Is Pan Pacific London worth it with Amex Platinum? Yes. Pan Pacific London delivers genuine luxury with exceptional service, stunning City views, and a world-class infinity pool. Amex Platinum Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits add £300-400 in value per stay, making the £650 annual fee far easier to justify.
Best features: Devonshire Suite upgrade, 4pm checkout, infinity pool overlooking Liverpool Street
Best for: Couples seeking a luxurious City of London base with excellent transport links
Budget: £400-700/night (suites), significant savings possible via Amex Travel
Table of Contents
- Why We Chose Pan Pacific London
- Arrival and First Impressions
- Maximising Amex Platinum Benefits
- The Devonshire Suite: Room Tour
- Breakfast: A Proper Luxury Spread
- The Infinity Pool and SENSORY Spa
- Dining and Drinks: Straits Kitchen and Ginger Lily
- Service Quality: What Really Sets Pan Pacific Apart
- Location: Why the City of London Works
- Value Assessment: Is It Worth It?
- Final Verdict
Why We Chose Pan Pacific London
We'd been considering Pan Pacific London since it opened. Joe visited the Singapore property for his 30th birthday and returned with enthusiastic reviews of the brand. When we spotted a 20% discount on suites through Amex Travel, it felt like the right time to experience the London property. The Walbrook Suite was priced lower than a standard room, and we understood there was potential for an upgrade through Fine Hotels + Resorts.
However, there was a secondary motivation for this booking. We wanted to test whether the American Express Platinum card's £650 annual fee could be genuinely justified through hotel benefits alone. Pan Pacific London became a case study for a question many readers ask: is Amex Platinum worth it for couples who travel regularly?
This stay alone offset nearly half the annual fee.
Arrival and First Impressions
We arrived at Pan Pacific London on a Friday at noon. The 12pm early check-in is one of the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits, and it's particularly valuable when you're trying to maximise a weekend stay. There's no awkward waiting period or leaving bags with reception while you explore the neighbourhood.
The hotel occupies a striking bronze glass tower at 80 Houndsditch, immediately adjacent to Liverpool Street Station. The ground-floor lobby is calm and contemporary, featuring muted tones, natural materials, and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide excellent natural light. The design aesthetic avoids traditional stuffiness in favour of modern understated luxury.
At check-in, we were offered tea and a small selection of mango sweets while our details were processed. The team acknowledged our Amex Platinum booking immediately and confirmed our upgrade to the Devonshire Suite. The concierge had already contacted us via email a week before arrival to confirm the upgrade, which demonstrated strong communication and organisation.
Within five minutes, we had our key cards and were on our way to the 17th floor.
Maximising Amex Platinum Benefits
Understanding the Amex Platinum Fine Hotels + Resorts programme is essential if you're considering this hotel, because these benefits significantly impact overall value.
Here's what we received at Pan Pacific London:
- Room upgrade upon arrival: We booked the Walbrook Suite and were upgraded to the Devonshire Suite, which represents a substantial increase in both size and view quality.
- Daily breakfast for two: Full buffet breakfast with hot options, valued at approximately £60 per person per day.
- £100 experience credit: Applied to food, beverage, or spa treatments during our stay.
- 12pm early check-in: Provided several additional hours to use the pool facilities and settle in properly.
- 4pm late checkout: Allowed us to swim, have lunch, and depart at our leisure on Sunday afternoon.
- Complimentary WiFi: Standard across the hotel but officially included in the FHR package.
The breakfast and late checkout alone were worth over £300 across our two-night stay. When you factor in the suite upgrade (worth at least £200 per night based on published rates), we extracted approximately £700 in additional value. That exceeds the Amex Platinum's £650 annual fee.
There are a few details worth noting. The minibar isn't complimentary, and soft drinks were initially added to our bill. However, when we mentioned this at checkout, the charge was removed immediately without question. The same situation occurred with our ironing service (two pieces per day are included). Minor billing errors, but the team corrected them efficiently.
If your goal is to justify the Amex Platinum annual fee, one or two stays like this per year at FHR properties makes a substantial difference to the value equation.
The Devonshire Suite: Room Tour
The Devonshire Suite is impressive. Not in an exaggerated, social-media-friendly way, but in terms of actual space, thoughtful design, and attention to detail.
The suite spans approximately 65 square metres with clearly defined living and sleeping areas. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide unobstructed views of the Gherkin and the City skyline, which were particularly attractive at sunset and during the evening when the surrounding buildings illuminated.
The bedroom features a large king-size bed with quality linens and blackout curtains for proper sleep. A well-positioned desk includes multiple plug sockets and USB ports, which is useful if you're combining work with leisure. There's also a potted plant that adds a subtle, calming element to the space.
The bathroom warrants specific mention. Everything is marble. The floors are heated. There's a separate bath and shower. While the bath itself isn't particularly long, the overall design is flawless. Toiletries are Jo Loves Mango Thai Lime, which have an excellent scent without being overpowering or artificial.
There's a dedicated dressing area with a well-lit vanity table, a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with attachments, and adequate wardrobe space for a weekend stay. Our only minor criticism: there's only one usable drawer, as the second is occupied by the in-room safe. A small detail, but slightly odd for a suite at this level.
Turndown service was excellent. Housekeeping was discreet, efficient, and the suite remained immaculate throughout our stay.
Breakfast: A Proper Luxury Spread
Breakfast at Pan Pacific London is included in Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings, and it genuinely ranks among the better hotel breakfasts we've experienced in London.
The buffet is comprehensive: fresh pastries, artisan breads, charcuterie, cheese selections, salads, yoghurts, fresh fruit, and a full range of hot dishes. You can also order from the à la carte menu, which includes eggs prepared to specification, pancakes, French toast, and additional options.
The coffee is excellent, with properly prepared barista-made cappuccinos and lattes. There's a wide selection of fresh juices, including proper freshly squeezed orange juice rather than carton alternatives.
The breakfast space itself is bright, spacious, and well-designed. There's none of the cramped, chaotic atmosphere that plagues some hotel dining rooms. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Tables were cleared promptly, and coffee cups were refilled regularly.
When calculating the value of Amex FHR benefits, breakfast alone represents approximately £50-60 per person per day. Over a two-night stay, that's £200-240 in value. It's a significant component of the overall package.
The Infinity Pool and SENSORY Spa
The SENSORY spa and wellness floor is arguably Pan Pacific London's most distinctive feature. Located on the 19th floor, the space includes an 18.5-metre infinity pool, sauna, steam room, relaxation lounge, and a 24-hour gym.
The pool is exceptional. It's heated to 30°C and positioned directly against floor-to-ceiling windows, providing unobstructed views across the City and Liverpool Street Station. Swimming laps while observing the movement of commuters below creates an interesting juxtaposition. The water temperature is ideal: warm enough for relaxation, but not so warm that it becomes uncomfortable.
We didn't use the spa treatment rooms, though they appeared well-equipped and the treatment menu offered a comprehensive range of options from massages to facials. The £100 FHR credit can be applied here, which is useful if you're interested in booking a couples' massage or similar treatment.
The gym operates 24 hours and features high-quality equipment, including Technogym machines, free weights, and a D-Wall virtual training system. If you need to maintain your workout routine while travelling, it's more than adequate.
Access to the SENSORY floor is complimentary for all hotel guests, which enhances the overall value proposition considerably.
Dining and Drinks: Straits Kitchen and Ginger Lily
Pan Pacific London operates two primary F&B outlets: Straits Kitchen (the signature restaurant) and Ginger Lily Bar & Lounge.
We didn't dine at Straits Kitchen for dinner during this stay, as we were exploring other London restaurants. However, breakfast there was exceptional, as previously mentioned. The restaurant serves modern Southeast Asian cuisine with British influences, and based on reviews we've read, it appears worth returning for dinner on a future visit.
Ginger Lily Bar operates across two levels. The downstairs bar was busy on Friday evening with a mix of couples, business travellers, and small groups. The upstairs lounge was quieter, which suited our preference for a more relaxed pre-dinner drink.
The drinks menu is well-curated. We tried a couple of cocktails (both well-executed), a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine (an excellent English sparkling option), and some bar snacks. The staff were notably friendly and personable. Impressively, when we returned on Sunday afternoon for a final drink before departure, our bartender from Friday remembered our order from two days earlier. That level of attention is uncommon and genuinely appreciated.
The £100 FHR credit can be applied here, which we used towards our Sunday drinks bill.
Service Quality: What Really Sets Pan Pacific Apart
If there's one element that distinguishes Pan Pacific London from other luxury hotels in the City, it's the quality and consistency of service.
From check-in to departure, every member of staff we encountered was warm, professional, and genuinely invested in making our stay comfortable. This wasn't the robotic, script-reading service you sometimes encounter at five-star properties. It felt authentic and personal.
The concierge team communicated proactively before our arrival. Housekeeping was discreet and thorough. The bar staff demonstrated excellent memory. Reception handled minor billing discrepancies without hesitation or defensiveness.
One small example that illustrates this: we mentioned casually that we were attending the theatre on Saturday evening. When we returned to our room that afternoon, there was a handwritten note wishing us an enjoyable performance. These small, thoughtful gestures create a memorable stay.
As a same-sex couple, we were treated with exactly the same warmth and professionalism as any other guests. There was never a moment of awkwardness or uncertainty. The City of London is inherently cosmopolitan and business-focused, and Pan Pacific's staff maintain a high standard of professionalism and courtesy across the board.
Location: Why the City of London Works
The City of London isn't the most obvious choice for a leisure-focused hotel stay, but the location offers several significant advantages.
Pan Pacific London is directly adjacent to Liverpool Street Station, which provides access to the Elizabeth Line, Central Line, Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, and Metropolitan Line. You can reach the West End in 10 minutes, King's Cross in 15 minutes, and Heathrow in 45 minutes via the Elizabeth Line.
If you're planning to explore beyond central London or arriving via train (Stansted Airport connects directly to Liverpool Street), the location is exceptionally convenient.
Within reasonable walking distance, there's Spitalfields Market (five minutes), Brick Lane (10 minutes), Tower Bridge (15 minutes), and Borough Market (20 minutes across the river). The surrounding area includes excellent restaurants, cocktail bars, and independent coffee shops.
It's approximately 15-20 minutes by Tube to Covent Garden or Soho, but we found the convenience of the transport connections and the quieter, less tourist-saturated atmosphere of the City to be considerable advantages. It provides a more authentic London experience rather than placing you in a crowded, generic tourist zone.
Value Assessment: Is It Worth It?
Let's examine the specific numbers.
We booked the Walbrook Suite via Amex Travel with a 20% discount, paying approximately £500 per night (standard rate £625). We were subsequently upgraded to the Devonshire Suite (typically £700+ per night).
Here's the additional value received through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts:
- Suite upgrade: £200 per night × 2 nights = £400
- Breakfast for two: £50 per person × 2 people × 2 days = £200
- £100 experience credit: £100
- Early check-in and late checkout: Conservatively valued at £100 for the additional pool and spa access time
Total additional value: £800
We paid £1,000 for the accommodation and received £800 in additional benefits. That represents an effective nightly rate of approximately £300 per night for a luxury suite with breakfast, late checkout, and pool access.
For context, standard rooms at comparable five-star London hotels (Shangri-La at The Shard, Rosewood London, and similar) typically start at £400-500 per night without breakfast or additional benefits. Pan Pacific's value proposition is genuinely competitive, particularly when you account for the Amex benefits.
If you hold an Amex Platinum card and question whether the £650 annual fee represents good value, stays like this one demonstrate exactly how to justify the cost.
Final Verdict
Pan Pacific London is a genuinely outstanding hotel. The combination of thoughtful contemporary design, exceptional service quality, and substantive luxury rather than merely performative five-star gestures makes it one of the stronger options in the City of London.
The Devonshire Suite was spacious, well-designed, and extremely comfortable. The infinity pool is a unique and memorable feature. The breakfast ranks among London's best hotel offerings. The location is unbeatable if you prioritise transport connectivity and want to explore beyond the standard tourist circuits.
For us, the Amex Platinum Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits transformed this stay from simply good into genuinely excellent value. The upgrade, early check-in, late checkout, and daily breakfast added several hundred pounds in value to a booking that was already competitively priced.
Would we return? Without question. We're already considering another booking for a future London weekend, and Joe's positive experience at the Singapore property has us examining the broader Pan Pacific portfolio for upcoming trips.
If you're seeking a luxury hotel in London that combines impeccable service, modern design, and genuine substance beneath the five-star presentation, Pan Pacific London should be high on your shortlist.
Rating: 5/5
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