What’s the vibe?
Staunchly British. Known guests at The Stafford London span athletes, musicians, stars, spies and royalty. David Beckham, Bing Crosby, Ronald Reagan, Bill Nighy and Dolly Parton (how’s that for a dinner-party line-up?) have all rested their well-known heads here.
Nancy Wake – the famed WWII spy and femme fatale known as ‘The White Mouse’ – resided at The Stafford for years. It’s also long been a favoured haunt of The Firm, having hosted royalty from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William to Prince Harry and Zara Tindall. Suffice it to say, you won’t be slumming it.
The Courtyard at The Stafford, adjoining The American Bar
The five-star hotel is knit seamlessly into its St James’s address. Tucked just south of Piccadilly and a short passageway from leafy Green Park, it occupies a cluster of 17th-century townhouses alongside a larger redbrick building with a storied past.
Beneath it all lies a disused WWII air raid shelter, now repurposed as a wine cellar, and legend has it there’s a tunnel connecting the hotel to St James’s Palace – which would certainly explain its enduring appeal to the Crown.
Once inside, the mood shifts from discreet to cosseting. Think of a typical suite as a London pied-à-terre with butlered polish rather than a showy penthouse: generous, separate living and sleeping areas, marble-and-chrome bathrooms and thick carpets, all tucked behind a private front door. Though you’re smack bang in the heart of the capital, it’s quiet enough to feel like a country retreat.
The Orkney scallop ceviche at Michael Caines at The Stafford
What to eat and drink?
Michael Caines MBE has taken over the space formerly occupied by The Game Bird. While there are whispers of the late restaurant (the fabled smoked salmon trolley is still making the rounds), Sir Michael has brought his signature fine-dining flair to the table. T
hose seeking something akin to Lympstone Manor can opt for the Signature Tasting Menu, an eight-course modern European journey through the best of British produce. Dishes often include Caines’ greatest hits – such as warm lobster salad with cardamom vinaigrette and pan-roasted Brixham turbot with shellfish chowder – alongside game and beef courses and polished, classically rooted desserts.
If the liquid matters more than the solid, make a beeline for The American Bar, festooned with pennants, jerseys, helmets, model aircraft and other transatlantic memorabilia.
One of London’s oldest American bars, it has long catered to Stateside regulars and St James’s drinkers alike, and continues to do so with offerings such as its New York Happy Meal: a bowl of golden chips and a high-powered martini guaranteed to leave you glowing, for £20.
For a deeper dive, the basement wine cellars host regular tastings and events.
The living room in the main house master suite
Simon Brown
What to do?
Step straight out onto Jermyn Street and you’re in the thick of one of London’s most civilised shopping strips. Start with a proper browse of the shirtmakers – Turnbull & Asser, Harvie & Hudson and New & Lingwood – before ducking into Floris, the city’s oldest perfumer, to sample fragrances still blended on site.
The arcade is also prime territory for quiet indulgences: pick up handmade cigars at Davidoff or stock up on Fortnum & Mason treats just around the corner. Green Park is moments away for a restorative stroll, while Piccadilly’s galleries, clubs and bookshops are all within easy ambling distance. Too buttoned up? It’s an easy 15-minute walk to Soho.
Rooms from £550; thestaffordlondon.com
