The Connaught

"The Connaught curves around Carlos Place in Mayfair Village, but it’s not just the address that makes this one of the smartest hotels in London. It started life in 1815 as the Prince of Saxe-Coburg Hotel, and since then has had facelifts as well as the additions of a wing, an Aman spa, and a 1930s-style ballroom—all without losing its original spirit. A gilded mahogany staircase twists heavenward in the reception area, where the energy crackles with a permanent sense of occasion. The private art collection bedazzles: a Graham Sutherland landscape here, a Barbara Hepworth lithograph there. Despite the grandeur, everyone is treated with trademark down-to-earth service. Blending heritage and creature comforts, rooms and suites by Guy Oliver promise style and a soft landing. Minibars are disguised as chinoiserie cabinets; bed heads are hand-embroidered. The 2024-renovated gray-green or storm-cloud-blue Coburg Suites, with painted paneling, delft-encrusted chimneypieces, and heavy draped curtains, are the newest. Megawatt options include The Apartment, designed by David Collins Studio, on the rooftop; The Mews, a light-filled private townhouse; and the King’s Lodge, inspired by Kabul’s 19th-century Peacock Palace. The Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Hélène Darroze flagship restaurants are the focus of a stay, but the watering holes are the most fun. If you start an affair at the Connaught Bar, with its jolly martini trolley and candlelight, you can cut a bon vivant’s business deal at The Coburg. And, for quiet loungers, the Red Room is a modern bar that has an after- or preparty feel. Part of the Maybourne Group, this landmark grande dame still feels utterly relevant. From $1,090 a night. —Lydia Bell" - CNT Editors

"The Connaught hotel feels like a cosy home away from home as soon as you step inside. Everything here is a delightful treat… from the truffle scrambled eggs for breakfast to the incredible Aman spa massages." - Edward Barsamian

"The Connaught is highly recommended mainly because the food and beverage offering is exceptional – with Hélène Darroze and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, it is second to none." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team

"A hotel known for its Englishness—a quality embodied in its celebrated central staircase (dark and woody of bannister, bright and stripy of carpet), which apparently drove Ralph Lauren into such a fit of longing that he commissioned a replica of it for his Madison Avenue shop. The Connaught Bar is a mini Art Deco masterpiece and our pick for the best bar in London. Both Hélène Darroze's three Michelin-starred restaurant and the less formal Jean-Georges at The Connaught are outstanding too (the latter with a view onto a magical Tadao Ando water sculpture outside). Price: Rooms from around $1,335 per nightAddress: 16 Carlos Pl, London W1K 2ALClosest tube station: Bond Street" - Condé Nast Traveller, Steve King

"Best for: an emphasis on little luxuries Closest tube station: Bond Street Affectionately named “younger VIPs,” children are welcomed at the Connaught with generously wide arms. Situated on Carlos Place, this Mayfair hotel blends yesteryear polish with contemporary chic—seamlessly inviting families into this carefully choreographed world. From homemade bakes for hungry broods at check-in to personalized bathrobes to snuggle in before bedtime, the Connaught has never been one to overlook the little details. The Aman Spa has carved out family-friendly swimming hours (avoiding that woeful game of asking children not to splash) and a fully-trained first aider and doctor is on call—a godsend for any late-night concerns, especially for those far from home. The delicious, organic baby potions in the bathroom are another clever detail, along with bottle warmers and activity books for the older tots. Far from an afterthought, the cots here are as sumptuous as the grown-up beds and mini Connaught umbrellas transform melancholic weather into a reason to step out. While an assortment of Nintendo, Wii, and Family Sky TV is a hit with the older lot, the Connaught is all about children’s books and board games by the fire (you are in the British capital after all)." - Rosalyn Wikeley