The Best Hotels to Book in Mayfair, London

It’s easy to imagine that this five-star hotel in Mayfair is where James Bond would stay while in town. Not only does its bar ‒ where Ian Fleming himself once drunk ‒ serve allegedly the best Martinis in the world, it also timelessly conveys Britishness in a slick and appealing package. From the Union Jack and the bowler-hatted doorman to the selection of pies at GBR (Great British Restaurant) and the Cigar and Cognac Garden, it’s a top spot for unabashed revelling in an undeniably British vision of luxury.

Make like the gentlemen of yesteryear at this frightfully spiffy hotel in the middle of Mayfair. A former diplomat’s club, originally founded in 1857, St James found new life as a hotel in the 80s but still retains its air of exclusivity and prestige. Rooms are appropriately luxurious, while the knowledgeable concierge is on hand to make sure you have everything your heart could desire. Book one of the nine tables at its Michelin-starred Seven Park Place restaurant ‒ it’s the cherry on top of a truly scrumptious cake.

The ultra-luxurious Connaught is renowned for its excellent service and sophisticated decor – but what else would you expect from a Mayfair establishment? Five minutes’ walk from Bond Street station, the location is hard to beat, but its style is what keeps it competing with London’s top hotels. Modern art mixes with gilded ceilings and marble floors, plus the place is home to a gastronomic empire. Hélène Darroze at the Connaught holds two Michelin stars, while Jean-Georges at the Connaught serves Far Eastern flavours made with farm-to-table produce. Should sightseeing overwhelm you, the Aman Spa here can revive you with a dip in its smart black-granite swimming pool.

Como Metropolitan is a calming reprieve from the moment you step inside. Wellness is the focus here, with a multitude of treatments available at Como Shambhala, the hotel group’s impressive spa outpost, and a specified yoga channel available on your in-room TV. The Zen approach is everywhere, including the understated rooms with pops of colour and floor-to-ceiling windows offering uninterrupted views over Hyde Park. Permission is granted to indulge a little in the hotel restaurant – the famous Nobu, no less – and you’d be remiss to leave without trying the revered black cod with miso.

The quirky sweetshop-themed afternoon tea at the Chesterfield hints at what you can expect from the hotel itself. With an individual approach to classic British design, each room is different – some have Savile Row-pinstriped wallpaper, others are dressed head to toe in florals, a handful have Turkish carpets and sage-green walls. Sustainability is at the heart of the Chesterfield’s purpose, and the hotel takes active steps to respect this. The rooftop is home to more than 200,000 bees, helping replenish the UK’s population and providing honey for guests’ breakfasts – talk about hyper-local. Meanwhile, wine connoisseurs will revel in the hotel’s cellar, curated by the in-house sommelier.

The Four Seasons name may conjure up images of New York, but the Mayfair offering is a world away from the bright lights of NYC. Located on Park Lane overlooking Hyde Park, its location is ideal for the super-rich, meaning you can expect a whole lot of luxury. Rightly so, it’s designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, one of the world’s most celebrated hotel designers. Rooms are luxurious and modern, with art deco touches, mid-century furniture and geometric mirrors. Grab a nightcap at the opulent Amaranto bar, before slipping into your plush bed and feeling the rest of the world slip away.

There are only a handful of restaurants in the UK that hold three Michelin stars, and the Dorchester is the home to one of them. It’s a good indication of the luxury you can expect from a stay here. The hotel opened in the 1930s, and its original furniture has survived multiple renovations, striking a perfect balance between contemporary comfort and old-world glamour. The hotel concierge can help with almost anything you might want during your stay, from tables at in-demand restaurants to exclusive shopping trips. However, for an unmissable meal, look no further than Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, for your three-Michelin-star gourmet experience.

It really doesn’t get fancier than this. The Ritz is a London institution, famed for its lavish decor and delicious afternoon teas. Both are worth a visit, but it’s the atmosphere that will really captivate you. Always buzzing and the perfect spot for people-watching, a stay here will leave you feeling relaxed and pampered. As one of the world’s leading hotels, you can expect exceptional service and exquisite food – particularly at the Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant, where you can enjoy a memorable evening dining on the modern British menu designed by chef John Williams MBE.

At the cheaper end of the Mayfair scale (relatively), Flemings, spread across 13 classic townhouses, is big on guest experience. Sometimes simplicity is key. Here that means a timeless interior, excellent service and delicious food. With wood-panelled walls, jewel-toned velvet furnishings and a marble-clad lobby, stepping inside the gilded doors of Flemings certainly has a palatial air. Best of all, you can live like a royal without being completely out of pocket.

Brown’s is steeped in history. Founded in 1837, it has played host to such famous guests as Agatha Christie, Oscar Wilde, Theodore Roosevelt and Napoleon III. Its interiors are a masterclass in understated elegance, expertly combining muted colour palettes and individualised wallpapers, with bespoke paintings and artefacts that speak to its rich history. Avoid the Tube and make use of the hotel’s chauffeured Bentley Mulsanne, though you won’t need to venture far for one of the best meals in town. Charlie’s is perfect for a special dinner: serving modern British fare from Michelin-star chef Adam Byatt, it’s the perfect place to lap up the hotel’s impeccable service.

With a reputation for hosting royalty, Claridge’s is often nicknamed the “annex to Buckingham Palace”. Wainscot walls, cornice ceilings and a colour palette of calming pastels (think duck-egg blue and soft peach) make for palatial surroundings. Each room and suite are unique – some favouring mid-century furnishings and others focusing on gilded touches – but all live up to the hotel’s royal reputation with preserved Baroque features. Bon vivants will be spoilt for choice between a flute of vintage champagne in Claridge’s Bar (it has the best list in the city), and a meal at Davis and Brook, helmed by Daniel Humm, the eminent chef behind New York City’s Eleven Madison Park.

45 Park Lane is an art deco devotee’s dream. The Bauhaus-style building is filled with mahogany wood panelling, geometric motifs and art deco opulence in the way of plush velvet and polished furnishings. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better location in central London, overlooking Hyde Park and a quick carriage ride from Buckingham Palace. Wolfgang Puck’s Cut at 45 Park Lane is a must-visit during your stay with one of the largest selections of beef in the UK.

If the red-brick facade and imposing white columns of the Biltmore exterior don’t capture you, its interiors will. Rooms are resplendent, with panelled walls, parquet flooring and mirrored cherry-blossom motifs by the beds. Award-winning chefs Jason Atherton and Paul Walsh hold the reins at the Betterment, where you can order plates of seasonal produce with wood-fired meats. Enjoy a nightcap at the Pine Bar, where you can order cocktails and rare whisky from velvet armchairs. Located just off the shopping hub of Oxford Street, the Biltmore is in the thick of things, but tucked away enough to feel quiet.

The Athenaeum has had a characterful history, beginning as the private home for Henry Hope MP, going on to house the Junior Athenaeum Club, before finding new life as a five-star hotel. The rich and famous are drawn to its low-key luxury – Steven Spielberg set up an editing suite in one of the apartments while working on ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Perhaps it’s the discreet residences that draw them in – apartment-style rooms with California king-size beds and their own front doors along a row of red brick townhouses (plus, of course, access to all the hotel facilities). Galvin, run by Michelin-star brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, is the place to dine while you’re here.