Want to eat and sleep like royalty in the heart of London this Autumn? Discover the five-star St James’ Hotel & Club, Mayfair.
With fashion week approaching here in our much-loved capital, Wonderland have been looking closer to home for our next top hotel destination. Our busy schedules and the looming wintery weather over the coming weeks has led us in search of a bit of London luxury and we’ve found it in the St. James Hotel & Club – a five-star, boutique hotel tucked away in the heart of Mayfair. In a neighbourhood filled with luxurious shops and hotels, the St James has managed to stand out from the crowd and strike the right balance between luxury and that home away from home (but of course much fancier) feel.
The best part about this hotel is that at the end of a busy day you don’t need to venture far from your fluffy robes to get world-class dining. Even if you aren’t staying, it is worth a visit just for the restaurant. Seven Park Place is the smallest michelin star restaurant in London and is run by esteemed chef William Drabble, who previously ran Aubergine’s kitchen. “Billy”, as he is known at the St James’, sources the finest British produce for his french-inspired menu which features Lune Valley lamb and lobster all year round. This autumn, our favourite dish is the seasonal roast grouse with blackberries and port wine jus – I would expand on why but I don’t think I need to. The decor is equally as sumptuous as the food.
As expected, the rooms are incredibly opulent but they manage to be luxurious without giving you that feeling that if you touch something it might immediately break into pieces. The 60 rooms and suites, many featuring terraces, have all recently been renovated by renowned Berlin-based interior designer AMJ. The redecoration has involved lots of luxurious fabrics and warm neutral colours and – my favourite part – mattresses fit for the Queen (literally, they used the same luxury mattress company as the Royal family). A hotel like this wouldn’t be complete without a penthouse suite and theirs impressively spans the seventh floor. The fact that it has its own private lift is a pretty neat addition too.
Amongst the things that I loved to discover in this hotel – the interior design, the food, the mattresses – my favourite surprise was their art collection. The private ‘Rosenstein’ collection boasts more than 450 European paintings, pictures and sculptures meaning that you might run into a notable Impressionist, Expressionist or Cubist work.
To top off the experience the hospitality you receive at the St James Hotel & Club certainly matches the luxury-boutique decor. The team will go above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable as possible and with their near-encyclopaedic knowledge can help you with any thing you need on your stay in London. Location-wise it couldn’t be more central – it’s a stone’s throw away from Green Park and Piccadilly but found on a idyllic cul-de-sac it still manages to provide a haven from city noise.
Words: Alys Davies