With its old-world elegance, seamless service and on-point cocktail list, The Savoy simply oozes style.
20 August, 2021
Ah, The Savoy. One of the most famous hotels in the world, this grand-dame has captured the hearts of many. We've put it on a pedestal since we were a small child; our parents' spent the first night of their honeymoon there, and our grandparents, too. While we don't care to dwell on the intricacies of those nights, we'd happily relive the time we spent there over and over.
While many day-trippers visit the hotel to celebrate special occasions over afternoon tea or to catch a show at the Savoy Theatre, those lucky enough to stay overnight can expect a different crowd of old-school sybarites who seek familiar home comforts in superb surroundings. With Thames-side views and a personal butler, this is traditional service at its best.
Choose from 267 suites spanning no less than 16 room categories, all done up in either Edwardian or art-deco style. Many of the rooms have riverside views of London's most famous landmarks, to be admired during the day, when the capital is a hive of activity, and at night, when the city scene lights up as if covered in fireflies.
Decor is traditional - soft carpets underfoot, floral curtains, satin armchairs, writing desks and the like. It's the kind of place where classical music wafts slowly through the room as you enter, and a butler promptly asks if you need a glass of champagne or would like help unpacking.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: in-room dining is imperative when you're staying at a fancy hotel. The Savoy did not disappoint, setting up a table bedecked in white linen and groaning under the weight of fresh pastries and fruits, teas, coffee, juices, miniature preserves, eggs, sausages - you name it.
If you're at The Savoy, we think you should have afternoon tea - how often do you get to do that, after all? But if you really must have lunch or dinner, book into the Savoy Grill, where Gordon Ramsay spearheads a menu of classic British and French fare.
Yes. The renowned American Bar frequently tops the world's-best lists for its stellar cocktails, while the moody Beaufort Bar puts on a play with cocktails that tell a story, alongside a top-notch selection of "snacks" along the lines of wagyu beef and tuna tartare.
We were particularly impressed by the Co-Naissance, a cocktail launched in collaboration with Portobello Road Gin that is billed as the most sustainable cocktail in Europe, thanks to new low-waste, low-carbon spirits technology.
The city's top visitor attractions. We suggest a stroll down the river. Even if you don't like to count yourself as a tourist ticking off the obvious sights, we say make an exception and get stuck in.
The hotel has an extensive sustainable policy ranging from corporate-level initiatives to planting trees and setting up a Savoy bee hotel in Trafalgar Square to attract pollinating bees.
Accessible rooms are available.
This is The Savoy, so it goes without saying that nothing comes cheap here.
