The Connaught

Quintessential British luxury with a royal touch

Noteworthy for: The best of their five suites is The Apartment with walls adorned in fine art and views over the rooftops of London.
Tipple of choice: The Connaught Bar is famous for its Martini trolley, but if you want to drink with the local A-list of Mayfair head to Guy Ritchie’s pub The Punch Bowl around the corner.

This elegant British hotel in the heart of rarefied Mayfair has quite the royal pedigree. It was named after Queen Victoria’s third son, Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught. Opened in 1897, it began life as the secret haunt of the aristocratic London gentleman, and these days you'll still find just such refined folk despite the modern touches of the GBP 70-million revamp.
Italian linen, Asprey toiletries, butler service, a ballroom and an Aman-run spa are some of the nods towards a regal degree of luxury, as well as the overall crisp, colonial elegance of the aesthetics. While the afternoon tea can be disappointing, both chef Hélène Darroze’s Michelin-starred restaurant and the elegant brasserie Espelette will cause taste buds to tingle.