Ask a Londoner to meet you at The Ritz or The Dorchester, and you’ll receive raised eyebrows in return. These are not really hotels for actual Londoners.
The Stafford, on the other hand, very much is. Flying relatively under the radar, it embodies those most esteemed of British characteristics – subtle refinement and understated charm.
It has that collegiate air of a private members’ club, which shouldn’t be all that surprising given its location in St James’s – London club heartland.
It’s the ultimate IYKYK location; there’s even a little alley directly from Green Park’s west perimeter so you don’t have to walk down Piccadilly with the great unwashed to arrive at your hotel.
To drink
Kick off your evening at The American Bar – one of my favourites in the capital. The name comes from the early 20th-century ‘American style’ of drinking – shaken, stirred, iced, measured - but the roots go far deeper than that.
It built a particularly strong association with the Americans during World War II, when it became a discreet meeting place for US officers and diplomats. The hotel’s 400-year-old wine cellars were even used as an air-raid shelter. (In stark contrast, these days they are the location for intimate tastings and exclusive dining experiences, as well as housing the hotel’s 600-plus wine labels.)
Over the decades, guests and regulars have gifted items that now cover pretty much every inch of The American Bar’s wall space and even the ceiling, turning the bar into an informal museum of personal memorabilia and wartime history.
Some insignia, photos and emblems come from servicemen and women who visited during that period. It puts a whole new twist on an Old Fashioned.
Our top tip: order the New York Happy Meal, a play on the popular high-low trend, pairing a crisp martini with golden seasoned fries.
It's difficult to imagine it right now, but during the warmer months, the bar’s charming courtyard is one of London’s most idyllic alfresco spots. Here, Bertie’s seasonal food and drink pop-up serves freshly made drinks and gelato. One to remember when the sun eventually returns.
To eat
If The American Bar serves as a starter, you’ve not got far to walk for your main course.
Michael Caines MBE has taken over the space formerly occupied by The Game Bird. While there are whispers of the late restaurant (the fabled smoked salmon trolley is still making the rounds), Sir Michael has brought his signature fine-dining flair to the table.
Those seeking something akin to Lympstone Manor can opt for the Signature Tasting Menu, an eight-course modern European journey through the best of British produce.
Dishes often include Caines’ greatest hits – such as warm lobster salad with cardamom vinaigrette and pan-roasted Brixham turbot with shellfish chowder – alongside game and beef courses and polished, classically rooted desserts.
The rooms
There are 106 bedrooms and suites across the Main House, the all-suite Mews building, and the historic Carriage House.
Rooms are reassuringly grand – expect rich velvet sofas, an historic art collection, and plush carpets you can curl your toes into.
Even the bathrooms are true to its locale with Penhaligon's lotions aplenty.
Silk floral wallpaper, brass fittings, and acres of dark wood all bring a sophistication that makes you feel special, which is of course the secret of any successful hotel.
If you want to take the experience up a gear, The Gatehouse - a private three-story townhouse - is ideal for extended stays. Or splurge on the Penthouse Suite to enjoy panoramic views of the capital from its private rooftop terrace.
The hotel also boasts a well-appointed gym and in-house personal trainer should the indulgence of both bar and restaurant demand atonement.
Inside track
The Sutherland Room – one of The Stafford's five private events rooms.
The Queen Mother was known to often visit The Stafford for lunch, travelling discreetly through the underground tunnels that once connected the hotel to St James’s Palace.
Assuming you don’t have digs at the palace, The Stafford is a pretty close runner-up.
Standard room rates start from £550, staffordcollection.com
