There are certain places in London where the city seems to fold in on itself, places where history, culture, and modern life converge within a single address. Hotel Café Royal is one of them.
Standing at the intersection of Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus, the hotel carries a quiet confidence. From the outside, its grand Portland stone façade and copper-domed rotunda exude an unmistakably historic feel, a reminder of its long-standing place within the city’s social and cultural life. Yet stepping inside reveals something entirely different – a luxurious space that moves effortlessly between past and present.
Location
To stay at Café Royal is to position yourself at the very centre of London – quite literally. The hotel sits at the meeting point of Mayfair, Soho, and St James’s, three neighbourhoods that together capture the essence of the city. Step outside and you are immediately immersed in the energy of Regent Street, with its sweeping architecture and flagship stores, while just moments away, the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus pulse with activity. And yet, despite this centrality, the hotel manages to feel surprisingly removed from it all. It is a location that allows you to experience the city in its entirety, while always having a calm spot to retreat to.
The Hotel & Its History
There is a quiet sense of legacy woven throughout Hotel Café Royal, an aura of something you feel rather than are told.
Established in 1865 by French wine merchant Daniel Nicolas Thévenon, Café Royal began as a modest café before quickly becoming one of London’s most celebrated meeting places. Over the decades, its gilded rooms welcomed an extraordinary cast of guests, from Oscar Wilde and Princess Diana to Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie. Their presence still lingers in the atmosphere, not in an overt way, but in the sense that this has always been a place where people came to gather, exchange ideas, and be part of something larger than themselves.
Rather than overshadowing its past, the redesign in 2008 allowed it to coexist with the present – historic spaces preserved in their original grandeur, set against a backdrop of calm, contemporary interiors. If you are a lover of marble, there are three different types of marble throughout, including 1,000 tonnes of the finest Carrara marble.
Today, Café Royal forms part of The Set Collection, a group known for reimagining landmark buildings into distinctive luxury hotels. With 159 rooms and suites, the hotel reflects this philosophy of balancing heritage with modern design in a way that feels both considered and quietly confident.
Room 524 – The Westminster Suite
Reaching our suite on the fifth floor felt like a quiet departure from the energy of the hotel below. As I left the grandeur of marble columns, sweeping arches, and a chandelier cascading through the centre of the lobby behind, the atmosphere shifted almost immediately. The corridors at Hotel Café Royal are unexpectedly minimal, with long, softly lit hallways lined with glowing, shoji-style panels and warm wood tones. There’s a stillness to them that feels almost meditative – a gentle pause before arriving at the suite, far removed from the movement of Piccadilly Circus just outside.
Opening the door to the Westminster Suite, I was struck first by the sense of space. At 90 square metres (969 sq ft), it feels far larger than you might expect in such a location. The layout unfolds naturally, more like a well-designed apartment than a hotel room, with distinct areas for living, dining, and rest that make it easy to settle in straight away.
I moved first towards the windows, drawn by the light. As a corner suite, the room is wrapped in views on two sides. From above, Regent Street curves elegantly below, its architecture creating that unmistakable London perspective, while in another direction, the city stretches out towards Piccadilly Circus. In the distance, a defined silhouette of Big Ben stands proudly. It’s a view that constantly reminds you where you are – right at the centre of London – and yet the room itself remains completely calm and soundproof.
Waiting for me in the living area was a welcome that immediately set the tone for the stay: a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne resting on ice, alongside fresh fruit and a carefully arranged selection of delicate desserts. There are other suite inclusions too, notably a chauffeur each day for up to five hours with unlimited mileage in a Mercedes-Benz S-class.
The living room itself feels intentionally relaxed, with soft leather sofas arranged around a striking Siena marble dining table that anchors the space. It’s the kind of setting that invites you to slow down, whether for a quiet breakfast, an evening drink, or simply a moment to pause between exploring the city.
Just beyond, the kitchenette and minibar elevate the suite even further. Rather than a standard hotel setup, it feels like a compact private kitchen, complete with a sink, fridge, and oven. It introduces a subtle but important shift in how the space is experienced, to feel less like a place you are staying, and more like somewhere you could comfortably live.
The bedroom continues that same sense of understated luxury. Designed by Sir David Chipperfield, the interiors are calm and architectural, with Portland stone walls, herringbone wooden floors, and soft neutral tones that create a space both refined and deeply restful. At the centre, a generous king-size bed dressed in crisp white linens immediately draws you in.
One of the most thoughtful details revealed itself as I got closer. I was delighted to discover my initials delicately embroidered onto the pillow. It’s a small gesture, but one that instantly made the experience feel personal.
The suite’s two bathrooms further enhance its apartment-like feel. A discreet guest toilet sits near the entrance, while the main bathroom feels like a sanctuary in its own right. Clad entirely in Carrara marble, the space is cool, quiet, and beautifully composed. A deep marble bathtub is seamlessly carved into the stone, positioned beside a rainfall shower, while a long double vanity stretches beneath a large mirror. Chopard amenities sit neatly arranged by the sink, and plush Frette robes are ready for when the day slows down.
By the time evening arrived, the suite had settled into something that felt far more personal than a hotel stay. Sitting by the window, watching the city shift from day into night, it became clear that the Westminster Suite offers something rare that was not just space and luxury, but a genuine sense of calm above one of the busiest corners of London.
Spa & Wellness
Beneath the energy of Regent Street, Hotel Café Royal reveals arguably one of the most renowned spas in London. Hidden below ground, the Akasha Spa spans approximately 1,200 square metres (13,000 sq ft), an expansive sanctuary that feels far removed from the pace of the city above.
Descending into the space, the atmosphere shifts almost immediately. Soft lighting, warm stone, and natural textures create a sense of calm that is both grounding and immersive. At its centre is a 60-foot (18-metre) lap pool, softly illuminated and framed by marble-lined alcoves. I found myself drawn to one of the loungers tucked discreetly into these spaces, where time seems to slow, and rest begins.
The spa is thoughtfully designed to move between relaxation and restoration. Alongside the pool, there is a hammam, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and a Watsu pool, each offering a different way to unwind. A series of six treatment rooms provides tailored therapies, with a focus on holistic wellbeing using premium skincare brands.
Beyond relaxation, Akasha also caters to a more active approach to wellness. A fully equipped gym sits within the space, complemented by personal training sessions, yoga, and Pilates classes available to guests.
The Food & Beverage Experience
Dining at Hotel Café Royal ranges from historic to contemporary. The Café Royal Grill offers classic British dining in a grand setting, while the Green Bar provides an intimate cocktail experience. For fine dining, Alex Dilling at Café Royal holds two Michelin stars, showcasing refined French cuisine. For something more playful, Cakes & Bubbles by Albert Adrià focuses on exceptional desserts and champagne, adding a light, yet indulgent touch to the hotel’s culinary offering.
Food & Beverage is overseen by Matteo Carretta, who is curating some wonderful experiences. Look out for monthly bar activations including Paloma month as well as a summer cigar terrace, a David Bowie afternoon tea, and home to the very best cheesecake in London. The Baron Bigod cheesecake is a thing of beauty. The texture of a Basque cheesecake, but instead of sweetness, you get warm cream, butter, and a savoury depth. Silky, whipped, and aerated, but still rich with a wafer-thin sweet layer. Beautiful.
The Green Bar
The evening began in the Green Bar, where deep green tones, polished marble, and low lighting create an intimate, almost cinematic setting. Sitting at the bar, I ordered the Royal Toast, a delicately balanced cocktail made with Absolut Elyx vodka, Bottega Cinzano Extra Dry, cherry brandy, and a subtle touch of absinthe. Its soft pink hue caught the light as it arrived, but it was the flavour that lingered – layered, slightly floral, with a gentle herbal edge.
The Grill
From there, we moved into the Café Royal Grill, a space that immediately shifts the tone. The room is richly detailed, with gilded panels, mirrored walls, and warm lighting – yet it never feels overwhelming. Instead, it carries a quiet sense of history, as though the room itself has witnessed decades of conversation. Some original cookbooks were discovered in the building, and there are nods to this in dishes throughout the menu that go back to the 1900s. A great example of this is a chimichurri sauce, which was studded with anchovies, adding an earthy, full flavour to the already herby sauce. Clever.
We began with the baked Orkney scallop, served in its shell, the surface gently golden from the oven. The white port and garlic butter pooled beneath it, rich and aromatic, while the scallop itself remained soft and delicate.
For the main, we shared the côte de boeuf, presented generously and carved at the table. The meat was deeply caramelised on the outside, tender within, and paired effortlessly with classic sides that added both texture and balance. The wine that accompanied the meat was superb. With months of ageing in French and American oak, this blood-rich Aalto 2022 from Ribera del Duero is crafted from 100% Tinto Fino grapes.
Dessert arrived as a buttermilk pudding with Yorkshire rhubarb, its presentation clean and understated. The sharpness of the rhubarb cut through the creaminess of the pudding, creating something light yet satisfying, a gentle finish.
Breakfast in The Gallery
The following morning, breakfast in The Gallery offered a completely different perspective of the hotel. Overlooking the cascading chandelier below, the space feels bright, open, and quietly elegant.
I chose the truffled Comté toast, topped with a perfectly poached egg. As the yolk broke, it folded into the melted cheese and hollandaise beneath, creating something rich, savoury, and deeply comforting, and the kind of breakfast that lingers long after the last bite.
Overall
There is a quiet confidence to Hotel Café Royal that reveals itself gradually. From the stillness of the corridors to the views across Regent Street, and from the richness of its history to the calm of its contemporary spaces, the experience feels both considered and effortless.
What stays with you is not just the setting, but the balance it achieves: an equilibrium between past and present, energy and calm, indulgence and restraint. In a city that rarely slows down, Café Royal offers something increasingly rare: a place to pause, without ever feeling removed from London itself.
For more information, please visit: hotelcaferoyal.com
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All Images Courtesy of Hotel Café Royal / The Set Collection.