Brion F.
Yelp
The Soho Hotel is part of the Firmdale suite of hotels. I have been for drinks on numerous occasions as well as for afternoon cream teas. Staying at the hotel, in September 2011, was the best way to experience it however.
It's located at the end of a not very promising deadend street tucked away between Old Compton Street and Oxford Street. This can make returning to the hotel, late at night, on foot, feel a bit unsafe.
I spent a weekend there with a friend. We just wanted a silly, get-away weekend, without having to actually leave London. I was offered a junior suite for the price of a standard double, as I booked it on the same day we were arriving. The hotel is accustomed to celebrity guests, but is in no way snooty or elitist. Check in was friendly and fast. The hotel's bar, The Refuel, is across from reception, as Is the restaurant. There are also two beautiful rooms, filled with quirky furniture and massive sofas and armchairs. It makes you wish your home was like that. These rooms are for hotel guest, but are often used by customers of the bar, who want a quieter space. One houses the hospitality bar, which kicks in when The Refuel bar closes - guests can help themselves to drinks, and then jot down what they had and their room number. Some guests, I assume, may serve a double, but put down a single, but I like to think the hotel don't mind too much.
Our room was huge with a large, marble bathroom, with bath and shower. Moments after settling in, there was a knock at the door, and we were handed a welcome box of handmade chocolates. Our room had a signature tailor's dummy and boldly upholstered furniture. The bed could have slept four.
We had room service dinner (which was very good, but not super-memorable - standard cesar salad, burger, fries, brownie) and then worked our way through the extensive cocktail menu at Refuel. The place was buzzing. Flashing our room card and charging drinks to the room did make us feel special. And joining the other guest at the hospitality bar, once Refuel called last orders, was like being at an after party. The hotel attracts a cross section of interesting people.
Being situated in the back streets of Soho, means a virtually silent nights sleep. There is a small, well equipped gym, which we used before getting stuck into a full English breakfast. The food looked as good as it tasted. This is an optional extra and charged to your room. There is also a cheaper buffet option, but it looked no lest satisfying.
For what you get, and the level and quality or service, The Soho Hotel is worth every penny.