Hidden away in a quiet corner of St. James’s, The Stafford London is one of the city’s most traditional luxury hotels. The American Bar, just steps from Dukes Bar and Green Park, draws a loyal mix of regulars and travelers who return year after year.During our stay, we saw political consultant James Carville catching up with the staff and a couple celebrating more than 50 years of visits.
The hotel is made up of several buildings, including a former private residence. We stayed in the Main House, where the suite was large, quiet, and traditionally styled. The furnishings felt formal but not stiff—patterned drapes, dark woods, and overstuffed chairs.
Don’t skip the full English breakfast in the main dining room. The service is excellent, and the waiters went out of their way to treat our son—even giving him corn to feed the squirrels in the park.
One of the coolest and most unique features of the property is its 17th-century wine cellar —among the oldest in London—which was used as an air raid shelter by Allied officers during World War II. Today, the caves house the hotel’s impressive wine collection and are sometimes used for private tastings or events.
Dinner at The Game Bird, the hotel’s main restaurant was a masterpiece of British cooking. The menu featured seasonal game and fish, with tableside touches that feel rare now, even in London. We started with a house-cured trout dish, then shared a beef-for-two that came with a rich game pie baked into the side of the dish.
Dessert was a decadent layer cake, consisting of an impressive number of chocolate and icing layers and paired with one of the most interesting wines of the evening.
Throughout the meal, we appreciated that the wine pairings weren’t overly safe. There was a clear curiosity in exploring lesser-known producers and regions. The selections felt thoughtful and a little unexpected for a restaurant of this caliber—not just big-name bottles, but wines chosen with real intention.
The Stafford is definitely not for the flashy or design-obsessed. It’s for guests who want discreet service, a strong Martini at its exceptional The American Bar, and a sense that the staff remembers you.
Note: The Stafford London provided support for the reporting of this story.