Sofitel London St James

Prepare for a slight case of culture shock — the old Cox’s and King’s bank on the corner of Waterloo Place and Pall Mall, just around the corner from the Piccadilly Circus tube station, is now the place to go in London for a little taste of Paris. Today owned by the French Sofitel chain, it’s had a makeover courtesy of designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, and now sports a fine French brasserie.

Absent is the country-house look of the standard London luxury hotel — this one is contemporary and continental through and through. There is such a thing as five-star luxury without chintz and printed fabrics, and these rooms prove it, outfitted in smart, nearly monochrome color schemes with dark lacquered furniture against muted backgrounds, trading patterned wallpaper for black-and-white photographic prints.

Beneath the Art Deco surface you’ll find all the trappings of a state-of-the-art hotel, technological and otherwise: palatial bathrooms, flat-screen televisions, high-speed internet, spa and massage treatments and a full complement of business services. The Balcon brasserie is a worthy option, a popular spot for a business lunch, and the St. James Bar offers what’s purported to be London’s widest selection of both champagnes and cigars, in a space that’s patterned after Coco Chanel’s 1920s Paris apartment.

How to get there:
Sofitel London St James is a 6-minute walk from the Piccadilly Circus tube station. If you’re arriving from Heathrow Airport, the most convenient transfer option to central London is the Heathrow Express train, which leaves Heathrow Airport every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes to arrive at Paddington Station. One-way fares are available from £25 and round-trip fares from £37. By black cab, Sofitel London St James is approximately a 45-minute ride from Heathrow Airport (depending on traffic) and can cost upwards of £50.