"The vibe: Boutique chic Location: Mayfair Top amenities: Vegan tasting menu at Ormer resturant Best for: Busy travelers Posh-meets-quirky in a stellar location between Bond Street and Green Park—it’s an easy trot of a few minutes across the grass to Buckingham Palace from here. Open since 1850, this is a grande dame of the boutique scene. Though surprisingly big at 129 rooms, and with a slightly more business-like decor than other London boutique hotels—think lots of neutrals with the odd pop of color—there’s a lovely, cozy feel, and a lot of privacy—some apartments even have their own entrances. Bathrooms have heated floors, with products by aspirational British brand The White Company. Downstairs is a blinder of a restaurant: Ormer Mayfair, by hot young chef Sofian Msetfi, who offers tasting menus, including a vegan one (rare for London). If you’re not vegan, you’ll want to try the signature warm Ibérico ham jelly. Manetta’s Bar, meanwhile, is a taste of the sultry 1930s, with its black velvet seating, rose gold accents, and Art Deco styling. Choose your cocktail by the ingredients or, intriguingly, by a signature quote from the likes of Gertrude Stein and Agatha Christie." - Julia Buckley
