The Ritz London
Opened by César Ritz in 1906, The Ritz London remains the city’s archetype of gilded grand-hotel luxury, facing Green Park with legendary afternoon tea and a two-Michelin-star dining room.
The Ritz London occupies a landmark Piccadilly address overlooking Green Park, with Mayfair, St James’s and Buckingham Palace all close at hand. Since opening in 1906, the hotel has become so closely associated with formal British luxury that its name effectively functions as shorthand for the concept.
Guest rooms and suites embrace Louis XVI-inspired decoration, marble bathrooms, rich fabrics and polished traditional service rather than chasing contemporary minimalism. Higher suites add sweeping Green Park views, formal sitting rooms and personalized Ritz Butler service.
The Palm Court remains one of the hotel’s defining rituals, serving the world-famous Ritz afternoon tea beneath ornate gilding and chandeliers. The Rivoli Bar offers a more intimate, jewel-box setting for cocktails.
The Ritz Restaurant has earned two Michelin stars and combines elaborate Belle Époque architecture with highly precise British cooking under executive chef John Williams. Dinner with live music and dancing on selected evenings preserves the property’s sense of occasion.
The Ritz is best for travelers who want London tradition performed at full volume. It is formal, theatrical and deeply polished, offering an experience that feels deliberately removed from the city’s newer design-driven luxury hotels.