11 Cadogan Gardens

We’re fans of unique hotels of all styles and genres, and in Chelsea that’s less likely to mean a futuristic design experiment than a beautifully rendered tribute to Victorian-era living. 11 Cadogan Gardens is a row of four red-brick townhouses built by none other than Lord Chelsea himself, and joined together they’re a vibrant, stylish, and functionally modern 56-room luxury boutique hotel, with historical atmosphere to spare.

Each unit is genuinely different, and not just cosmetically — the 34 rooms, 22 suites, and six apartments retain their Victorian architecture, which makes for a wide variety of floor plans. The styles differ as well; some are roughly equal parts classic and contemporary, while the suites range from quite modern to decidedly antique. And while all the comforts of a proper luxury hotel are present as a matter of course, it’s all suffused with a warm, residential vibe that many a lesser hotel has tried and failed to reproduce.

Among the hotel’s greatest strengths is Hans’ Bar & Grill, where chef Stefanos Kariofyllis serves the sort of high-end, exquisitely sourced British fare that’s earned this once-maligned national cuisine a new measure of respect. There’s also a proper afternoon tea, served in the hotel’s cozy drawing room, and in addition to a capacious collection of wines there’s the Chelsea Bar, serving thoughtful cocktails in a beautifully theatrical space.