Claridge’s

Claridge’s may be one of the best hotels in London, and it is almost certainly the poshest. Even after its renovation, this Mayfair landmark—where the crowned heads of Europe came to wait out World War II—has remained splendidly and timelessly Art Deco. Stroll past the black awning into an entry foyer with Lalique vases, gilded columns, a sweeping staircase ornamented with brass banister that is polished daily. Elevators are manually operated, and each contains a sofa for lounging.

Rooms are a compliment to anyone who is tasteful enough to book them. Queen Victoria and the Empress Eugenie were fans, as is Anna Wintour, who stays here during fashion week, and Queen Elizabeth, who lunches in the royal suite once a year. Some prefer the Deco rooms, others the more traditional English country house ones, and the new suites, designed top to bottom by Diane von Furstenburg, are sure to attract devotees of their own. The bathrooms will make you think you've stepped backed into the thirties with soaking tubs and showers that will quite baffle you with the complexity of nozzles. If you can figure them out, the dinner-plate sized showerheads are so delightful that some guests have actually tried to steal them.

Tea in the reading room is served in silver teapots and gold-rimmed bone china, alongside the best scones in all of London. The restaurant is one of those grand old spots where the best food is not on the menu — the chicken pie with quail eggs, for example. But the genuine draw is the new bar, which has attracted, rather surprisingly, the attention of the young jet set; up until now, Claridge's had never been a particularly youthful place.

But despite its ascendance into the world of cool, Claridge's attitude remains old-fashioned. The staff here is a far cry from the blasé boys in black who haunt the hipper hotels. Rather, everyone is immaculately groomed, classically attired, and ever so discreet. John Spahr, the concierge, has been here for 30 years and is an expert at locating everything from lost suitcases to lost children. And they are polite as well; doorman, waiter, footman, and receptionist alike treat you with the courtesy accorded to a regular. For at Claridge's, manners, like the decor, do not change with fashion.

How to get there:

Claridge’s is a 6-minute walk from both the Bond Street and Marble Arch tube stations. If you’re arriving from Heathrow Airport, the most convenient transfer option to central London is the Heathrow Express train, which leaves Heathrow Airport every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes to arrive at Paddington Station. One-way fares are available from £18 and round-trip fares from £32. By black cab, Claridge’s is approximately a 45-minute ride from Heathrow Airport (depending on traffic) and can cost upwards of £50.

• 203 Rooms
• Style: Traditional Elegance
• Atmosphere: Lively
• 20 Guest Reviews

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