Review: The Savoy London

WHAT’S IT LIKE There is no hotel in London that can make you feel as special as pulling into the Savoy, a Fairmont-managed property. Might it be that its driveway is the only street in London where cars drive on the right? Probably not. It’s more like the top hat-wearing doormen are the first of the hotel’s stars you will meet.

Name recognition is a hallmark here from all of the staff, how they do it no one knows. On rainy days, you’ll notice doormen sweeping up the water from the main entrance; now that’s service. Once you whirl into the main lobby, a staffer is waiting to greet you and point you toward sit-down reception in a quiet room or provide directions through the hotel. A crackling fireplace warms one side of the lobby while soft sofas and seating areas give guests a place to chill. The hotel opened a few years ago after a top-to-bottom renovations that touched up both soft goods and building fixtures.

DINING Perhaps the biggest draw here, given the sky-high room rates, is the dining options here, including an always popular afternoon tea. Reservations are a must everywhere. Kaspar’s Seafood Bar at the back of the hotel is an art deco masterpiece with exquisite service centering around a main bar. Expect fresh seafood to dominate including everything from regional oysters, cured seafoods, and even a selection of sushi, burgers and salads. There is no way to go hungry here. To reach Kaspar’s, guests must pass through the main lounge where afternoon tea is served around a flower-laced gazebo that is the centerpiece of the elegant space. To the other side, Beaufort Bar is a velvet-coated bar that is as retro-chic as glamorous in an effort to recall the grandeur and Hollywood-esque guest list that has stayed in this legendary hotel. Order a signature cocktail for a unique tableside preparation that comes with a fun story of the celebrity the drink is named for; but Fairmont’s new global cocktail menu, debuted here, offers up some other unique favorites worth trying like the Pomegranate Paloma made with tequila and bitters or the Fairmont Old-Fashioned composing Woodford Reserve Bourbon, rum, and bitters. Savoy Grill, with a curated menu from Chef Gordon Ramsay, serves three meals a day and is equally as delicious as Kaspar’s. What sets it apart is its classic British fare with a bit of French flair. There is always the famous American Bar for another taste of Fairmont’s newly announced global cocktail program, but finding a cocktail at this grande dame of a hotel is not hard. Save space for an éclair or praline made daily by the hotel’s pastry chef from the Savoy Tea shop.

AMENITIES Tucked away on a higher floor is quite an impressive health club and spa facility boasting a heated indoor swimming pool, all-hours fitness center, lengthy treatment menu using designer beauty and aromatherapy products, and relaxation areas with separate men’s and women’s saunas and steam rooms. Meeting facilities are plentiful here, but while spacious, they are also packed with history. Many of the boardrooms feature their original designer themes, each named for operas or other works of art, and were left untouched during the renovation. A private entrance keeps meeting groups separated from the main lobby, which is also popular among the many diplomats that hold functions here. Larger ballrooms feature ornate craftsmanship, high ceilings, chandeliers, and even a built-in stage in one. The adjacent Savoy Theatre, from where the hotel’s name derives, often partners with the hotel to offer overnight theatre packages or dinner and a show. ROOMS As one might expect, the décor in rooms is as ornate as public areas although divided into two styles: art deco and Edwardian. The former have a slightly more modern look, but many prefer the antique décor styling of the latter. Wide hallways lead to the guest rooms, which each vary in size due to the building’s protected history. All feature the same bespoke mattresses stuffed with pillowtop comfort and coated in expensive linens and duvets. Modern, smartphone charging alarm clocks and stereos sit bedside as do power outlets (undoubtedly an addition from the renovation). Full-length mirrors, large closets with safes, and spacious desks with cordless phones are in place. Windows face the neighborhood, the Thames (mostly suites), or the interior courtyard and atrium. Windows open for fresh air, and bottled water is delivered daily with turndown service. Bathrooms are coated in marble and come with rose-scented Le Labo toiletries, oversized cotton towels on heated racks, and glass shower stalls. Speaking of some of those suites, you can literally be resting on your pillow and eye everything from the London Eye to Big Ben in one blink. Fine extras include coffee trays delivered to the room upon request, which include a hot water kettle and all the necessary supplies, and overnight shoeshine service. Both are complimentary.

CONCLUSION While the privilege to stay here has a price, there is no disputing that this hotel has the finest service in town. This hotel sets the bar from which other hotels measure themselves.