Review: Althoff St James’s Hotel & Club

This handsome and elegant Victorian Townhouse, part of the Small Luxury Hotels group, has retained all its charm, as well as its heritage as a gentlemen’s club for London’s A-list.

Room with a view

The 60 rooms that make up Althoff St James’s Hotel & Club are all expertly designed by award-winning interior studio AMJ Design. Extra-special flourishes include handcrafted Murano glass chandeliers and sumptuous silk wallpapers. Most suites promise an unrivalled panoramic 180-degree skyline view of the capital, sweeping across Mayfair and beyond.

Great plates

The culinary offerings of the hotel are not to be missed.
Executive chef William ‘Billy’ Drabble is the mastermind behind the Michelin-starred Seven Park Palace, serving exquisite French-inflected dishes that highlight the beauty of British produce. The menu invites diners to explore flavours paired with flair and finesse.

The care and craft behind Drabble’s seven-course Gourmand menu are evident as he discusses the inspiration behind his dishes. While some items on the menu are subject to change with the seasons, others remain all-year round crowd-pleasers, such as the freshest lobsters and Lune Valley Lamb.

Fine wine

Sommeliers are on hand to suggest wines that further draw out dynamic flavours of the menu. The recommendation de jour was a P&M Jacqueson Rully, a dry and full white Burgundy. For those partial to an evening tipple, Bar 1857 is famed for its port, with the widest selection of any London bar. Rooms start from £375 a night. 7-8 Park Place, London W1 stjameshotelandclub.com