The luxury, five-star Hotel Café Royal is situated just off Regent Street and is part of The Set Collection of prestigious hotels. The Set Collection brings together some of the most outstanding addresses in the world’s most vibrant cities. From the Lutetia, the only Palace hotel on Paris’ Left Bank, to the Conservatorium, the living room of Amsterdam.
We visited Hotel Café Royal in December 2024 so that we could enjoy all the Christmas lights that decorate London. We also recently reviewed Great Scotland Yard which is another gorgeous luxury hotel in London. Hotel Café Royal is infinitely better located, but both hotels were wonderful experiences.
Neither of these hotels offers an executive club lounge. You should investigate our detailed research on the best club lounges in London if you’d like to enjoy a club lounge.
Location
Hotel Café Royal is situated in the heart of the capital, on Regent Street, the major shopping street in London’s West End. It’s surrounded by history, culture, and business, and the delights of West End theatre shows are just steps away.
We enjoyed a fun walk across London at dusk, taking in the delicious tastes and scents of the Christmas Market at Leicester Square and all the sparkling Christmas lights, and then spent an evening at the Novello Theatre, which my two girls adored.
During our family visit, we enjoyed visiting the M&M’s store, the Harry Potter Shop, and the official Lego Shop, which is less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. With its world-famous Christmas lights and the stunning Infinity Chamber, Christmas at Covent Garden was also well worth checking out. Designer shopping, exquisite dining, and all sorts of experiences lie just steps away from the hotel.
Style & Character
The hotel lies where St. James’, Mayfair, and Soho converge, and as soon as we stepped inside, we immediately sensed the rich and glamorous 150-year history of this property. Photos, pictures, and articles are plastered across the walls of the hotel, reflecting many of the previous patrons of the hotel and Café Royal, including Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, and David Bowie, to name but a few.
Hotel Café Royal is one of the leading design hotels in London. You can tell it has been sympathetically restored and lovingly modernized, and it felt impressively grand as we entered through the main doors on Regent Street or via the two revolving doors on Air Street, which my daughters thoroughly enjoyed using. Arranging numerous taxis for us was no trouble at all for the incredibly friendly doormen too.
When we visited at Christmas time, the entrance was adorned with all the beautiful, twinkling angels that flow right the way along Regent Street. There were rich red floral displays throughout, making our stay even more magical and festive.
We found the lobby breathtakingly large and impressive, and when we visited, there was a beautiful deep red floral display in the center beneath the stunning multi-storey, waterfall chandelier. We also thoroughly enjoyed our complimentary glass of Verve while we checked in.
We visited the stunningly restored Grill Room, which still holds all the history and glamour of decades gone by, with gilt-edged everything, from ceiling murals and golden pillars to the immaculately laid tables set for afternoon tea.
Whilst feeling most elegant, the surroundings still give you an intimate and cozy feel to enjoy your truly decadent afternoon tea. It really was a sight to behold. It’s no wonder the icon David Bowie chose Café Royal for the glamorous retirement party of his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. Apparently, vast crowds gathered outside the restaurant to watch Lou Reed, Mick Jagger, and Lulu arrive at ‘The Last Supper’!
In contrast, the award-winning Akasha Spa & Wellness offers a calming and contemporary modern design, state-of-the-art facilities, and an impressively large pool.
Service & Facilities
As luxury hotels go, right in the heart of this vibrant capital city, Hotel Café Royal is an impressively grand and sprawling property that offers a personal feel and excellent service.
It was originally three buildings, with a bank on one side, a fire station on the other, and in the center, the inimitable Café Royal with all its heritage and splendor.
Hotel Café Royal now boasts 159 equally spacious guestrooms and suites, including five signature suites. The are four restaurants, each with their own personality, style, and impeccable service, as well as a bar next to the lobby.
If visiting on business or for an event, there are meeting and events spaces, including the Grade II-listed ballroom. And, if, like us, you’re visiting with family, the hotel offers a Kids Corner and interconnecting rooms, too.
Last but not least, there’s the luxurious urban oasis of Akasha Spa & Wellness. This 1,200 m² Sanctuary below ground is reached via one of the four elegant elevators (don’t forget your room key to get to these exclusive floors!).
We enjoyed the beautifully designed large lap pool, which was surrounded by private loungers hidden away in private alcoves, allowing us to secrete ourselves away during the hotel’s family swimming hours. There was also a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, Vichy shower, Watsu pool, and nine treatment rooms, including a private Hammam.
The gym features LifeFitness equipment, and there are dedicated personal trainers on hand to improve your fitness. You can also join daily Pilates and Yoga classes that are run exclusively for hotel guests, each with a real focus on your wellbeing.
Rooms
Guest rooms and suites are tucked away down modern Japanese-esque corridors, which my daughters loved exploring, while we took in the art and sculptures carefully placed in each corridor.
We were impressed with how hidden doors tucked away in the walls can be opened or closed to configure a myriad of room options – enjoy three separate guest rooms or suites, or simply close a door here or there, and you suddenly have a multiple-bedroom apartment.
Each serene room and suite has been styled in a modern, sophisticated manner and is characterized by elegantly simple and contemporary features from remote-controlled curtains and blinds, televisions everywhere you could imagine, and plenty of audio and lighting options to suit your mood.
We stayed in an incredibly spacious interconnecting Junior Suite and a Grand Deluxe Room on the fifth floor, which were like havens of tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of London at Christmas time below!
Our rooms enjoyed impressively large and luxurious Carrara marble bathrooms, one with a massive walk-in rainfall shower (which was a blissful experience in itself!) and one with an over-sized bathtub and both with televisions hidden in the grand mirrors, which added a little something special to our bedtime routines.
Imbued with a minimalist contemporary design, these rooms featured calming color palettes and historical touches, like fumed oak and rusticated Portland stone. The beds had 1,600 thread count mattresses, some of the comfiest we’ve ever tried, as well as nest Egyptian cotton linens from Frette, and the softest pillows from Muehldorfer.
From visiting a few of the suites, you can sense what an opulent and serene retreat they would be. Signature Suites add an extra layer of sophistication, each with its own style and personality. Each suite offers a distinct ambiance, from the cozy, wood-paneled Tudor Suite to the Napoleonic grandeur of the Club Suite and the calming elegance of the Celestine Suite, named after the wife of the original founder of Café Royal.
The pinnacle of luxury is reached in the Signature Suites: Dome Penthouse, Presidential Wing, and Royal Wing. My unequivocal favorite among the suites has to be the Dome Penthouse Signature Suite, which is delightful and quirky. The suite is unusual because it has a circular layout that is divided into sections: a sitting area, bedroom, and bathroom – it almost feels like it should be on a turntable.
The pièce de résistance, however, were the two awe-inspiring outdoor terraces that offer panoramic views of London’s iconic skyline. I could imagine sipping a cocktail on one of those in the summer months must be something really special. The Dome suite is an absolute must-experience. I assure you it will provide an unforgettable and unique stay that you’re sure to remember for a long time!
Hotel Café Royal has also just introduced a new concept: ‘A Suite Journey’, which allows guests staying in a Junior, Grand Junior, Deluxe right the way up to the Dome Suite complimentary access to 10 hours of private chauffeur service per day, in either a Mercedes, Rolls Royce or Range Rover (depending on suite type). Plus, Signature Suite guests can choose to up the fun by opting for a self-drive supercar instead! Deluxe Suites and above also enjoy the following lovely extras once during their stay: one 3-course dinner served in the privacy of your suite, a 60-minutes Akasha massage for two, personal bar set up in your suite and Royal nanny children’s trunk. All Suite guests will also enjoy an Albert Adrià or Alex Dilling welcome amenity, 24-hour butler service, a bottle of champagne (once per stay) and fresh flowers by Jamie Aston – the perfect finishing touches to any luxury stay.
Food & Drink
We were delighted to find that Hotel Café Royal boasts a diverse array of dining options to satisfy everyone. We enjoyed the most decadent of breakfasts at Barbounia at The Gallery, which lies in the heart of the hotel, overlooking the lobby and stunning crystal waterfall chandelier.
There was an excellent selection of cooked and continental options, a wide range of freshly squeezed juices, and delicious pastries on offer. Our hostess was very attentive and paid special attention to my daughters and their preferences, which they both adored.
My husband demolished a full English breakfast with the tastiest poached eggs he’s had in years. I can highly recommend the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon served with tiny toast soldiers. It was exquisitely presented and tasted sensational. My girls devoured an incredible stack of golden pancakes and baby pain au chocolate each. In the evenings, you can also enjoy Mediterranean classics with unique twists created using the best local and seasonal ingredients.
If you prefer something a little finer, then Alex Dilling, a two-Michelin-starred maestro, helms the 34-seat destination restaurant that offers a contemporary spin on French gastronomy with decadent tasting menus in a bright yet intimate space overlooking Regent Street.
The Grill, formerly the Oscar Wilde Bar, is a historical gem meticulously restored to its Grade II-listed glory since its opening in 1865. It serves quintessentially British afternoon teas with champagne and just ask to be told tales of many of its iconic past patrons – allegedly, it was the venue Winston Churchill chose to await news of becoming prime minster!
Cakes & Bubbles by Albert Adrià, renowned as The World’s Best Pastry Chef, is a dessert and Champagne experience like no other. Here, you can savor an array of exceptionally beautiful desserts paired with curated champagnes.
Finally, the Green Bar, discreetly tucked away beside the lobby, offers a great range of botanicals, tonics, and 18 gins paired with seven matching tonics, and for a true touch of the 19th-century, the skilled barmen will craft you an absinthe experience. We enjoyed a bottle of delicious British wine here before heading out to the west end.
Hotel Café Royal stands on its own as a culinary haven, offering a symphony of dining and drinking experiences that cater to every taste.
Conclusion
Hotel Café Royal offers impressive facilities and a rich a-list history. It captured the hearts of my girls and delivered a stay with impeccable service. We simply can’t wait to go back. Even if you’re not staying, you should most definitely pop in for one of their incredible afternoon teas or bubbles and an exquisite Albert Adrià cake!
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