London's famously affluent Mayfair district "has a high opinion of itself as a starchy enclave of wealth," as Frommer's guide to the city puts it. Signs of that prosperous pedigree include "hyperluxe bauble shops," "blue-blood heritage" sites, and "cushy hotels."
Among the cushiest: The Connaught, a luxury hotel that has been around since 1897, when it opened as the Coburg. (The name change happened during World War I, possibly because "Coburg" sounded too German.)
Over the years, the hotel has established itself as a landmark due to its "reputation for charm, courtesy, and discretion," according to the British design and lifestyle magazine Wallpaper*, which notes the hotel's traditional-meets-contemporary style, attentive butler service, award-winning gastronomy, and celebrity guests.
The magazine's editor-in-chief, Bill Prince, has authored a lush new coffee-table book about The Connaught, available now from luxury publisher Assouline ($120).
Scores of photos along with Prince's prose take you through the hotel's revolving doors and into its rich history, sumptuous suites, acclaimed bars and restaurants, and star-studded guest book for a glimpse of Mayfair extravagance without making you pay the four-figure overnight rate.
Below, you'll find a selection of images from the book, courtesy of the publisher.
Don't let the wood paneling and marble floors fool you. Contemporary art and design are in plentiful supply at The Connaught, from guest rooms incorporating sleek lines and stone surfaces to a 3,000-piece art collection including work by Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois, and Tadao Ando, who's responsible for the misting water feature just outside the hotel's entrance.
The Red Room
Despite having restaurants from renowned chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and the extravagantly Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze, The Connaught is probably best-known among epicures as the home of the Connaught Bar, a mainstay on best-bars-in-the-world lists and the birthplace of the "Martini Trolley" from which the platonic ideal of that cocktail is dispensed. (You can follow the recipe here.)
A newer bar onsite is the more intimate Red Room, where you can sample wines by the glass amid rose-tinted decor and art by "female visionaries."
Lobby staircase
The grand staircase in the lobby (pictured above in the late 1890s) is said to have impressed Ralph Lauren so much during a visit in the early 1970s that the fashion designer had a replica installed in his flagship store on New York City's Madison Avenue.
Famous guests
While we're on the subject of famous guests, a lengthy roster of royals, movie stars, politicians, and other notables have stayed at The Connaught. French president Charles de Gaulle, King Charles III (back when he was still Prince of Wales), Princess Diana (pictured above leaving The Connaught with her stepmother, Raine Spencer), Princess Grace of Monaco, Jack Nicholson, and Alec Guinness all paid visits at one time or another.
Famous service
One thing that keeps them coming back is the close attention customers get, thanks to a ratio of three staff members to every guest, according to Forbes. Senior doorman Carl Holness (pictured above) prides himself on welcoming back returning guests by name. "I am happy to say that so far I’ve welcomed everyone correctly," he says.
The King's Lodge
A handful of suites known as lodges each feature one-of-a-kind designs intended to convey a distinctive atmosphere. The King's Lodge incorporates intricate woodwork, stained glass, and carved marble to transport guests to a lavish Mughal court.
The Sutherland Suite
Though created by the same designer, Guy Oliver, the Sutherland Suite suggests a stately English manor with its 30-foot-long drawing room, parquet flooring, antique furnishings, and—why not?—soundproofed concert hall equipped with a 1909 Steinway grand piano.
The Connaught by Bill Prince is published by Assouline ($120) and is available now in bookstores and at Assouline.com.