The Raffles London at The OWO evaluate

There’s historical past round each nook, up each staircase and thru each secret passageway on the Raffles London at The OWO. That is as a result of “OWO” stands for “Previous Battle Workplace” — the imposing Baroque Edwardian constructing alongside Whitehall by which the resort now takes up residence was initially constructed in 1906 to be Nice Britain’s Battle Workplace, and it was from this grandiose Portland stone constructing that former Prime Minister Winston Churchill directed the Allies’ eventual victory in World Battle II.

Though there’s a lot to find in regards to the constructing’s previous, which you’ll delve into throughout complimentary historical past excursions supplied to friends, the resort nonetheless feels recent because of an eight-year, $1.4 billion pound ($1.76 billion) restoration, renovation and reimagining. The constructing took on a brand new life when it reopened because the Raffles London at The OWO in 2023 with 120 visitor rooms and suites plus 85 personal residences, to not point out 9 eating venues and three bars, together with a James Bond-inspired speakeasy.

Even should you do not pull up in a kitted-out Aston Martin DB5 of your personal, a keep right here is certain to be memorable. Ours was.

Raffles London at The OWO location

You may’t get extra central than this. Because of its ministerial origin story, the resort sits in London’s historic locus of energy alongside Whitehall, working from Trafalgar Sq. all the way down to Parliament.

A taxi or ride-hailing service from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) can take anyplace from 40 to 90 minutes and price $60 to $100. If you’re touring mild, you possibly can take the Tube’s Picadilly Line to busy Leicester Sq. in about an hour for simply 5.60 British kilos ($7), after which it is a 15-minute stroll from there.

Raffles London at The OWO reserving particulars

The Raffles model is a part of Accor, that means it participates within the Accor Reside Limitless loyalty program. Members can earn factors on stays when reserving instantly via Accor at a price of 25 factors per 10 euros ($11) spent and redeem them in increments of two,000 factors to save lots of 40 euros ($44) on resort payments. Reserving as a member via Accor additionally opens up preferential charges that may embody reductions and add-ons equivalent to free breakfast.

Nevertheless, the Raffles London at The OWO is a member of American Specific Superb Accommodations + Resorts, so in case you have The Platinum Card® from American Specific or The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific and make a reserving via American Specific Journey, you possibly can take pleasure in advantages like complimentary each day breakfast for 2, room upgrades primarily based on availability, a $100 on-property credit score to make use of throughout your keep and assured late checkout.

The resort can be a part of Chase’s The Edit. When you’ve got an eligible card and make your reserving via Chase Journey℠, you possibly can anticipate perks equivalent to each day breakfast for 2, availability-based room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout primarily based on availability, a $100 property credit score to make use of throughout your keep and a welcome present. These with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can redeem Chase Final Rewards factors for stays booked at The Edit properties.

Different playing cards you should use for The Edit bookings embody:

Charges on the Raffles London at The OWO begin at $1,000 per evening. Nightly charges for the Westminster Suite class I used to be in begin at $2,215 per evening.

Standout options of Raffles London at The OWO

• A way of historical past is palpable within the grand public areas, together with the chandelier-lit central staircase.
• The strong slate of culinary choices ranges from up to date Japanese to basic English tea, a James Bond-inspired speakeasy and two Riviera-inspired eating places from one of many world’s most acclaimed cooks.
• The subterranean wellness complicated features a attractive pool space and the U.Ok.’s first Guerlain Spa.

Drawbacks of Raffles London at The OWO

• The placement is walkable to many vacationer sights, however if you need a extra neighborhood really feel, look elsewhere.
• The visitor lodging are amongst London’s largest but in addition amongst its most costly, and there is not a good way to redeem factors right here.
• Afternoon tea is attractive right here, however should you’re searching for extra pomp and circumstance, you would possibly wish to search out a scenier venue.

The vibe at Raffles London at The OWO

Again when the OWO was certainly the Battle Workplace (not simply the previous one), solely officers and vital officers have been allowed to make use of the doorway off Whitehall and ascend the imposing break up staircase that occupied delight of place within the coronary heart of the constructing.

Nowadays, nonetheless, it is resort friends — an intriguing melange of suited businessfolk, visiting dignitaries and well-off People — you will discover swanning up the central characteristic, which seems much more magnificent than ever because of a spruce up (together with the remainder of the resort) from late architect and designer Thierry Despont, whose work you would possibly acknowledge from the Ritz Paris and The Carlyle, a Rosewood-affiliated property in New York Metropolis.

Take a second to do the identical your self, admiring the deep-veined Piastraccia marble steps, the Brescia marble handrails and full-figured balusters carved from Derbyshire alabaster. Look upward and see should you can spot the Tudor roses alongside the cupola and the 50 acres’ price of plaster molding crowning the house. The centerpiece, nonetheless, is the Murano crystal chandelier by design agency iDogi titled “Meridies,” whose double globes comprise 3,000 items of glass and 96 lights, representing the approaching collectively of empires.

Identical to the chandelier, so many parts needed to come collectively to make this resort a actuality, and the result’s nothing in need of breathtaking.

Rooms at Raffles London at The OWO

Lodging on the Raffles London at The OWO vary from the usual Traditional class as much as a handful of specialty suites named after British politicians and feminine spies (in any case, MI5 was based on this very edifice).

My Westminster Suite was situated within the north wing of the constructing on the second (third by American requirements) flooring, a brief stroll from one of many elevators and the central staircase, which I most well-liked to parade down as a substitute of taking the lifts.

Even the hallways displayed playful nods to the resort’s historical past and environment. They featured crimson carpets and drapes with leather-based borders — visible references to the uniforms of the King’s Life Guard sentries standing at consideration, plumed helmets and all, throughout the road on the Horse Guards constructing — and flooring grills patterned to resemble the casings of grenades.

Inside, my suite was a sprawling 688 sq. toes with a front room and a separate bed room, each with burnished oak paneling and filigreed crown molding on the double-height ceilings, in addition to carpets stippled in black and white just like the hand-laid mosaic flooring within the resort’s corridors. The doorway lobby additionally held a closet and a powder room simply contained in the entrance door.

The upholstery all through was a mixture of staid lotions and grays with varied Glen verify accents natty sufficient for a Savile Row tailor store. The lounge additionally had a shapely picket work desk off to at least one aspect (although I ended up working from the window-adjacent armchair and ottoman, largely) a small couch and a espresso desk dealing with a chest with a flat-screen TV. The whole lot within the room, together with the lights, temperature and TV, could possibly be managed utilizing one of many {custom} tablets, although the heaviest set of drapes on every of the big home windows needed to be drawn open or closed by hand.

The bed room lay via a set of huge picket sliding doorways and previous the minibar stocked with connoisseur goodies, together with canned Singapore Sling cocktails alluding to the Raffles model’s historical past, and an espresso machine.

The king-size mattress was wearing crisp white linens and a profusion of pillows with a easy squared-off bedhead and confronted a wall-mounted TV on the other wall.

By way of one other set of doorways off to at least one aspect, there was a closet and dressing space full with its personal self-importance, and from there, it was a fast flip into the marble-tiled rest room with radiant flooring heating for these chilly London mornings.

To 1 aspect, there was a soaking tub encased in marble slabs, and to the opposite was a two-sink counter with an enormous mirror and a picket base with drawers containing varied facilities in case you left any toiletries at dwelling.

Lastly, there was a water closet with the bathroom, and previous that, a walk-in bathe with a glass door and each overhead and wall-mounted hand-held showerheads.

London perfumer Azzi Glasser created a bespoke vary of cleaning soap, hair and skincare merchandise for the resort dubbed “1906” after the constructing’s opening 12 months and scented with vetiver, sandalwood and neroli.

Friends trying to immerse themselves even additional into the constructing’s historical past can e book one of many specialty suites, that are named after well-known figures in British army historical past and notable ladies linked with the OWO, like Clementine Churchill and Christine Granville, a World Battle II spy.

The suite named after the latter, which was previously the workplace of the chief of the final employees and a banquet corridor, has its authentic oak paneling and brass chandeliers relationship to 1906, however the showstopper is its freestanding brass bathtub subsequent to a inexperienced marble fire.

The glassed-in cubicles holding the bathroom and the bathe have been impressed by Nineteenth-century marketing campaign latrines. Even if you cannot afford the splurge, you would possibly be capable to sneak into just a few of the suites on one of many historical past excursions the resort provides on a complimentary foundation to friends.

Foods and drinks at Raffles London at The OWO

With 9 eating venues and three bars, you won’t be capable to pattern every part the Raffles at The OWO has to supply, even on a multinight keep. This is the place to focus your power.

Mauro Colagreco and Mauro’s Desk

The resort’s major wonderful eating experiences come courtesy of internationally famend chef Mauro Colagreco, whose flagship restaurant on the French Riviera, Mirazur, has three Michelin stars and was named the world’s greatest restaurant in 2019 by the World’s 50 Greatest record.

The ethereal however cozy flower-filled eating room pays homage to basic English gardens, full with colourful prints of produce adorning the partitions. Diners right here will discover the chef’s classics, like his grandmother’s heirloom ache a partager (pull-apart bread) served with lemon-ginger olive oil.

Nevertheless, the seasonal menu highlights fastidiously sourced British produce and proteins with a hero ingredient listed for every dish. Radish from East Sussex, as an example, is painstakingly carved into the form of a rose, hiding luscious slices of sea bass sashimi and orange-grapefruit jelly in a Japanese dashi broth.

Blackberries are the celebrities of an entree of juicy roasted wooden pigeon with chanterelles in a butter-vermouth sauce. Friends can select from a three-course a la carte menu ($136 per particular person) or a five-course prix fixe ($205). There are additionally varied pairings, together with a nonalcoholic possibility ($99), a five-wine possibility ($155) and a “Leisure Route Pairing” of wonderful vintages ($528).

When you’re craving an much more decadent expertise, e book out Mauro’s Desk, a 20-person personal eating room with an open kitchen the place every dish is ready in entrance of diners’ eyes to create an immersive expertise.

Saison

The resort’s all-day restaurant Saison (additionally from chef Colagreco) seems like a greenhouse on the Cote d’Azur because of its gazebolike trellised partitions, its saffron-hued central banquette, the profusion of greenery and the ample pure mild streaming down via its glass ceiling. You’d by no means guess that this was as soon as the constructing’s library, housing one of many world’s largest collections of army literature.

Most friends begin their day with breakfast right here, grazing alongside the buffet of house-made pastries, recent fruit and chilly cuts earlier than tucking into choices from the new menu, like buttery scrambled eggs heaped with smoked ChalkStream trout over toasted brioche. A la carte dishes begin at $17, whereas set menus that embody the buffet and different objects vary from $43 to $56.

At dinner, the house feels extra intimate because of romantic lighting and Mediterranean specialties equivalent to a mille-feuille-style zucchini tart with goat cheese and lemon sabayon ($24) and citrusy lobster bolognese with house-made spaghetti alla chitarra ($60).

The Drawing Room

Open for breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner each day, The Drawing Room seems like one in every of London’s toniest gents’s golf equipment because of its good-looking wooden paneling and pillars, tufted leather-based cubicles and a baronial carved stone fire, although there are additionally up to date parts like finely feathered Venetian glass chandeliers.

The principle occasion right here is afternoon tea (beginning at $99 per particular person), which features a selection of 19 loose-leaf teas and tisanes produced for the resort by Camellia’s Tea Home, a savory amuse-bouche and a collection of 4 finger sandwiches, together with one full of Severn & Wye Smokery gravlax with lemon confit and horseradish on beet-infused bread and one other honey-roasted ham, watercress and cep mushrooms on caraway.

After that, servers current multitiered plates displaying sweets like pumpkin-ginger cake with burnt vanilla and Gaya 64% darkish chocolate and occasional shortbread, fig and plum custard and, after all, fresh-from-the-oven buttermilk-sultana scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Come after 3 p.m. to catch each day reside musical performances.

The Guards Bar and Lounge

Taking inspiration from the Horse Guards simply throughout the road, The Guards Bar and Lounge seems like a swanky bolthole tucked into the southwest nook of the OWO, with a lounge-style room with low-slung vignettes of slipper chairs and love seats and a separate bar space for singletons on stools.

The in depth cocktail menu options a wide range of new takes on the basic Singapore Sling, together with a London model with Sipsmith Raffles 1915 gin, strawberry and oat Sipello liqueur, linden tea and cherry bitters ($32) and varied sections dedicated to spicy, fruity, natural, tropical and floral flavors.

I attempted a tropical cocktail with Glenfiddich 15-year-old whisky, British salted butter, pear, fig leaf extract, Capreolus perry pear eau de vie and easy syrup that tasted like a recent however mellow Manhattan ($31).

Spy Bar

Hidden in an underground degree down an simply missed hallway that was previously the phone trade and the place you possibly can nonetheless spot reinforcement beams added throughout World Battle II lies the Spy Bar. It’s denoted by a “007” on the door — a cheeky reference to James Bond creator Ian Fleming, who was impressed to jot down his franchise from the years he spent working right here. The bar occupies a piece of the constructing as soon as used for interrogating sources and debriefing brokers.

Solely resort friends and residents (and their invited friends) are admitted, and no pictures are allowed. As soon as contained in the clandestine speakeasy, you will discover an extremely well-stocked bar backed with the correct half of a shiny bullet-gray Aston DB5 (the basic automotive from “Goldfinger,” amongst different Bond movies).

As you’d anticipate, the menu options a wide range of basic and artistic martini twists, plus a panoply of (slightly pricy) cocktails that incorporate classic spirits like gins and vodkas bottled within the Nineteen Sixties.

Better of the remaining

The resort’s different eating places and bars embody outposts of notable worldwide eateries.

Like its Paris namesake, Cafe Laperouse serves basic French fare in luxurious surrounds and is housed in a jewellery boxlike pavilion within the resort’s central courtroom with a trippy mirrored roof.

Close by, Paper Moon slings Milanese aperitivi and northern Italian dishes. A franchise of Langosteria may also open quickly.

Third-generation sushi grasp Endo Kazutoshi oversees each the izakaya-style, 25-seat Kioku Bar on the bottom flooring and the top-floor Kioku by Endo, which serves recent sashimi and sushi together with spectacular views of town, particularly from its outside terrace and the personal eating room ensconced in one of many constructing’s turrets.

Lastly, the resort’s wellness companion, Pillar Wellbeing, has a wholesome restaurant on the bottom flooring that serves smoothies and fresh-squeezed juices, espresso and tea drinks, savory snacks and extra throughout breakfast and lunch.

Facilities and repair at Raffles London at The OWO

Though you would possibly get your steps in exploring London and its many sights, the resort’s huge wellness middle includes 27,000 sq. toes throughout 4 underground ranges.

The 2-story Pillar Wellbeing portion features a gymnasium and motion studios for yoga and stretching classes, plus a 65-foot indoor pool with superbly lit, cloudlike wall paneling. The moist space additionally encompasses a vitality pool, a sauna and a steam room for visitor use.

Up two flooring from there, London’s first Guerlain Spa has 9 cocoonlike therapy rooms, however the expertise begins in a tranquil reception space with butterflies and flowers etched within the ceiling stucco. Together with a cup of lemon-lemongrass tea and a lavender-scented sizzling towel, spagoers are requested to smell via the famed fragrance home’s varied scents and choose the one that almost all fits their temper that day so their therapy could be tailor-made to it.

The signature experiences on supply embody the 90-minute Spirit of London LED light-therapy therapeutic massage ($385) and the 60- or 90-minute Black Orchid age reversal facial ($447 to $547).

L’Atelier Guerlain is sort of a miniature spa and wonder salon situated on the bottom flooring. There, guests can buy Guerlain merchandise and e book categorical magnificence remedies, in addition to hair styling and shade companies carried out by Salon64 hairdressers.

Although not fairly an amenity, a few of the extra uncommon experiences on the resort are the historic excursions supplied by its concierges. These begin from the concierge foyer, the place you would possibly spy hand-built Pashley bikes like messengers from the constructing’s heyday may need ridden round. You may additionally spot a monumental map on the wall of London from the seventeenth century and artist Saad Qureshi’s intricate sculpture Convocation depicting Britain’s complicated social and architectural heritage. These iron lamps? They have been constituted of captured German World Battle I cannons.

The subsequent informative cease will possible be the constructing’s central corridor. Make sure you rub the nostril of the lion sculpture on the correct banister for good luck, similar to Winston Churchill was stated to do every day earlier than ascending the steps to ship his morning briefing to the employees. The gilt clock on the touchdown was a present from former French President Charles de Gaulle to the British authorities for its assist in liberating France from the Nazis.

Different factors of curiosity alongside the tour would possibly embody a number of of the specialty suites, relying on occupancy. On mine, we have been capable of peek into 4 of them, the Churchill Suite, the place the Military Council would meet to plan campaigns, together with D-Day’s Operation Overlord. The inexperienced and gold damask wallpaper dates to the Thirties (see should you can nonetheless detect a whiff of cigar smoke), and the chairs are authentic, although reupholstered. The room additionally incorporates custom-made artwork items and crystal chandeliers.

Alongside the way in which, your information would possibly level out varied portraits of troopers and Battle Workplace staffers, discipline drawings from World Battle I and different artifacts housed within the resort’s artwork assortment, which additionally contains gorgeous up to date works by artists like Priya Sundaravalli and Colette LaVette.

The tour was actually a spotlight of my go to however just one occasion of how extremely hospitable the employees have been. My check-in course of ended up together with an in depth tour of the resort from the enthusiastic desk agent after I requested only a few questions in regards to the facilities.

It appeared like each maitre d’, server and sommelier knew me by title earlier than I even stepped right into a restaurant or bar, and every was solely too joyful to take time to elucidate the dishes and drinks whereas answering some other questions I had. Likewise, the parents within the spa and health middle have been delighted to point out me across the services despite the fact that I didn’t have an appointment. Briefly, from the second a bowler-hatted doorman took my suitcases to the time the entrance desk referred to as a taxi for my departure, I felt welcomed and brought care of however not fawned over.

Out and about

The resort is situated within the coronary heart of official London, only a quick stroll from the Homes of Parliament and Large Ben, in addition to Buckingham Palace through St. James’s Park in an space that’s populated by authorities ministries.

Meaning there’s not a ton of neighborhood stuff to talk of. However if you’re on the town for sightseeing, you possibly can attain Westminster Abbey by strolling about 10 minutes south of the resort. Make sure you cease on the way in which on the Imperial Battle Museum.

An identical stroll north brings you to Trafalgar Sq., The Nationwide Gallery and the Nationwide Portrait Gallery. Those that have a bit of extra pep of their step can attain the theaters of the West Finish and the outlets of Covent Backyard by strolling one other 10 minutes or so. Charing Cross, from which you’ll catch varied rail companies and the Tube, is a 10-minute stroll as effectively.

Accessibility at Raffles London at The OWO

Because of the truth that messengers would often use bicycles to navigate the two 1/2 miles of hallways on the OWO, the resort’s corridors are 10 toes vast and its public areas are wheelchair-accessible, and there’s a wheelchair-accessible entrance from the interior courtyard and no-step entrances to its varied eating places and lounges.

You may attain all flooring through elevators which have chair-height buttons. There are additionally accessible public restrooms. Whereas the pool space doesn’t have a everlasting chairlift, there’s a movable hoist that the employees can use to assist friends enter and exit the water.

The resort has 5 accessible-designated rooms and suites which have options equivalent to lowered rest room counters and beds, roll-in showers and seize bars within the bogs, and chair-height spyholes. Likewise, the spa and gymnasium have accessible lockers and restroom services, in addition to an accessible therapy room.

Trying out

Though you will discover motels in historic landmarks all around the world, the distinctive character of the Previous Battle Workplace constructing units the Raffles London at The OWO aside, not simply from different motels within the British capital, however from different luxurious motels throughout the globe. The palpable sense of historical past evident all over the place you go provides to the expertise of staying right here with out overwhelming current-day comforts, and the service is among the many greatest within the metropolis.

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