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As a certified Anglophile I have been traveling to London my entire life and have made it my mission to identify the “best” and most iconic place to stay. There have been stays that were close to perfect, the Lanesborough and the Goring are two that immediately come to mind, and some that have been very good but with caveats such as location or service snafus, ie The Langam and the Rosewood; while others have been exceedingly disappointing like the Berkeley. Many visits are pre-blog so you will have to trust me on this. Suffice it to say I have visited many hotels and can state with conviction that my stay at the Connaught was close to perfection.

The Connaught’s history goes all the way back to 1815 but thanks to an extensive renovation in 2007 the interiors have been restored to immaculate condition AND there has been a more modern wing added as well. While the Connaught had always been at the top of my list I had been postponing booking a stay as it held such a lofty position in my imagination I didn’t want to be disappointed.

It turns out the time had come to see if it lived up to my expectations, we had to make a quick trip to London in early April and as fate would have it my travel agent informed me that there was a special promotion being offered where I would receive a fourth night free if I booked for three. What was to be a long weekend gained an extra night! I felt a little like I won the lottery.

The Connaught is located in Mayfair which is pretty idyllic and is highly walkable to many of the neighborhoods you might want to explore. We were blessed with spectacular weather during our entire stay, so we were able to get our steps in.

The first thing we noticed when we stepped into the lobby: the stunning seasonal flower arrangement which graces the bottom of the iconic staircase. The flowers are kept in the most pristine condition and provide a gorgeous focal point.

Our flight had landed at Heathrow midday and we were picked up by a car arranged by the hotel, arriving a couple of hours before check-in. We anticipated our room wouldn’t quite be ready which was indeed the case.

The front desk staff were terribly apologetic that we might have to wait but suggested we drop into the Coburg Bar to have a snack and some much needed coffee until we could check in and that is exactly what we did. Who doesn’t love a Club Sandwich at a hotel? The fries were crispy and golden as well.

On the way to the restroom I caught my first glimpse of the hotel mascot. If you keep your eyes out you will notice many examples of the Connaught Hound around the hotel, from mantelpieces to slippers and even the hotel’s patisserie outpost Nicolas Rouzaud.

As soon as we finished our lunch we were told that our room was ready for us! We checked in and headed up to the fifth floor with great anticipation. I had a preview of our specific room a few months ago when I came across a magazine article highlighting a collection of Suites at the hotel that were built in cooperation with Turquoise Mountain, an organization supported by King Charles whose mission is to sustain and support artisans in Afghanistan and the Middle East so that the unbelievable craftsmanship of yesteryear is not lost.

A collaboration between Guy Oliver (the interior designer of the Connaught renovation) and Turquoise Mountain led to the creation of The Eagle’s Lodge, The Prince’s Lodge and the King’s Lodge (where we stayed). In our Suite alone there was artistry from Afghanistan as I mentioned but also Syria, Myanmar, India and Georgia.

As soon as the door opened to the Suite I was sold, I was literally in heaven. While there are no views to speak of, the sun that filters in as well as the way the lighting is strategically placed creates the most gorgeous glow at all times of day and night.

This was not a sprawling space, but everything was perfectly proportioned and there was a plethora of closets and drawers as well as an extensive mini bar. The booking came with a chilled bottle of Billecart-Salmon which added to the fun.

The bathroom kept with the theme and showcased a stunning backsplash for the tub.

In case you needed a bit more perspective, take a look at the videos below.

Our room came with a Butler on call 24/7, but being quite self sufficient we didn’t end up calling upon his services, though it was nice to know he was available.

There will be a follow-up post outlining all the fun we had in London as well as lots of great restaurant recommendations, but for this post I am going to stay focused on the Connaught. Jean-Georges at The Connaught serves three meals a day and while I can’t speak to lunch or dinner, breakfast was consistently delicious. We dined each day in the glassed-in terrace overlooking Mount Street and the light shining through the stained glass couldn’t help but make you smile.

The food offerings were so appealing it was hard to choose, but whether it was the full Connaught Breakfast (my husband’s choice), the almond flour pancakes with almond butter and bananas (my choice), the fruit topped french toast (my husband) or the savoury Dosa (my choice two days in a row) it was all excellent. Both the food and service were perfection and the people watching was pretty fun as well.

There are an assortment of additional restaurants and bars within the Connaught including what has been deemed the fifth best bar in the world, The Connaught Bar. Known for the incredible Martini Trolley as well as an unforgettable atmosphere we unfortunately made a tremendous misstep in our planning; we were saving a visit to the Connaught Bar for Sunday night when we were to meet up with some friends, but failed to actually check their hours of operation. We assumed it was open nightly but alas they close on Sundays; all the more reason for a return stay!

We did get a chance to have drinks in the aforementioned Coburg Bar (where we had lunch the first day) and they mixed a perfect G & T though without the fanfare of a trolley. My husband and I also enjoyed a late night drink at the cozy Red Room Bar which is hidden away in the newer part of the hotel. Once again the service was absolutely top notch.

There are even more spots to explore within the Connaught including the 3 star Michelin Hélène Darroze which is supposed to be absolutely fantastic as well as a cigar bar and the aforementioned patisserie. If only we had a week in London!

I am certain that if we did have more time we would have been swimming in the very striking and dramatic basement level pool and sampling some of the services at the Aman Spa.

When the car came to take us back to the airport I truly contemplated hiding out and staying a few more days. There are very few hotels that hit all the notes for me, and the Connaught is certainly in that category. When it comes down to it the real attraction is the level of service and attention; every need is anticipated, and there is a prompt answer to every query. Each staff member we encountered whether it was the doorman, the bathroom attendant, the housekeeper or the concierge was professional, polite and genuine. In this day and age no matter how luxe the hotel, this is a rarity.

When I received the survey from the hotel following our stay the only negative I could think of sharing was that there was no chocolate by the bed at turndown. They quickly responded by thanking me and made note of it, I will report back on our next visit as to whether we receive a bedtime sweet!

As we exited the hotel I took a last look at those stunning flowers already looking forward to when I might return.

Please let me know whether you feel the same about the Connaught as I do, and if you have suggestions for someplace I might love more, please do not hesitate to share them!