They certainly don’t advertise it in the Penny Wise, but one of the most exclusive clubs in London has a few rooms at the inn. Or in this case, a few elegant suites that allow you to live like an Arts Club Member during your stay. This is the review of The Arts Club Hotel in London.
Atmosphere
London is the OG when it comes to high-brow private clubs, and The Arts Club will always be one of the top establishments. Like in life, there is always a cool, younger version arriving on the scene. But there will always be only one Cindy Crawford, which is where The Arts Club falls on the spectrum. I’ve been to The Arts Club over the many years since it opened. The scene has always been good, though it has gone through various iterations on the good spectrum. On my last visit a few months ago, I will say that the scene of beautiful and interesting people at the club has never been better. I had meetings for our travel show while I was in town. The London elite and those who are near impossible to lock down for meetings were more than happy to join me at The Arts.
One of the reasons The Arts will always be in style is because of their prime building in the heart of Mayfair. The Arts Club is in a multi-level townhouse, with three restaurants, a nightclub, and plenty of nooks and crannies to have a tête-à-tête. The gem of the building amongst many of the gorgeous rooms is actually the outdoor inner courtyard. It’s heated during the winter and like an Alice in Wonderland English garden during the summer. Either way, the common areas are where you want to be in The Arts Club. The Arts Club hotel, located on the top floors, gives a select few the opportunity to live like an Arts Club member during their stays.
Rooms
The Arts Club hotel is on the top two floors of the club’s townhouse. There are just a handful of rooms and suites, but they are done up to English simple perfection. The regular rooms are about 350-400 square feet but are a soothing sea of wood and neutral color palettes. I personally like to stay in the suites which have full sitting areas and some which have terraces. The baths are also generous in the suites where it’s a comfortable stay for a couple or even with friends sharing. The rooms of The Arts Club hotel are unique compared to a standard hotel room in London. When I stay at The Arts Club, I feel most like a local Londoner because the rooms feel like home.
Food + Beverage
Besides the art, architecture, and design of The Arts Club, people continue to come back for the food and beverage. I have had food beyond mediocrity in London lately, but the food is always excellent at The Arts Club. Their sushi restaurant, Kyubi, has some of the best sushi I’ve had anywhere in the world. It always surprises me that Kyubi isn’t even the busiest restaurant at The Club. That distinction goes to The Brasserie, which also encompasses the outdoor garden. The food is more European continental, with some English specialties like Devonshire crab. I always end up gorging myself on their crudo – with a side of French fries, of course. I eat both at Brasserie and Kyubi at least once during my stay.
Spa + Gym
Lanserhof, which is one of the top wellness centers in the world, hosts the spa and gym facilities for The Arts Club Hotel. It’s not within the building but rather right across the street in a multi-floor townhome. Inside, it’s decked out with state-of-the-art equipment but for me, the star is the spa. If you’re looking to go beyond skin deep on the treatments, Lanserhof gets to the heart of your health issues. You could create a wellness weekend for yourself at The Arts with Lanserhof as the anchor.
Service
One thing you will not have during your stay is a team that is all over you as a hotel guest. This isn’t to say that the hotel isn’t full-service, but you’re more independent on your own as a hotel guest. The Arts Club may have a handful of hotel rooms, but they are not a hotel. That, however, completely changes in the restaurants and the lounges as I’ve met people I still stay in touch with. Whenever I stay or eat at The Arts Club, it reminds me how far behind service in the U.S. lags. The people in the restaurants are one of the reasons I love to stay at The Arts Club Hotel in London.
Overall: 8.8/10
One of my favorite go-to places to stay in London.
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FAQs
Q: Where is The Arts Club London located?
A: The Arts Club London is located at 40 Dover St, London W1S 4NP, United Kingdom.
Q: Can you stay at The Arts Club Hotel if you are not a member?
A: The answer to this is no, and yes. The Arts Club only allows members and their friends to stay at the Arts Club Hotel within the club. However, for select individuals who are referred in, you can stay at The Arts Club hotel as a non-member.
Q: Does The Arts Club Hotel have a gym and spa?
A: The Arts Club Hotel’s gym and spa are located across the street from the main building at the Lanserhof.
