The Savoy Hotel in London has a long and rich history dating back to the late 1800s. It has been frequented by superstars and royalty over the years and has gained a solid reputation as one of the most luxurious and famous hotels in the UK — and even across the globe.

As a professional travel writer, I stayed at this hotel back in 2020 at the height of the global pandemic. This meant that I did not get to enjoy a proper Savoy experience for obvious reasons — the closure of some facilities and limited staffing due to Covid, among other things.

Two years later, we decided to try The Savoy again to better understand what this luxury hotel actually offers.

So, does it live up to the hype? Read on to learn more about what to expect while staying at this historic and unique London hotel. 

Pre-Visit Communication

As someone obsessed with the finer details, I always try to plan for every aspect of my visit. This is especially important when I am visiting hotels to carry out reviews.

After booking my trip, I sent many emails to various teams at The Savoy from the reservations team to ensure I had an Edwardian room to guest services to arrange bar bookings and restaurant bookings in advance.

Every member of staff I contacted at the hotel before we visited was extremely swift and efficient with their responses, including the lovely Stephanie from reservations and the very helpful Valentin.

Any requests were dealt with professionally and without any problems, which meant that everything ran smoothly once I arrived at the hotel. Even the general manager, Franck Arnold, was quick to message me back with answers to various questions.

One thing to note: When reviews are left for hotels on platforms such as TripAdvisor, some hotel managers/team members never respond or take feedback from the reviews seriously.

I have noticed with The Savoy that the general manager, Franck Arnold, does take every review on board and takes feedback from guests very seriously. He asks questions and is keen to learn more if there are issues, which I found very refreshing.

I had already discussed my last stay and review with Mr. Arnold, and it was clear that he was keen to learn more about any problems I had experienced. 

Based on my experience, you can be confident of getting speedy responses, answers, and resolutions to any queries or issues that you contact The Savoy team about prior to your stay.

This is reassuring, as there are many hotels where you end up waiting weeks for a response (or never receive one at all). 

Greeting and Check-In

When we arrived at the hotel, Tony, the doorman swiftly whisked away our suitcases. All the doormen at The Savoy operate with amazing efficiency to ensure the arrival process runs like clockwork.

The taxi had barely pulled up at the famous revolving doors before Tony was opening the doors and heaving out our luggage.

Upon entry into the beautiful lobby, we were greeted by a young man at the check-in desk. We arrived more than two hours early, and he informed us that the room was already prepared for us.

This was great to hear, and I suspect that if you email the hotel in advance to let them know about an earlier arrival, they will do everything they can to ensure the room is ready when you get there. 

Despite the room being ready early, we could not check in right away because we were running late for an appointment. So, we advised the staff that we would be back in an hour or two, which they said was fine.

When we returned, we were quickly checked in, given our room key cards, and taken to our room by the lovely lady who checked us in. She also pointed out the various facilities along the way, such as the American Bar, the Beaufort Bar, onsite restaurants, and more.

The check-in process, from arrival at the doors to being taken to our room, was very professional and efficient, and the greeting from the reception staff was warm and welcoming. 

Hotel Room

We had booked to stay in a Superior King room at The Savoy, but as we were taken to our room, we were informed that we had been upgraded to a room with a view.

The room was beautiful and elegant in décor. You can choose from Edwardian or art deco rooms, and we opted for the former when we booked by requesting it at the time of booking.

The room was very spacious with a lovely big (and comfortable) bed, windows that overlooked the Thames and the London Eye, a flat-screen TV, a Nespresso machine, a complimentary mini-bar, and even a lovely pumpkin pie waiting for us (it was Thanksgiving on the day we checked in).

I loved the timeless Edwardian style of the room — and the beautiful chandelier that added the perfect finishing touch.

The bathroom was stunning, with a free-standing clawfoot bath, classic black and white tiles, a range of amenities, and plenty of soft fluffy towels. The underfloor heating was delightful, and there was a separate spacious shower cubicle (although I opted for the lovely bath each day — perfect for a relaxing soak!) 

In terms of appearance and comfort, the rooms at The Savoy cannot be faulted. We were there for three nights, and it was so nice to have a space where you could move around freely and relax comfortably.

Onsite Restaurants/Bars

When it comes to onsite restaurants and bars, there are plenty of options at The Savoy, so you do not really have to leave the hotel during your stay if you want to simply relax.

We tried a range of onsite venues, including the famous Savoy Grill, the Beaufort Bar, the American Bar, and the River Restaurant.

Savoy Grill

When we stayed back in 2020, I did not have a very good experience at the Savoy Grill. This time, it was like we had stepped into a different place altogether.

The restaurant was much calmer, and the ambiance was far more aligned with a fine dining establishment. We were seated at a lovely booth table, and the staff was immediately attentive.

Our orders for drinks and food were taken as soon as we were ready, so there was no waiting around to get someone’s attention. At the same time, we did not feel rushed, and we were able to order some pre-dinner cocktails from the waiters before choosing our food. 

The food itself was absolutely delicious – and extremely filling! The flavour was spot-on – no extra seasoning needed, and this comes from someone who puts extra salt on everything! The portions do not look huge, but the food is so rich that larger portions would be impossible to eat. 

At one point, I inadvertently nearly dipped the bell sleeve of my top into my pasta dish while eating, and one of the waiters came rushing over to move my arm away slightly and avert disaster.

At the end of our meal, a member of staff came over with naughty-but-nice complimentary truffles, which were swiftly devoured. 

As a vegetarian dining with a vegan guest, both of our needs were catered to without any issues. We both agreed that this was a wonderful dining experience in terms of atmosphere, food, and service. 

Beaufort Bar

The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy is a lovely place for a few cocktails in glamorous surroundings. It is dark and a little Gothic in terms of appearance, and it boasts elegance and style when it comes to the décor.

We visited on a Friday evening, and there was a resident DJ playing. I do feel that the music was a little too clubby for the Beaufort Bar — it is the type of place where you would expect to hear live jazz or big-band music.

Nevertheless, the place was stunning, the cocktails were delicious, and the bar team was always ready to provide great service with a smile (and recommendations!). 

American Bar

Last time we stayed at The Savoy, the American Bar was closed due to the pandemic. So, our visit to this bar was a new experience — we actually visited the bar twice during our three nights at the hotel.

This bar has a more casual look and feels compared to the Beaufort Bar, and it is perfect for chilling out, listening to the live pianist, and enjoying excellent cocktails (my favourite was A New Beginning – sumptuous).

It can get very busy in this bar as it is hugely popular, so this is something to bear in mind if you do not have a booking. However, if you are staying at the hotel, you can email the team and reserve your table in advance, which is what I did.

On both occasions, service was on-point, and we enjoyed a very relaxing experience. 

River Restaurant

Another new experience for us at The Savoy was the River Restaurant.

As the name suggests, this restaurant offers excellent views of the river and surroundings from the large windows, so if you get a window seat, you can enjoy the views as you dine.

We were originally given a seat toward the back of the restaurant, but a member of staff came over and asked if we would like to be seated near the window.

We accepted the kind offer, and we were given a lovely table where we could enjoy the beautiful scenery outside.

This is primarily a seafood restaurant, so with us being vegetarian and vegan, the choices were more limited. However, we did find something to suit our tastes, although the first dish that came out for my guest was not vegan, as they accidentally put yoghurt on.

In fairness, the waiter did notice this himself as he placed the dish on the table and immediately whisked it away so that a vegan version could be brought out. 

While the menu was a little limited for us due to our dietary needs, I am sure that those who do eat seafood and meat would find plenty to choose from at this restaurant.

I opted simply for chips and peas as my meal, but my guest had a vegan aubergine dish and said that it was very nice. The service from our waiter was excellent, and he even brought us a free dessert each at the end of the meal. 

While the Savoy Grill was more decadent and luxurious in terms of food and overall experience, the River Restaurant is a great choice if you want something a little more casual. 

Room Service 

During our stay, we ordered a full breakfast from the in-room dining menu one morning. The menu is extensive, with something for everyone, so you should have no problem finding something to suit your palate at any time of the day or night.

We called down to order our breakfast, and our order was taken quickly and efficiently. We requested a specific time for our food, and it was delivered on time by a polite young man who set up the table for us by the window.

As expected, the food on the in-room dining menu at The Savoy does not come cheap, but the breakfast was delicious, varied, and with lots of little extras such as a bakery basket and fruit.

It was a very relaxing experience to sit in our room, take in stunning views, and enjoy the delicious breakfast — something you should aim to do at least once if you are staying here for a few days. 

Turndown Service

The turndown service at The Savoy was excellent; it felt like the housekeeping team breezed in and out magically whenever we left the room to clear up our mess!

Whenever we went out, even if it was for a short amount of time, we would come back to a wonderfully tidy room, a beautifully made bed, and little posh Savoy gifts left on the pillow.

The housekeeping team obviously worked hard, efficiently, and quickly but did not cut any corners as our room was always remarkably clean and tidy when we got back. 

Staff and Service

It was very nice to see the place buzzing with lots of staff members in all areas compared to our visit during the pandemic.

All employees that we encountered at the hotel were so professional and polite and always provided service with a smile.

From the team at reception when we checked in to the staff at the Beaufort and American Bar as well as the restaurant teams, the service and attitudes could not be faulted.

We even had the wonderful Restaurant Director Thierry come over to chat with us during our meal at the Savoy Grill. I must admit, I felt a little starstruck as he is something of a celebrity now!

With a luxury hotel such as The Savoy, excellent service is to be expected. I found that the staff at the hotel generally exceeded expectations to ensure customers had a great experience and got VIP treatment. 

Room Costs and Service Charges

As you would expect at this type of luxury establishment, a stay at The Savoy does not come cheap. However, one thing that is really great about this hotel is that it promises to price-match if you find the rooms cheaper elsewhere, and it lives up to that promise.

I did find the rooms cheaper on another site, and the reservations team price matched and offered an extra 10 percent without any issues. 

If you stay at the hotel, you will pay a 5 percent service charge on the room rate. Of course, this is a discretionary charge, and it is designed to ensure that members of staff who cannot be tipped in person do not miss out.

In London, many of the 5-star luxury hotels now charge an additional service charge on the room rate, so this is becoming common practice these days for high-end hotels in the capital. 

General Ambiance

The ambiance at the hotel in 2020 was lacking, but this was down to the impact of the pandemic rather than the hotel itself. This time around, I managed to enjoy the full experience, and the ambiance was wonderful.

The place was always buzzing with an air of excitement as guests and visitors walked through the doors. It was uplifting to come through the revolving doors and find yourself in the luxurious, elegant, and slightly quirky surroundings while soaking up the atmosphere. 

The bars at the hotel also boasted a great atmosphere and ambiance, particularly the American Bar, which was so relaxing and chilled out with the pianist and the lively chatter of the guests. 

When you first arrive at The Savoy, stepping into that unique atmosphere is exciting and fun. However, you get the same feeling each time you step back through the doors after going out.

We enjoyed the benefits of visiting during the festive season when the famous foyer was decorated for Christmas, and the huge tree was up. This added to the ambiance and buzz of the hotel. 

Overall Impression

My experience of The Savoy in 2020 was good but not excellent. However, this time around, I could not fault my stay at all.

Everything from the food and drinks to the service and atmosphere was wonderful.

The room was comfortable and stunning, the public areas were clean and beautifully decorated, and the unique charm and character of the hotel shone through. 

Summary

If you want to enjoy a unique and luxurious experience in the heart of central London, The Savoy is a wonderful place to visit. While it is an expensive hotel, it is well worth looking for lower prices online to see if they can match the price.

One thing I would recommend is that you plan to spend more time in the hotel rather than out and about, as there are many facilities onsite.

You can then make the most of your luxury stay and sample all that this fabulous hotel has to offer. 

About the author

Reno Charlton is a freelance writer from the UK and has been creating content, articles, and blog posts since 2002. She has written for a wide range of publications across the world including the Huffington Post, and her specialist area is travel writing.

Reno has traveled to destinations and stayed at hotels around the world over the course of her career, and has reviewed many luxury hotels to help fellow travelers. She is also the published author of several children's books and short stories. 

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