Café Royal Grill
Restaurant · Soho
Café Royal, 68 Regent St., London W1B 4DY, United Kingdom
.jpg "Café Royal Grill by Courtesy Hotel Café Royal")
Highlights
"This revamped Regent Street landmark combines fin de siècle opulence with streamlined modernity. There are subtle references to its storied past—vases filled with tulips are a silent salute to Oscar Wilde, who once drank so much absinthe in the Grill Room that he hallucinated he was cavorting in a field of the flowers. The Grill Room has been turned into a bar, and its opulent gilt and mirrors have been sexed up with a frankly immodest blush of red furnishings. Recover your composure downstairs at the Akasha spa, which specializes in watsu aquatic-massage treatments." - Condé Nast Traveller, Steve King
"Best for: the toy collection Nearest tube: Piccadilly What this slick, minimalist hotel lacks in kids’ clubs or even a playroom it makes up for in fun little touches and a remarkably warm, unpretentious service. Tots bundling into its syrupy-lit suites will make a beeline for the fun striped tents placed in the corner of the room (via the macarons). Hiding inside these are tin toy trunks filled with tot treasure—a stacking hermit crab, a useful bath thermometer, a rubber duck, and age-specific storybooks. Such a selection is the stellar work of Nanny Louenna, an ex-Norland Nanny (the gold standard). The Mary Poppins figure has advised Hotel Café Royal on smoothing over those pain points of traveling with children. There’s a feeling though that this invariably grown-up institution already has its rubber ducks in a row. Tot paraphernalia can be easily ordered to rooms, though parents of young children can expect to find sterilizers, bottle warmers, and baby bathtubs already in place. The cots feel a little old-fashioned (you won’t be finding Stokke or Snuzpods here), and you’ll need to ask for toddler-specific covers or bring your own mini sleeping bags for them, but the superb childcare will immediately comfort any wobbly parents. Parents may then want to make a break for Alex Dilling’s tasting menu, cocktails in the event Green Bar, or waddle in slippers to the hotel’s legendary subterranean spa—the latter carving out a family swim time, should you wish to return with the full clan." - Rosalyn Wikeley
"You wouldn’t suspect the likes of Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and David Bowie to have much in common, but it turns out all three have passed through an institution where writers, politicians, and rockstars alike have been fraternizing ever since the 19th century. This five-star hotel on Regent Street in Piccadilly lives up to its past even after a modern redesign in 2012. Legendary features like the helical staircase and notorious, rococo Grill Room—now called the Oscar Wilde Lounge—remain where they belong, even alongside the shiny, new 700-plus-pound Murano glass chandelier that cascades from the lobby ceiling like a glimmering sun shower. Rooms live up to expectations, with beds dressed in Frette linens, Carrara marble bathroom floors, and Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems. A stay at Hotel Café Royal isn’t just about travel. It’s about living in the now for today and being part of history come tomorrow." - Nicholas DeRenzo, CNT Editors
"What was your first impression?Everything is very polished and glossy—the lobby has a massive 700 pound Murano glass chandelier to welcome you as you check in. Surfaces are exceptionally pristine, and filled with cozy dark corners to tuck away into with a spot of tea and a book. The side entrance off of Piccadilly leads to a staircase that sweeps up to the old-school and very rococo Oscar Wilde Lounge. What's the backstory?Café Royal is the third hotel in The Set (that's capital T, capital S)—a hotel group that includes The Lutetia in Paris, The Conservatorium in Amsterdam, and HCR. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?I stayed in the Grand Regent Suite—a spectacular set of rooms in a far corner of the hotel with four massive windows overlooking Piccadilly Circus. It's super swanky—Carrara marble covering every surface of the bathroom, leather-lined walls, a Bang+Olufsen sound system that was a little too complicated for my needs. One of the best parts was the multi-paned glass on the windows—central London was 20 feet away and it was silent inside. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?The beloved Laurent is now closed, but new options have arrived in its place. First, the dessert-focused Cakes and Bubbles, which also offers an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy its extensive offerings of sparkling wine. Green Bar specializes in high-end cocktails. Among the other bars, the best of the lot is Ziggy's—an homage to David Bowie's famous alter-ego. And the service? Service didn't miss a beat—my luggage was in my room (and in my closet) before I could finish checking in. Most of the suites are staffed with a butler, which was a little overwhelming for this low-key traveler, but made getting a reservation at a tough restaurant easy. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?The hotel blends seamlessly into Mayfair—it's right on the edge of Piccadilly Circus, and is so integrated into the surrounds, I was actually surprised when I arrived and realized what the entrance was. Is there anything you'd change?The Do Not Disturb sign is built into the tech, so I forgot to turn it off and was surprised to see my room unmade one afternoon—totally on me, and housekeeping came practically when I clicked it off, but it was a little too seamless—easy to miss! Any other hotel features worth noting?The spa is AMAZING. Even if you're not staying on site, just go for a treatment—there's a beautiful pool, and steam and sauna rooms—all on their basement level, which doesn't feel dark so much as cozy. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? Rooms are pretty pricey, but about what'd you'd expect in that part of London—but it's absolutely worth it. You're close to everywhere to want to go (or a tube stop that can take you there) and you're taken care of from the moment you walk in the door." - Paulie Dibner
"This is a collaboration of the senses between Hotel Café Royal and the French perfumer Diptyque. The food is made with the ingredients found in the scents of the lighted Diptyque candles, resulting in an afternoon tea that's as delicious as it is aromatic." - Alethea Tan
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