Could you imagine anything more opulent then a five-star Christmas? Leave the decorating to the experts, the cooking to Michelin-starred chef and just relax and enjoy the charm of the season. The Ritz London has been lavishing its unparalleled hospitality on its distinguished guests since 1906 when Swiss hotelier, César Ritz opened the doors.
The Ritz London is a world of its own. An oversized, exquisitely decorated Christmas tree welcomes you and stunning, high-ceiling corridors decked in Louis XVI style lead you to the famous Palm Court for high tea, to the Art Deco-style Rivoli Bar for a Manhattan from the Classic Ritz Cocktails menu and to The Ritz Restaurant for haute cuisine.
The Ritz London was the first hotel to be awarded a Royal Warrant by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for banqueting and catering services and Christmas is the perfect time to treat family, friends and yourself to a private, champagne-filled feast complete with luxury Christmas crackers.
If you’re feeling providential, make your way to the basement. The dimly lit and dazzling Ritz Club is the pièce de résistance – a Bond-worthy casino where you can try your skill, or luck at black jack, baccarat, poker and roulette. In our opinion, stylised casinos like this will always be a draw and a place to be seen. Even with the option of staying at home and playing in online casinos, which is very popular these days, there is still a mysterious and alluring aura that casinos like The Ritz Club evoke.
The impressive Franco-American building sits on Piccadilly, the main thoroughfare of London’s West End, bisecting two of the most affluent areas: Mayfair and St. James’s. Overlooking Green Park on one side and the bustling excitement of metropolitan London on another, The Ritz London, you could say, sits on the most enviable real estate in the British capital.
Luxury shopping is just over the road on Bond Street, but we recommend weaving your way into Shepherd Market for a little old-world magic. Buckingham Palace is visible just through the trees, St. James’s Palace is a few blocks away, Fortnum & Mason is a neighbour on Piccadilly and The Wolseley, arguably the best breakfast spot for VIP-spotting, is right next store.
Rooms, suites and signature suites are on offer. Keep it monarchical and stay in the The Royal Suite. Situated in the adjacent eighteenth-century mansion (the William Kent House) the lofty space is bi-level extravagance and features a grand drawing room, a private dining area and a large bedroom with two dressing rooms and a study.
