The honest review of Rosewood London

I've stayed here a few times and understand the critiques, but I still enjoy it overall — the porte-cochère alone makes it dramatic for a city hotel.

I find the building genuinely beautiful, especially that dramatic entrance courtyard, which isn't typical for a hotel in the middle of a city. I agree that Holborn Dining Room is underwhelming these days, but the cocktail bar, Scarfes, is quite good and worth prioritizing during any stay here.

The spa was just okay — buried in the basement with small robes and an awkward waiting area, but the massage itself was excellent.

This is still my favorite hotel overall, and I agree with the glowing reviews of service and the bar. But the spa is a mixed bag: it's tucked in the basement of a very old building, which I understand, but the robes run small and the waiting room only has reclining chairs, which felt a little awkward. On the plus side, guests can use the steam room and sauna free of charge, and the massage I had there was genuinely excellent, if pricey.

I keep coming back to this hotel every time I'm in London because the service is consistently top-notch.

They're always very attentive to my requests and preferences, stay after stay. On my most recent trip, Nicole from reception and Najum from concierge went out of their way to make sure everything ran smoothly throughout.

I found the room luxurious and housekeeping meticulous, but the human warmth I expect from a hotel like this just wasn't there.

There was no warm welcome from staff at the entrance or reception — no small talk, no real hospitality, just a bland transactional feel. On more than one occasion staff spoke directly to my husband without acknowledging me or making eye contact, which felt genuinely uncomfortable. Breakfast was also mediocre, with limited weekday options and only a buffet on weekends.

I've stayed at plenty of five-star hotels and this one still sits at the top of my list.

The rooms were immaculate with daily checks by staff who topped up two water carafes every day without fail. People stationed outside the entrance greeted us and called taxis, and staff at every station felt genuinely warm and pleasant. Everything, from the on-site restaurants to the minibar, was well stocked and thoughtfully maintained.

I'm surprised more people don't talk about the location — it's technically central but sits in a bit of a no man's land between the real hotspots.

The hotel itself is perfectly nice, but it's too far to comfortably walk to Mayfair or Soho quickly, too far from the City for business, and the immediate neighborhood — aside from Lamb's Conduit Street — just isn't that special. Covent Garden is the closest real neighborhood, and it's mostly tourists and chain stores. If I were spending this kind of money I'd look at Chelsea, South Ken, Marylebone, or Mayfair instead. That said, Scarfes Bar really is one of the best in the world, so it's not all bad.

We booked through an agent, got upgraded to a Grand Premier suite, and found the Holborn location perfect for a theater-focused long weekend.

We were a party of three and paid around £3,000 for three nights in a suite with breakfast included — money well spent. Check-in was at 10:30am with a surprise upgrade, and the suite's bathroom-and-a-half layout worked great for three people. Holborn ended up being an easy 20-minute walk to all four theaters we visited, and the British Museum was just 10 minutes away. Breakfast at Holborn Dining Room offered full English, Chinese, Continental, or Wellness options, and the staff throughout were consistently lovely.

The service here is genuinely exceptional, but I found the rooms straight-up ugly and had one of my worst meals in London at the attached restaurant.

From arrival I could tell they take service seriously — a seamless handoff from doorman to check-in to butler, with the GM coming out personally to greet us. The concierge impressed me most: when he wasn't plugged into the theater scene himself, he pulled in colleagues to help secure last-minute tickets, which felt like genuine investment in our stay. But the room design just didn't land for me, and the restaurant attached to the hotel was a genuine low point of our whole London trip. Despite a long list of positives, the hotel never felt particularly dazzling.

Service here was a genuine 10/10 for us — friendly, attentive, and personal at every touchpoint over six nights.

We booked a Superior Suite through a travel advisor and got upgraded to a Premier Suite at check-in, with a card and chocolates waiting in the room. Reception staff chatted with us daily about our trip and always asked if we needed anything, and when I accidentally left the do-not-disturb light on, housekeeping emailed to check in rather than just skipping our room. In-room dining was used almost daily and was consistently professional, with breakfast arriving in about 25 minutes. The gin tasting at Holborn Dining Room was a fun touch, and overall this remains one of our favorite hotels anywhere.

We landed here after canceling an American loyalty hotel, and it was better value with a far superior experience across the board.

The arrival courtyard set back from the street gives real privacy — you get out of your car and let staff handle the bags without pedestrian traffic swirling around you. The building was formerly an insurance institution and it shows in the marble everywhere. We upgraded to a suite when I asked about larger rooms, and it was gorgeous with minimal, interesting art, though the bathroom layout was odd — essentially two half-baths instead of a proper 1.5-bath setup, meaning you had to walk through the whole suite to get from the toilet to the shower.

They got me into my room before 11am despite a 3pm check-in policy, and after that generous gesture, everything else felt like a bonus.

The room was spacious and comfortable, though the bathroom felt surprisingly compact for a hotel at this level, and storing the hairdryer in a bedside drawer because there was no bathroom outlet felt like an odd oversight. The hotel bar was a real highlight — excellent cocktails, atmosphere, and service. Breakfast was good but got repetitive after a couple of days, though the breakfast staff never dropped the ball on attentiveness. What really stood out was how fast every request got handled, whether pressing clothes or shining shoes — that speed and care defined the stay more than the minor shortcomings.

My niece took me here for my birthday afternoon tea, and honestly, it's the best I've had anywhere for ambience, presentation, and service combined.

The whole experience felt more like walking through an art exhibition than a traditional tea — every dish was beautifully presented, and the Monet-inspired pieces were brought to life in a way I can't imagine being done better. Our host Taylor was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable, and genuinely elevated the whole afternoon. Since it was my birthday, they surprised me with a small cake inspired by Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon,' which became one of the most memorable birthday cakes I've ever received.

This is a masterclass in luxury — the courtyard entrance sets a grand-yet-intimate tone that carries through the whole stay.

The location gives seamless access to Soho while still feeling like a sophisticated sanctuary tucked away from the bustle. Service was proactive and warm across every department, and the rooms were generously spacious with a character modern luxury hotels often lack. I had two breakfast options — the standard buffet was good but not exceptional, while breakfast in the Mirror Room was genuinely world-class and worth the upgrade. Scarfes Bar is a destination in its own right, ranked among the best bars in the world, with phenomenal live music every night that gives the whole property a vibrant, soulful energy.

If I could give half stars, I'd land at 4.5 out of 5 — the staff are wonderful, but a few things kept it from feeling flawless.

I stayed twice within six days on a layover and never scored an upgrade despite booking through Amex FHR both times — the second stay had a view of AC units and construction next door. The toilet sat right next to the shower entrance in a way that felt cramped, and there's no real luggage rack, just a stool at the foot of the bed. Welcome amenity was three mandarin oranges, and I was annoyed that the mandatory service charge on room and restaurant bills isn't covered by the hotel credit you're given, so you end up paying extra on top.

From the lobby to the room to breakfast, everything about my stay felt calm, elegant, and quietly luxurious despite being right in central London.

The lobby was stunning — elegant, spacious, filled with soft lighting that created a sense of calm the second I walked in. My room had a plush bed and a marble bathroom stocked with high-end amenities, and despite the central location, the atmosphere inside stayed quiet and peaceful. Breakfast at the Mirror Room was a genuine highlight with fresh ingredients and attentive service. It struck the perfect balance of British charm and modern sophistication.

Every interaction I had felt cold and dismissive, and staff spoke past me to my husband as if I wasn't there.

I reached out to guest relations to arrange birthday decorations, and they brought champagne we don't even drink instead of what I'd actually requested. Room service took over an hour each time, and the staff delivering it looked visibly annoyed. On three separate occasions there was no doorman available, and we got passive-aggressive calls about parking arrangements.