Why we’re in love with The Gallery’s garden room

From The Ritz in London to HMS Titanic…back in the day, a luxury venue was nothing if it didn’t have a palm court. Prestigious hotels around the globe added these light-filled, palm-lined atriums to ensure high society of the day had somewhere stunning to see and be seen.

So, as we were giving Aberdeen’s most stylish venue a bit of a makeover, it seemed fitting to create a space with a modern-day palm court vibe. And – oh my – what an incredible space it is!

The garden room in our new bar The Gallery has been the talk of the town since we opened the doors a few weeks ago. With floor to ceiling windows, the area is flooded with natural light and, to coin a phrase, takes the outdoors indoors.

Wallpaper with a jungle-like palm tree design compliments the theme perfectly – and if that’s not enough, artificial trees are lit up in dramatic effect in night light to cast dappled shadows on the ceiling.

Green weave upholstery and marble tabletops are a perfect match for the palm court theme, and of course it’s all brought together with masses and masses of plants and greenery. It’s created a whole new dimension to the hotel…and we can’t get enough of it.

Neither, it seems, can you. It’s one of the first areas to fill up on a busy weekend…so get here early if you want to call dibs on the large, curved sofa that dominates the space. But fear not – if you miss it, there are lots of other comfy areas where you can enjoy a quiet drink with someone special or toast good times with friends.

Away back in time when palm courts were all the rage, they offered up the perfect venue for tea dances accompanied by light classical music. While we have no plans to clear the tables to make way for a dancefloor, we are giving a wee nod to the history books – our popular afternoon teas are now served in the garden room.

We know that they were a much-loved feature of our residents’ lounge, but the sophisticated elegance of the garden room makes it a perfect space to channel your inner Victorian and partake in this delightful cake-filled indulgent treat.

If you haven’t visited our not-so-secret garden, why not make a date? We promise you’ll find it very, very hard not to fall in love and take root on the spot.