Flemings Mayfair

Let’s be clear right at the outset that the neighborhood in which Flemings Mayfair makes its home is the classic Mayfair, the accessible Mayfair, the down-to-earth Mayfair — not the chilly neighborhood whose streets seem to be populated exclusively by German-made saloons and their military-trained drivers, loitering outside discreetly hidden hedge funds, but the neighborhood that stitches together the best things about London: picturesque residential charm, classic architecture, and close proximity to the parks, the sights, and some phenomenal shopping.

So it’s fitting that Flemings Mayfair has kept a sense of perspective about itself. It’s posh, but not aggressively exclusive; stylish, but not overcooked; and while it’s unapologetically high-end it’s not quite stratospheric. Simply put, you don’t have to own property in Mayfair to stay here. It’s stitched together from thirteen connected Georgian townhouses, which means it comes by its classic atmosphere honestly. And while the décor is definitely contemporary, it’s got the feeling of an evolution rather than a revolution — the interiors do no disservice to the architecture that surrounds them.

And while a lot of hotels claim to offer something for everyone, rarely do they actually span the range from an honest-to-goodness single room, up under the eaves, to an entire seven-bedroom townhouse, to whose guests we apologize unreservedly for the jealousy-tinged comments in the preceding paragraphs. Most of us will be staying in something in an intermediate category, where the rooms are relatively spacious by local standards, and not at all unstylish. (The bathrooms are a touch on the traditional side, in contrast with the modern vogue for showers the size of squash courts.)

Ormer Mayfair, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, showcases the cuisine of Sofian Msetfi, and has been awarded a MICHELIN Star for its trouble. Lighter fare is available in the lounge and the Drawing Room, the latter offering beverages soft and hard as well as daily afternoon tea in partnership with the East India Tea Company. And you’ll want to get out and about, as well — with Hyde Park and Green Park on two sides of the hotel, and the West End close at hand, you’re in one of London’s most desirable locations. And it’s worth noting that skincare wizard Pietro Simone’s London clinic has been brought under Flemings Mayfair’s roof.