The Dorchester is many things: a grand dame of London’s hotel scene, a beacon of gilded glamour opulence, of posh, British glamour. It’s the kind of place where your taxi driver raises an eyebrow and says, “Very nice…” with the reverence of someone who knows full well that the average person doesn’t casually drop in for a spot of lunch here. But most importantly, The Dorchester is somewhat of a paradox. A hotel of twinned identities – part unapologetic throwback, part quietly determined changemaker. And never have we seen a five-star, London establishment embrace its duality quite so gracefully.
Let’s begin with addressing the elephant in the lobby.
There was a time, not so long ago, when The Dorchester was boycotted by many, especially the LGBTQ+ community. The ownership, connected to the Brunei Sultanate, announced regressive laws back in the Southeast Asian nation, sending ripples of anger and heartbreak across the world. The backlash was swift, and rightly so. No glittering chandelier could distract from what was.
But time has passed. And what many may not know (or perhaps prefer not to update themselves on) is that The Dorchester, against the odds and perhaps against expectation, listened. It put in the legwork – hard, slow, sometimes invisible work – to ensure that the people inside its walls reflected values of inclusion; that LGBTQ+ guests (OutThere guests) not only felt welcome, but seen, celebrated and respected. While some rival hotels along Park Lane, with similarly problematic ownership structures, slip by under the radar, The Dorchester has done more than most to regain the trust of the community – supporting queer causes and raising underrepresented voices. It may never change who owns it. But it has shown that a hotel’s soul is actually shaped by those who run it. And here, there’s soul and inclusivity in spades. We’ve done our due diligence and frankly, we’re impressed.
Location-wise, The Dorchester sits on the gilded edge of Mayfair, hugging Hyde Park like an old friend. This spot has long been synonymous with affluence, refinement and a “rather” (said thickly and eloquently) particular brand of London prestige. But a stay in Park Lane for us was not just postcode porn… it gave us access. We were moments from Mayfair’s retail and gastronomical temptations, a short stroll from the Serpentine, and a ten-minute cab ride from queer Soho’s exuberant embrace (though, depending on the time of night, perhaps allow twenty).
Still, there’s something comforting about returning to The Dorchester after a long day flitting about London. The doormen in their top hats perform their entrances with theatrical panache, the lobby is a swirl of flowers, fragrances and a buzz of refinement. Afternoon tea here is sipped from bone china, while a grand piano tinkles the soundtrack to a delicate cucumber sandwich. Yet look closer and there’s more than just marble and monogrammed suitcases.
While it’s all still gorgeously polished, there’s an air of openness, a warmth behind the formality. There were hints of reinvention, done not in neon or TikTok trends, but in sophisticated nudges. During Pride, the hotel proudly hosted an event for us and our friends to celebrate, in its Martin Brudnizki reimagined Vesper bar.
And this quiet commitment to moving forward is everywhere. In its rooftop pop-ups, for instance – seasonal events that bring a burst of playful creativity to the skyline. One season it’s rosé and DJs, the next it’s whisky and wood-fired wonders.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
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| While you’re Out There |
| Just 15 minutes walk away is one of Mayfair’s best–kept secrets: the Royal Academy Print Room. Accessible only by appointment, this intimate gallery reveals works on paper from the Academy’s own collection, dating back to its foundation in 1768, with works of art often given by the artists themselves. They were intended to show the talents of the British School and provide inspiration for new generations of British artists. Here you can browse prints by Rembrandt, Goya and Hockney, rarely displayed to the public. You’ll step through a discrete courtyard into Burlington House’s most hushed, wood-panelled rooms. After your viewing, ask if you can slip up to the RA’s private rooftop terrace, where a handful of benches and potted olive trees offer a bird’s-eye glimpse of Piccadilly and the greenery of St James’s Park beyond. |
And we mentioned the Vesper Bar, named after James Bond’s original love (and that potent martini). It’s a contemporary space of velvet and mirrored surfaces and offers fine, mixed drinks. It’s where we spotted a young, up-and-coming actor sipping something impossibly green, sat beside a diplomat’s wife in cashmere. It’s London at its most deliciously unpredictable.
And as for the restaurants? The Grill by Tom Booton gives British cuisine a kind of glow-up – clever, confident, delicious and unexpectedly cool. China Tang, meanwhile, remains a flamboyant favourite: a haven of art deco decadence and Cantonese classics. And let’s not forget The Promenade, where breakfast is served with the same finesse as dinner.
But if the Dorchester’s public areas are where tradition meets twist, then nowhere is that more evident than in our Prestige Dorchester Suite. Here, gilded London’s seductive charm deals its design cards –high-ceilings, chandeliers, fireplaces, silks, brocades, embroidery, wood panelling and views over Hyde Park from turret windows, the works. But a light sense of 21st-century luxury has been poured delicately over the bones of tradition. Custom-designed furnishings – a low-slung pink sofa with clean lines, brown leather ottomans and a contemporary, glass sculptural coffee table – sit alongside contemporary art and fresh orchid arrangements, and a discreetly integrated minibar concealed behind sliding lacquered panels. Smart lighting throughout shifts seamlessly from warm daytime luminance to a cooler evening mood. The huge bathroom offered a sanctuary of white Carrara marble, and the dressing area, complete with dual walk-in wardrobes, made most of The Dorchester’s neighbours’ studio flats feel minuscule.
It all encapsulated everything The Dorchester is trying to be: reverent yet responsive. Heritage-meets-happening. It’s where you can sip 30-year-old whisky in a velvet robe while binge-watching Netflix on a screen the size of a minibus. The juxtaposition isn’t just delightful – it’s symbolic. A reflection of a hotel steeped in decades of ritual, now moving curiously and considerately into the future.
So, who checks in here? Well, certainly the kind of people who’ve “always stayed at The Dorchester”, patrons with a preference for legacy. But we do think that it’s become far more welcoming for a new generation of OutThere luxury seekers: diverse, curious and culturally attuned. It’s for the LGBTQ+ traveller who once felt unwelcome but now feels seen. For the fashion set seeking classic backdrops with modern flair. For the global citizen who wants a London hotel that’s both interesting and iconic, recognisable and relevant.
It’s not the city’s “trendiest” stay, mind. But it’s trying – and for many, that counts for a great deal.
In a world where hotels often mistake slickness for soul, The Dorchester manages to offer both. It remains firmly rooted in its past, but now with just enough movement to sway.
And frankly, we’ll toast to that. Preferably in the Vesper Bar, under glistening golden lights, with a vodka martini (shaken, not stirred) in hand.
Photography courtesy of Dorchester Collection
