Find Some Christmas Fun At The Hotel Café Royal In London

London has no shortage of holiday spirit—even during Boris Johnson’s ‘Plan B’. From shop windows to lights draped across the street to Christmas trees in every hotel—London is a Christmas lover’s dream. And the Hotel Café Royal in the stylish Mayfair neighborhood has gone all out this year. Find out why you should visit the Hotel Café Royal for some Christmas fun.

Staying at the Hotel Café Royal

The Hotel Café Royal is located on the edge of Mayfair and Soho, perched overlooking Regent Street’s decadent Christmas decorations. The hotel’s design is a peculiarly endearing combination of new and old, as well as East and West. When you enter the lobby, you know you are in the heart of London, but as you walk down the hallways to your room, you may think you have teleported to Tokyo due to the seemingly Japanese inspired wood paneling and opaque paper screens.

The guest rooms are filled with modern furniture, funky artwork, and a few choice pops of color. However, the bathrooms are what truly impress. The term ‘marble bathroom’ does not do these justice—they are more like marble palaces with heated floors, his and her sinks, showers so spacious they invite company, and an abundance of Diptyque products.

However, if you opt for suite, you will also get a nice living area, large foyer and hopefully a lovely view. The overall design is much different than so many of the other hotels in the area, it is a refreshing break from old London, in exchange for a taste of what living in Mayfair is like today.

Cakes and Bubbles

However, whether you are staying at the Hotel Café Royal or not—the big news of the moment for the property is their holiday tea pop up. Dubbed ‘Cakes and Bubbles’, this festive happening features creations from the ‘world’s best pastry chef’ Albert Adrià. The dining room where Cakes and Bubbles is taking place is glistening in Christmassy gold décor, so it makes for an amusing spot to spend an afternoon all around.

The seriousness that typically accompanies afternoon tea in London is far out of sight and each bite is all about culinary excitement. You start with a chocolate cork, baklava pillow, golden egg flan and a strawberry marshmallow. You then move on to the “Rose”, which is literally a rose with a lychee, raspberry & rosewater edible bubble on top. And then finally, the main event is a “cheesecake”, which is quite a bit more savory than we are used to in the United States, as it is made with Baron Bigod Cheese, Hazelnuts & white chocolate.

And of course, when all of this is washed down with a glass or two of Veuve Clicquot what could be better?

Dining

Of course, the Hotel Café Royal has a few more dining options in addition to Cakes and Bubbles as well. Stop by the bar for some pre or post dinner drinks in a classically five-star hotel atmosphere. And in the morning it is always worth treating yourself to a decadent Full English—with rooms as lush as these you’ll want to order in to soak up the views, and to give yourself plenty of time to perhaps to enjoy an extra-long shower in those fabulous bathrooms before heading out to explore all that London has to offer this time of year.

Getting There

Getting to London from the United States is possible once again and thanks to Icelandair, the whole process is a breeze. Flying from many hubs in the US, Icelandair takes its Europe bound passengers through Iceland and then onto Europe.

Icelandair is one of the few airlines that allows you to either fly completely budget or in luxury—either way you can expect consistent service and convenient routes. However, if you opt for Saga Premium, you are in for a treat.

Saga guests enjoy a seasonally festive menu of food and drinks—complete with a gin library and a list of traditional Icelandic snacks and candies to sample throughout the flight. And during your layover in Iceland, you are welcome to use the Saga Lounge, which serves hot food all day long, as well as a selection of premium drinks. The space itself is quite enjoyable as well; the simple, yet ergonomic Icelandic design melts the stress of traveling away. And as long as you have your day-2 test booked and are fully vaccinated, you will be all set to enter the United Kingdom from the United States without issue.