The Athenaeum

"This Mayfair address, across the street from Green Park, has lived many lives since it opened in 1850 as the mansion of a member of Parliament, before becoming a Victorian private social club and then an Art Deco apartment block in the 1930s. When it was transformed into a hotel in the 1970s, the Athenaeum instantly became a hotspot for celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and Steven Spielberg, who edited E.T. and Indiana Jones from one of the residential suites. (These days, V.I.P.s hang out in The View, the guests-only lounge on the top floor.) Afternoon tea here is an unsurprisingly elegant affair, with sweet and savory bites such as Welsh rarebit English muffins and Lincolnshire Poacher Cheddar scones, and you’ll love how customizable it is: You can opt for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options; upgrade with bottomless prosecco; or dine alfresco with a picnic tea in Green Park. If that verdant landscape inspires you, you’ll be smitten with the hotel’s 10-story “living wall,” which bursts to life with hundreds of native and exotic plant species." - Nicholas DeRenzo