The Connaught

My wife and I just spent 3 glorious nights at the Connaught hotel in Mayfair, London. Warning, please do not keep reading if you have plans to stay anywhere else. I have visited 30 countries. My family and I have traveled extensively at luxury hotels, and I have never written a review quite like this. This hotel is one of a kind, and I have been eager to write my review. I am currently at 35,000 feet on the way back to the states! This was a make up trip for back in March, when we actually flew from DC to half way over the Atlantic before we were turned around and sent back to DC due to a fire at Heathrow that closed the airport! Anyway, take 2! We arrived October 10th, after an overnight flight, arriving early at the hotel @ 8:30am. Our suite was not yet ready, but Paola, at the front desk, checked us in, welcomed us with class, and gave us a grand tour. Everything is manicured, and perfectly placed. We took a stroll round and about Regent street, and soon got a call that our Carlos Suite was available 4 hours prior to promised check in. We were escorted in to a bottle of champagne and welcome treats. Months prior, I had told reservations that my wife loved martinis, and enclosed was a nice note, and the Connaughts one and only book of martini recipes along with olives, lemon strips, and their "secret" martini mix to enjoy in our suite! Our suite was more like a small apartment, looking out onto the square. Every inch of it oozes comfort. The best way I can put it.... is that Everything just works at this hotel. it's hard to describe it. In our suite, the bathroom floors (and toilet seat!) are heated. The lighting is perfect throughout. The doors shut without making a sound (so much so that I had to check a few times). When staff says they will do something, it gets done quickly. Whether it was some extra milk to be placed in our mini bar for coffee, or for extra coffee to be delivered, when a staff member promises something, there is a confidence of completion. The shower pressure feels like a spa. Not a speck of dust anywhere. Luxury bedding. They wrap your power cords in mini leather straps each day! My wife took a bath each night. And she swears that the salt and soap came from the garden of eden. Take time to simply enjoy their iconic square flight of stairs, with museum like pieces of art on each landing. And the elevators feel like they were carved by a great artist. If you appreciate the small details of luxury, this hotel is for you. Each morning we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Jean-Georges. Luxurious, delicious, friendly, elegant and fun. Coffee, juice, and hash browns, and eggs, and fruit and ..... Thank you to Tatiana and Amy at the host stand, and Mate, and Adviola, and the others who took care of us. Besides having perfect poached eggs, and granola, and avocado toast, my favorite part was that you could actually get any picture you wanted, lazered onto your cappuccino, in cinnamon foam. No joke! A perfect spot to read a newspaper (remember those!?) if you are an early riser, waiting for your wife or family to come down. One of the challenges staying here is that a tension develops between heading out exploring and staying and enjoying the hotel. I love London, and we explored all day, but was always glad to be back and relaxing in our suite, looking over the Carlos place, a gorgeous view of a lovely corner of Mayfair. An absolute must is going to the Connaught Bar, through the lobby to the back left. I felt like James Bond. Stunning. Gorgeous environment. Lively, loud, and filled with energy. Apparently it has been voted one of if not the best bar or martini bar in the world. Make a reservation as it is one of the hottest spots in London. We had martinis there Friday evening. It is an art. A process, an experience. The mixologists come by with a cart, mix and aerate, and allowed us to smell different martini accoutrements before he dazzled us with his creation. Before this night, I didn't even like Martinis. Now I am hooked. This hour was one of the most fun we had in London. Please note that we did not even visit the other 2 aware winning bars and their Michelin star restaurant! Next time. A big thanks also to Lucy at the front desk for our fun conversations and for sharing so much of her knowledge. And. a thanks to my new friend and doorman Arunas, who is simply class personified. Each morning he saw off and welcomed my wife back from her long run with a cold water waiting for her. I was delighted to meet the General Manager, Mr. Sandeep Bhalla on our last morning. He knew exactly who we were when we stopped him to say hello. He remembered that we were supposed to arrive back in March, and all the details about our stay. Everyone in this hotel makes you feel like you are the only guest. Is The Connaught expensive? Yes. Very. But it is obvious that they invest in their people and the property. And in my humble opinion, it is worth every penny and pound. This was the first time at a luxury hotel when I didn't even think about the costs. Well done. Thank you. We can't wait to come back. Warmest regards, The Cooks from Maryland.

For many years The Connaught along with the first Parisian palace hotel has vied in my mind for what I would consider my all time favourite hotel. The Connaught has provided so many exceptional stays in recent years, with some lovely personal touches and attention to detail as a returning guest, that it is most certainly now my #1 hotel of any I’ve stayed. The arrival was very warm, being personally welcomed back by the doorman as well as several of the front desk and broader team. The refurbished guest rooms in the original building are excellent, retaining the charm that regular guests have come to love - with some lovely enhancements including increased storage, simplified lighting controls, new palate for soft furnishings and a Japanese smart toilet. Breakfast at Jean Georges was excellent. Eggs were cooked to perfection, and the vegetarian sausages and hash browns were delicious. Service was attentive. A small suggestion, even when indicating a table preference when booking on each visit it wasn’t fulfilled until I asked for another table. Drinks at The Connaught bar were great. A very warm welcome back from several of the staff, and their cocktails remain the best you will be fortunate to taste. For fans of martinis, their own is a must. An afternoon glass of champagne in the Coburg bar was very enjoyable, with the young (possibly French) gent providing great service whilst indulging my passion for whisky by providing more details of their Macallan Space Time bottle. In room dining was good - one day opting for a vegetarian club sandwich which was very tasty. For all the positives, sadly dinner at Jean Georges was a letdown despite the excellent food. It took almost half an hour from being seated to be offered bread, and when it finally arrived, it ignored a serious nut allergy - flagged both in the guest profile and at seating. The bread was swiftly removed, but no alternative was offered, and the starter followed almost immediately, highlighting poor pacing. No amuse bouche was provided, yet offered to other diners. A persistent cold draft from the outer door, frequently held open by staff and on 2 occasions incorrectly used as a hotel entrance, further disrupted the experience. The curtain meant to block the breeze remained undrawn throughout. In all, a very enjoyable stay and I would not dream of staying anywhere else when in London. Some improvements to JG dinner service required however.

Went for after tea and had a lovely experience. Good selection of tea and sweets, staff was friendly and the layout of the restaurant allows couples to feel more comfortable sitting next to each other.

Wonderful hotel. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Wonderful restaurant and the best bar. The room was nice and the bathroom was over the top. With its heated floor and towel bars and state-of-the-art Toto toilet.

Our stay at The Connaught was easily the highlight of our trip to London. From the moment we entered, to checkout, we were treated with the utmost respect by the incredibly gracious hotel staff. We travelled with our one year old who loved the hotel, the pool and surrounding area. The service was impeccable and the room service staff were super friendly and accommodating. We needed special meals and special requests like not to ring the bell while the baby slept and they did just that, making us feel so at home and comfortable. We will definitely be staying here again and very much looking forward to doing so! Thank you!