The Dorchester

We had afternoon tea with our daughter and my in laws during our annual Christmas trip to London! It was spectacular as usual and the service by Anuar was the highlight as usual! We look forward to going back to see Anuar and the Dorchetser again on our visits next year!

I am an old Dorchester client, having stayed there for the last 12 or 15 years, sometimes several times a year. Doormen and promenade personal know me and my family by name and many people at the reception as well. I stayed recently for 9 nights and while I cannot praise housekeeping, in room dining and especially breakfast highly enough, I would like to mention some less agreeable interaction with reception people, who lacked sometimes the tact of handling minor problems. My room did not have a mirror and this did not bother me until New Year’s Eve. I talked about it to the reception on Jan 1st and while an apology and a smile would have made me happy they just insisted that the room had a mirror and I did not find it. I called them later and told them my room did not have a mirror and they offered to get me one, I was already pissed by their attitude and did not accept. Small detail, I know, but for a hotel that I stay since so long, and a hotel that caters so well to its clients, very unusual. I still love the hotel very much and intend to come back, but I fear the hotel is loosing something. Hopefully I am wrong.

We had a very nice stay at the Dorchester Hotel. We flew overnight from Boston and arrived early in the morning and dropped our luggage off and went for Wolesley’s for breakfast. Our room was available early but it was on the 2nd floor and had a tub/shower that was very difficult to navigate. We used Amex Fine Hotels to book our room and this wasn’t an upgrade but I think they tried to accommodate our early arrival. However, the next day I asked for a room change to a room with a walk-in shower and the front desk was very understanding and accommodated our request. The 5th floor room looking out over looking Park Lane and Winter Wonderland was beautiful. The room was beautifully appointed but there was some minor brick or roof repairs occurring but it started late in the morning. We had breakfast in our room twice and in the Grille restaurant. The food was very good and we had drinks at the Vesper Bar. Overall, a nice experience and the front desk was very helpful and accommodating.

The rooms are undeniably beautiful—spacious, polished, and very comfortable, exactly what you’d expect at this level. Unfortunately, the overall environment feels stiff and a bit snobby. The atmosphere lacks warmth or inspiration, making the experience feel more performative than genuinely welcoming.

Front desk girls are lovely. Breakfast fantastic. ANUAR IS A HERO. The big problem is housekeeping. Came back from Breakfast. Sign on door housekeeping is inside. Go in . No housekeeping but a bag of rags and garbage sitting on my open suitcase. WTF. A bag of dirty rags and garbage placed on top of Hermès scarf and cashmere sweaters. No respect for guest belongs. My fear on housekeeping doing unsanitary things has come true. I had left 5 pounds on the bed for this person and this was the thanks received.