In one of the coldest snaps this winter on the edge of snow, what better than snuggled on an ‘Alpine terrace’ overlooking royal parks eating Raclette? With a glass of Champagne?

Number One Park Lane, located within The InterContinental Park Lane, is running its Christmas Chalet pop up in partnership with Moet & Chandon through December into early 2023.

You can almost forget the Hyde Park Roundabout on this festive terrace that overlooks Winter Wonderland and the Wellington Arch. Just tuck up under the heaters, sheepskins and tartan rugs with a mountain of Alpine cheese.

It was quiet and sedate the Friday night we visited with people being turned away although the terrace was not full. Among dishes on offer was Raclette, new potatoes, and pickled gherkins and Tartiflette with potato, bacon and Reblochon, both of which we had to try it being an Alpine Terrace and all.

The bacon in the Tartiflette made this dish stand out and both meals warded off the cold beautifully but by the time we were on the fondue, we’d maxxed out on the dairy. Nothing wrong with the Forest Truffle Cheese fondue (for two) and who could resist that?

But by now, its emmental, morbier and vacherin had slightly merged on the taste buds and needed the sharpness of those gherkins.

The surprise was the non-cheese dishes – the Hungarian Ghoulash Soup with grass-fed beef, smoked potatoes and winter carrots was much more complex and spiky – really lovely. So were the lobster tails for dips.

And I’d have liked to have tried the grilled bratwurst or pan-fried sea bream for a different theme. But if by now we didn’t need filling up, desserts did the job. Excellently presented – apple strudel, though stodgy, finished nicely as did the Pot au chocolat with Baileys cream.

Cocktails from Moët & Chandon include a limited-edition holiday collection such as the Fireside Royale (Briottet rhubarb liqueur, Cocchi rosa vermouth, blackberry, apple, vanilla, Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne) and Golden Candlelight (Regal Rogue wild rosé vermouth, passion fruit, pineapple, Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne). Perhaps a little sweet for us, but suitably decadent.

Overdoing the cheeses – which may have elasticised inside us – meant none of us was hungry for several days but this was a wonderfully festive way to spend a freezing night on the slope of luxury.
 
Wednesday – Saturday 12pm to 10pm 
Sunday 12pm to 8pm  
Bookings: [email protected] 

InterContinental London Park Lane, 1 Park Lane, Park Lane, London W1J
7QY