The List

The Connaught
The Connaught
The Connaught

29

The Connaught

London

A bastion of London’s elite since the 1800s

The backstory: Built in 1897 in the heart of Mayfair as The Coburg and renamed in 1917, The Connaught remains a bastion of refined elegance in London's crowded luxury hotel scene. In recent years, it has worked diligently to stay tuned in and service-led, while never losing its enduring sense of discreet opulence. Boasting 122 rooms, including three distinct and unusual suites-meet-townhouses, interiors are overseen by British designer Guy Oliver, who successfully blends traditional features and bespoke contemporary touches.

Unmissable experiences? A martini from Connaught Bar, served from the legendary trolley. Under the direction of the inimitable Agostino Perrone, the elegant David Collins-designed Connaught Bar is a genuine destination in its own right, having twice been ranked No.1 in The World's 50 Best Bars. It is joined in the property by the luxurious Coburg Bar as well as the newer, more intimate The Red Room.

Equally noteworthy dining: The hotel plays host to not one but two of the world's finest culinary figures: former World's Best Female Chef Hélène Darroze helms her eponymous three-star Michelin flagship, while French-American chef-meister Jean-Georges Vongerichten oversees two other dining spots within the historic premises. It's certainly a food and drink line-up to salivate over.

Serious art collection: The Connaught is an art aficionado's dream – at any point one could be alongside a piece by Barbara Hepworth, Graham Sutherland, Damien Hirst, Tadao Ando or Louise Bourgeois, among many others. The artworks are dotted throughout the property in typically understated style.

Repeat visitors: Aside from world-class in-house facilities – from signature patisserie to tranquil urban spa – it's the service levels that ultimately help set The Connaught apart. Under the guidance of GM Sandeep Bhalla, there's a culture of over-delivery that means regulars keep coming back for more while newcomers are instant converts. There's good reason that the hotel is a London home away from home for many a Hollywood actor (guests have reported seeing Tom Cruise sipping at the bar and bumping into Demi Moore in the toilets), international musician or fashion designer.

Key Information