The Stafford Hotel

England
Europe

The Experience

Americans in particular tend to consider this the perfect small hotel in London. Perhaps this tradition dates back to when the wine cellar sheltered a group of them during the Blitz. Steps from bustling Piccadilly and swanky Jermyn Street, it's tucked away on a cul-de-sac, accessible from a footpath off Green Park. Once inside, it's as if you stumbled upon a manor in the countryside, with fabric-filled guest rooms in the main house, an 18th-century carriage house and the Stafford Mews extension, completed in 2007.

The Rooms

Above the intimate lobby—where "action" means a couple having tea by the fireplace--the main house's nicely sized rooms have floral chintz coronas over the beds, with matching drapes and dust ruffles. But rooms in the Carriage House, onetime stables for noblemen, have more character and privacy. Rooms have original timber beams, most have fireplaces, and those on the first floor have original stable doors that open right onto an 18th-century stable courtyard. It was in response to the popularity of these rooms that the 26-suite Stafford Mews extension was inaugurated in 2007.

The Service

Concierge Frank Laino—who delivers tickets to sold-out West End shows with a personal review and a smile—has also repeatedly topped "best of" lists, and barman Ben Provost has a huge following of his own in the cozy American Bar, where he's been dispensing single malts and good humor since 1993.

The Highlights

It's easy to develop a deep affection for this place. When you enter the tiny lobby you feel as if the fireplace has been lit just for you. The Regency sideboards gleam, the Royal Doulton vases brim with flowers, the staff smiles. It's all so lovely that loyal clients have donated enough funky memorabilia to fill the American Bar's walls and ceiling--license plates, baseball caps and such. The special relationship the Stafford has with Americans is due not just to its history, but also to quaint customs like private wine tastings and dinners in the 350-year-old wine vault. In 2007, a state-of-the-art fitness center finally debuted.

 

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