The Savoy

by Kat Parr Mackintosh (subscribe)

Young and coffee in varying degrees, Kat also says stuff @ThoroughlyMode

Published December 20th 2010

The Savoy is one of London's nicest buildings, as well as being one of London's premier hotels, since it opened in 1889. It's beauty comes from two eras, the Edwardian of its inception and the Art Deco of its heyday, and The Savoy's recent refurbishment is supposed to be taking into account the best of both those design aesthetics to create something even more special.

When the Savoy closed, in December 2007, a lot of its prized knobs and knockers were sold off, along with the large pieces of furniture and hundreds of tea sets (sets of Savoy jugs went at auction for £700.). This restoration wasn't just planned to be a tidy up of the facade, this has been one of the most ambitious in British history, costing circa £220 million. The intention being to 'do' it all: keeping the lobby and foyer's beautiful Edwardian graces, re-jigging the Art Deco stylings of the River Restaurant, and adding a few new features as well. The 268 rooms and suites have also been 'done' in a mix of both eras.

But most of us Londoners won't be staying there, we're more interested in the drinking and dining options this hotel provides. The grand news is that The American Bar, with its perfectly engineered cocktails, is back, as is the Thames Foyer, which is one of the best places to enjoy a perfectly arranged and served afternoon tea. And that wonderful winter garden gazebo that lets in all the light has been retained and improved – see the design pic for proof. The bad news for the people who snapped up those milk jugs for a £700 steal – with the re-opening they're opening a bijou tea store, where they're not just selling their carefully blended and internationally sourced signature teas, they're also selling their bespoke china...

The Savoy Grill is also back, a Gordon Ramsey Restaurant under head chef Andy Cook, who's said to be a little keen on the French way of doing things.

There's a new bar as well, called the Beaufort Bar, which is a more 'London bar'. It serves the same crisply perfect drinks - with more champagne options - in the perfect Art Deco surrounds, to the sultry background sound of cabaret.

One of the other additions to the Savoy's assets is a glass enclosed gym and pool that they've built on the roof. Not sure what era that is but it benefits from both form and function. But that's the Savoy for you, it will make you feel gorgeous and glorious.