the Ginstitute’s Gin Experience, try the Master Class, which teaches how to make five classic cocktails in 105 minutes ($74). Check out Electric Cinema, a few steps away, to watch mainstream and art-house movies from a comfy double bed, leather armchair or sofa.
Good to know: The menu in the hotel’s ground-floor Resting Room offers small plates of locally sourced British fare, while GinTonica, one floor up, showcases Spanish and Mediterranean tapas. Rough Trade Records, which has a shop around the corner, provides the vinyl for the custom-made record players in each guest room.
Details: 171 Portobello Road, London. (011) 44 20 3034 2233, www.the-distil lery.london. From $155.