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Originally designed as an office block by none other than Bauhaus legend Walter Gropius, and then home to the infamous Playboy Club, 45 Park Lane is now a sleek, Art Deco-inspired hideaway, part of the Dorchester Collection. The hotel is boutique in size, with just 46 rooms and suites, all overlooking Hyde Park. The design by Thierry Despont makes it feel like a swanky private residence—dark woods, buttery-soft fabrics, and gleaming Art Deco details that look expensive but still inviting. The hotel is also home to CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s first European restaurant; BAR 45, a lively cocktail spot; and a spa that boasts the biggest indoor swimming pool in any London hotel. Small but mighty, this place has serious credentials.
RAFFLES LONDON AT THE OWO
Years in the making, Raffles London at The OWO is not only the first Raffles hotel in London but the rejuvenation of an iconic building with a remarkable history. Completed in 1906, the Old War Office carries long associations with great figures of the twentieth century, from Winston Churchill to Ian Fleming, who was inspired by the building’s resident spies to create the James Bond series. As well as luxury rooms and suites (plus some seriously swanky residencies), a Guerlain spa and high-spec wellness centre, the big draw at Raffles at The OWO is the food. Superstar chef Mauro Colagreco, who’s behind the former World No 1 restaurant, the three Michelin-starred Mirazur in the south of France, has two spots here – the fine-dining self-titled Mauro Colagraco at Raffles London at The OWO and Saison – but there’s also Paper Moon, Cafe Laperouse, Langosteria and Kioku by Endo to keep you busy.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL MAYFAIR
One of the more prolific hotel groups, the Mandarin Oriental now boasts a second London site – not too far away from the other one. The new hotel is on Hanover Square, Mayfair’s oldest square, which is just under a 30 minute walk from the Hyde Park location. Unlike the first, however, the new Mandarin Oriental is housed inside a new build and offers a more intimate experience, with only 50 guest rooms (as opposed to 168 at Hyde Park) and 78 private residencies. There are also restaurants and a lounge by Michelin-starred chef Akira Back, a destination spa and large indoor swimming pool.
190 bedrooms and suites, 25 opulent residencies, a spa, an indoor pool, a retail arcade and a ballroom makes for one hell of a hotel but The Peninsula London gets even more impressive when you look at the food and drink options. Claude Bosi oversees the two-star modern European rooftop restaurant Brooklands, inspired by classic British aviation and motorsport, with an overhead scale model of Concorde, rare motoring memorabilia and a rotating display of classic cars from the Brooklands racetrack inside. The ground floor of the hotel is home to Chinese restaurant Canton Blue, headed up by Chef Dicky To, which celebrates the spice trade link between Asia and Britain across the dining room and Little Blue Bar. You can also indulge in afternoon tea and an all-day menu of classic dishes to a soundtrack of live music at The Lobby restaurant, with grab-and-go food available at The Peninsula Boutique & Cafe.
THE MANDRAKE
The five-star luxury boutique Mandrake Hotel is a bit of a mysterious one, housed inside a converted RIBA award-winning building on Newman Street. The subdued corridor paves the way into the lobby where the dark interiors continue with a mix of art featuring mythological creatures and scenes of nature. The rooms come with top amenities – big beds, Italian linens, rainfall showers, Grown Alchemist products, flatscreen TV – but if you can, you’ll want to nab one with a balcony overlooking the hanging garden and courtyard. The Mandrake’s main restaurant Yopo is South American-inspire, and there are more creatures to marvel at during a meal, including a giant ostrich-like beast, which has a rather impressive headdress and snakeskin running down its entire neck. After dins, the bar picks up as the DJ provides a backdrop of beats for the crowd gearing up for a night out – the hotel is a popular party destination Thursday through Saturday. If you love an early night, then maybe this isn’t for you as it’s all about joining in the experience at The Mandrake.
Located about 5 minutes round the corner from Manchester Picadilly station, The Dakota is a massively convenient choice if you’re arriving by train. A sleek, black block situated on the canal, The Dakota is dark and moody inside, with a monolithic fireplace and lounge area at the entrance that leads back to a smart bar and restaurant, the Dakota Grill. There’s also a canal-side terrace which has a retractable roof so you can be out there whatever the famous Manchester weather brings. Rooms are comfy and luxurious with big beds, bathtubs and huge rainforest showers, plus all the mod cons you might need – all in all very decent value too, with rooms starting at £126 a night.
Maison Delano is a very luxurious new five-star luxury hotel in an 18th century mansion in the swanky 8th Arrondissement. There’s 56 classically-styled suites, plus a restaurant from Michelin-starred Spanish chef Dani Garcia.
A beaut new outpost of The Hoxton located in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona. As well as the superbly designed, spacious bedrooms, there’s a rooftop pool and restaurant (Tope), plus Four Corners Detroit-style pizza, and bikes to rent. Poblenou is a relaxed yet buzzing neighbourhood situated a little away from the centre – so you’re free from the tourist hoards that clog up downtown Barca, but still just a quick cycle or taxi away.
HOTEL ARTS BARCELONA
Hotel Arts Barcelona is an exceptional choice for anyone looking for luxurious accommodation in the city. With five gastronomic restaurants, including two Michelin-starred Enoteca, led by the five Michelin-starred chef Paco Perez; a cocktail bar; and a unique collection of open and leisure spaces, including a spa, an infinity pool, a family pool overlooking the gardens, the hotel is an oasis of calm by day and a vibrant hot spot at night. The duplex penthouses are nothing short of incredible, with sleek, modern design complemented by an impressive 20th-century collection of works by contemporary Catalan and Spanish artists, a huge dining table that seats eight, a mini kitchenette with enough equipment to pull off a dinner party, and his and hers sinks, a double walk-in shower and bathtub in the bathroom. With exceptional service and attention to detail, a stay at Hotel Arts is an unforgettable experience.
MAMA SHELTER LA DEFENSE
Mama Shelter La Defense hotel is located out in Paris’ business district, and although it may feel like you’re in the suburbs, La Defense is super accessible, only a 15-minute metro ride to the centre. Mama Shelter injects a heavy dose of fun and personality into a relatively serious La Defense. The hotel’s playful and colourful branding is instantly recognisable and a welcomed contrast to its surrounding neighbours – think plenty of neon signs, bold interiors and a cheeky personality. This runs throughout the whole hotel, from the minute you step into reception right up to where you lay your head. Like at the sister sites, you’ll even have the classic cartoon masks hanging by your bed. Their TVs come loaded with some of the latest films and even x-rated vids – ooh la la. And if you’re looking for an extra couple of hours in the room, (perhaps you’ve painted the town a little too hard the night before) you can opt for a 3pm checkout. There are two restaurants housed in the hotel. Up top is the Mama Penthouse, which has panoramic views of Paris, and a new retro diner located on the ground floor, which is an Instagram dream with pastel pink decor, planet lights, jukeboxes and leather booths.
HOTEL WALLACE
Hotel Wallace is part of the Orso group, founded by Anouk and Louis Solanet, a young cool couple that own a collective of seven Parisian boutique hotels and have plans to open more. Orso Group has a great ethos, using locally made, good produce throughout all its sites. It also has its own Orso guide, showcasing the 100 best neighbourhood spots less than 15 minutes away from the hotel, to check out during your trip – very handy if you want to live like a local! Hotel Wallace has a prime location in the 15th arrondissement, around a 25-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. The building had a major makeover back in 2021, and, with the help of well-known interior gurus Hauvette & Madani, it was transformed into the riviera-inspired retro-chic hotel it is today. Think tasselled lamp shades, striped curtains, slick lacquered wooden headboards and terrazzo features throughout, with mod cons in the rooms and their own-brand Colomba skincare in the bathroom. There’s even a Scandi hot tub on the terrace for you to soak in after a day of sightseeing and then you can head down to the Wallace bar for nightcap.
THE BEAUMONT HOTEL
To take a trip to The Beaumont hotel is to step into a calm, Art Deco retreat away from the chaos of nearby Oxford Street. Styled after the grand hotels of the 1920s, The Beaumont’s interiors definitely fit the bill, with its walnut-panelled walls, marble furnishings and sleek rooms. Besides actually staying at the hotel, The Beaumont houses a pretty special selection of bars and restaurants. The Colony Grill Room is an old-school NYC-style restaurant with a timeless menu, Le Magritte Bar & Terrace pays homage to the American bars that were very popular in London and Paris during the 1920s and Gatsby’s Room serves as more of a daytime venue, with an all-day menu that includes breakfast and afternoon tea.
LA CLEF CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
Parisian addresses don’t come more iconic than the Avenue des Champs Elysées, so if you want to do Paris in style then a stay at the five-star La Clef Champs-Elysées will do the trick. Located just off the famous street (right by Louis Vuitton so you can do a little window shopping on your way in and out) and only a short distance from the Arc de Triomphe, the Effiel Tower and the Grand Palais, La Clef Champs-Elysées couldn’t be in a better spot for those wanting to see the sights. Like its namesake, the property, part of The Crest Collection, is luxury through and through. The hotel is inside a former residence belonging to the Hennessy family, itself a 20th century Haussmannian-style building, with interiors designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel. La Clef Champs-Elysées has 70 rooms, suites and apartments (some with fully equipped kitchens, making them ideal for families), all of which are elegantly decorated and fitted with all the mod-cons you could need, and some even boast a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower.
MAMA SHELTER EAST
Mama Shelter East is a fab choice if you’re after a hotel that’s affordable and a bit eccentric. Located in the very cool 20th arrondissement, MSE is sandwiched between the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery (burial place of Édith Piaf and Frédéric Chopin) and artists’ studios. If you don’t want to travel too far out of your room for a drink and bite to eat, there’s a rooftop bar and in-house restaurant and pizzeria. Rooms are simple but stylish – an ideal spot to crash after a day of exploring the city, just remember to bring your own toiletries as they aren’t provided here.
PAVILLON FAUBOURG SAINT-GERMAIN
Refurbished during the pandemic, the five-star Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain is actually made up of three different 17th century buildings that housed smaller hotels, merged into one property, with 47 rooms and suites, a spa, the James Joyce bar and the Les Parisiens restaurant run by Michelin-starred chef, Thibault Sombardier. There’s tranquility to be found in the Spa des Prés, formerly a wine store, which makes use of the natural stone to create a minimalist, zen feel. The James Joyce bar (named after the author who finished writing Ulysses on the Rue du Pré-aux-Clercs where the hotel is located) adds the glamour, with wood pannelling, lots of book-filled shelved and plush jewel-toned furniture, with a cocktail menu that nods to the bar’s literary connection. The rooms are spacious too, with comfy beds, walk-in rain head showers, robes and CODAGE products in the bathroom, a Nespresso machine and LCD flat screen TV, making it the perfect crash pad after a day spent cafe hopping.
One hotel closes, another one opens. One Hundred Shoreditch, from the Lore Group (who are also behind Sea Containers and Pulitzer Amsterdam) has moved into the site once occupied by the Ace Hotel. The property boasts 258 bedrooms and a whopping six restaurants and bars, including destination cocktail bar Seed Library from Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan, which’ll shake up new takes on classic serves; a lobby bar; a coffee shop; and a roof terrace with panoramic views over the city.
NOBU HOTEL SHOREDITCH
With 164 guest rooms and suites, the world-renowned Nobu restaurant, NAMI bar, alfresco terrace and a tranquil spa and gym, Nobu Hotel has a lot to offer the short stay visitor, making more than jut a base to throw your bags in and head out again. Given its position in Shoreditch and near to the City, it is a great option location wise and with so much to explore right on the doorstep, there’s plenty of fun to be found outside as well as inside Nobu. The Yuhi bedrooms are a blend of Shoreditch loft and Japanese Ryokan with warm wood tones, brushed gold accents, dark parquet floors, a custom-designed ceiling and wallpaper by Shoreditch based-artist Richard Harding, and huge king beds. You can dine on Nobu signatures like black cod miso and wagyu beef at the restaurant and then you can zen out at the hotel spa. A real touch of luxury in the heart of East London.
Being within a short walking distance of Barbican, Old Street and Liverpool Street stations, the South Place Hotel is a pretty convenient spot to be based from in the City. The 80 rooms come with all the mod cons like Bang & Olufsen TVs, free films on demand, free WiFi, Nespresso machines and so on. There’s a lot to get stuck into outside the rooms too, with the South Place Chop House serving up classic British grub, fancy seafood (and a fancy terrace) up at Angler, speakeasy cocktail bar Le Chiffre, and even a hidden secret garden. For a slick stay in a convenient location with all your drinking and eating needs taken care of inside the hotel, South Place ticks all the boxes.