Mandarin Oriental, London

Sitting on the edge of Hyde Park, the Mandarin Oriental—a turreted, red-brick Edwardian masterpiece—is the closest you’ll get to staying in an actual palace. Following a devastating fire in 2018, the hotel had to briefly shut its doors with all 141 rooms and 40 suites embarking on extensive renovations lasting more than two years.

Gone are the heavy floral curtains and lime-green throws. Without exception, all of the new room designs are much lighter, boating pale grey and deep-green velvet sofas complimented by gold Art Deco-style lampshades. Taking inspiration from the famous London park, the hotel’s designer Joyce Wang added forest greens alongside softer pastels. The carpets have been replaced with wooden floors, and there are little libraries curated by beloved bookseller Heywood Hill.

It’s no surprise that Mandarin Oriental has some of the world’s best chefs in its hotels. Here you will find Heston Blumenthal’s two Michelin-starred ‘Dinner’ restaurant. On the menu are chefs’ favourites dimpled mandarin-orange chicken-liver parfait and saffron risotto made with chicken stock and topped with calf tail.

There’s also the decadent and glamorous Mandarin Bar, where you will find a series of signature cocktails, inspired by the natural beauty of Hyde Park.