A James Bond Bar, Liberace’s Piano + A Full Refresh: Inside The Dorchester’s Renovation

Photo Credit: The Dorchester Collection

Since 1931, The Dorchester has stood tall amongst the world’s most recognized and acclaimed hotels in the world. It certainly has set — and still sets — the standard for luxury hospitality in London. In fact, many say it embodies the gold standard. Perfectly situated in the heart of Mayfair, on the doorstep of Hyde Park, it is home to the three Michelin-star Alain Ducasse, Cantonese eatery, China Tang, as well as the traditionally British The Grill by Tom Booton, a legendary afternoon tea, world-class spa, and now, two exquisite news bars. Delve into the stay of a lifetime here, and learn all about this 5-star property’s fabulous refresh below!

Last year, TheDorchester unveiled the beginning of its head-to-toe refresh, which started with its ground level, and now includes four floors of the property, and will eventually extend to all of its rooms and suites.

The interiors have been reimagined by renowned interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon, with the intention of seamlessly blending its quintessential 1930s glamour with a contemporary edge. The design draws inspiration from the hotel’s prized position in Mayfair. Guests will now experience light-filled, thoughtfully composed rooms and suites designed in varying colorways inspired by an English garden, from pale leaf green and rose fog pink, to heather blue and lemon yellow. Spanish Alarwool custom woven carpets adorn rooms and corridors, in keeping with the hotel’s signature carpet style, and select suites feature headboards hand-painted by de Gournay, with the classically English Colefax and Fowler’s floral fabrics enhancing the walls and headboards in all guest rooms.

There are now 241 elegant rooms and suites — down by nine from 250 — which was to account for more spacious accommodations. Guests can now choose from 19 elegant room types ranging from Superior, Deluxe and Executive Park View Rooms to Executive Junior Suites, signature Dorchester Suites, Hyde Park Suites and more. These are in addition to the Oliver Messel Terrace Suite, which is protected by the hotel and retains its 1953 stylish origins.

The newly renovated rooms and suites feature fantastic updates such as sound proofing, an upgraded air conditioning system that allows for customizable temperature control, and an eco-friendly plumbing system, as well as upscale touches like Dyson hair dryers.

Pierre-Yves Rochon also redesigned the common areas of the hotel, including its famous Promenade, and to introduce new areas such as the glittering Artists’ Bar. It’s a marvel — the first thing guests see upon arrival, a cavernous room flanked by striking pillars and delicate white and soft sage green ceilings finished with gold leaf accents.

The furnishings complete the drama of the space with cornered blue sofas and flavescent yellow and deep pink chairs sitting neatly around dark oak wood tables, dotted with an original collection of contemporary artworks by British artists.

Fare such as delicate canapés will start a theatrical evening meal at The Promenade, from quail egg tartlets to lobster arancini paired with truffled eclairs, preparing the palate for a sumptuous selection of dishes. Seasonal British-caught fish and shellfish, from roast salmon to lobster cannelloni, will sit alongside a selection of robust mains such as the signature chicken & langoustine pie, Delica pumpkin & sage risotto, and Tournedos Aberdeen angus. To end the meal, indulgent deserts will include The Dorchester signature Crêpes Suzette, flambéed tableside.

It is also where the property serves its iconic afternoon tea, plates of perfectly prepared finger sandwiches, rich scones, and beautifully indulgent cakes. In the evenings, there is a musician who tinkles the ivories on a glittering piano formerly owned by none other than Liberace in the adjacent Artists’ Bar.

Entirely new spaces for The Dorchester include its new bars, Vesper Bar and Artists’ Bar. The former pays tribute to the hotel’s many connections with James Bond. Bond author Ian Fleming, who invented the Vesper Martini, stayed and dined at The Dorchester in the 1940s and throughout his life until he died in 1964. When William Boyd continued the Bond series with the novel ‘Solo’, Bond even wakes up in a suite at The Dorchester on his 45th birthday. During the 60s and 70s the production company for the James Bond films, EON, had an office at the hotel, and throughout its history, The Dorchester has hosted many press junkets for the films, welcoming all six James Bonds, 14 Bond Girls, four M’s, and nine Bond villains as guests of the hotel.

Here, the cocktail menu showcases both timeless and signature cocktails inspired by the hotel itself, curated by award-winning drinks connoisseur and head bartender Lucia Montanelli. Signature cocktails are inspired by moments of The Dorchester from The Gilded Three (motivated by the new artwork by Sophie Coryndon hanging within the lobby) to the Busterkeys cocktail named after Liberace’s first show name. To honor one of the hotel’s most loved guests, Elizabeth Taylor  — who stayed at the hotel 37 times throughout her life and signed her contract for ‘Cleopatra’ in the bath within the Harlequin Suite — the Bessie Mae cocktail recalls Taylor’s nickname ,and comes complete with ‘bath bubbles’ floating on top.

The bar’s new interior is inspired by the spirit and elegance of the 30s. The new layout allows for a dedicated Park Lane entrance and an outside terrace with views towards Hyde Park. Ornate design runs throughout the bar, including a 1930s Palladium leaf ceiling that creates a warm effect as martini hour transitions into the evening.

A series of Cecil Beaton pieces adorn the bar walls to honor a long-standing connection between the celebrated photographer/designer and the hotel. Some of Beaton’s original drawings and celebrity photography will be brought together with work by contemporary artists, such as Rosie Emmerson, who were inspired by both Beaton and the energy of that time. The Glass of Fashion cocktail sits proudly on the menu to represent Beaton’s work; it also happens to be the namesake of one his most famed books.

Then, there’s Artists’ Bar. It’s truly a site to behold, from the aforementioned mirrored piano to Lalique crystal designs of the bar itself. An original collection of artworks by artists working in Britain are prominently displayed throughout the bar, all of which showcase a celebration of London, mixing nature with urban landscapes, whilst portraying The Dorchester’s impact on the city and the famous figures associated with the hotel. Highlights of the collection include Ann Carrington’s work inspired by the Queen Elizabeth II postage stamp, creating a large scale silhouette of the late Queen using only mother of pearl buttons, painstakingly individually sewn by hand. At the opposite end of the bar, Ewan Eason has created an aerial view city map of the Hyde Park area of London, rendered entirely in gold leaf, with The Dorchester at its centre. As created by  Pierre-Yves Rochon, the room also features a dramatic mirrored ceiling, flanked by striking pillars along the length of the destination bar. The design encompasses The Dorchester’s charming eccentricities, with pastel blue seating dotted along the bar, circling a grand crystal chandelier, while signature patterned carpets swirl under foot.

Here, culinary director Martyn Nail has curated an elegant menu focusing on British-caught seafood to complement the cocktails and champagnes, with options including caviar, Irish rock and native oysters, potted shrimp, lobster cocktail, and seabass ceviche, as well as a selection of sashimi and sushi.

Cocktails, served tableside on bespoke trolleys to create a touch of theatre, will reflect the carefully curated collection of artwork that adorns the walls. The six signature cocktails draw take inspiration from the spectacular artwork on its walls, with ingredients mirroring the references and influences that each artist used to create their work. Petal Head is inspired by Amy Judd’s whimsical florals created with Stoli Elit, kumquat, Aperol, and passion fruit; and Stamp Duty, which references Ann Carrington’s iridescent of the Queen Elizabeth II postage stamp, features Doorly’s 3 Barbados rum, Drambuie, Oloroso sherry, lime, and homemade English breakfast tea butter syrup. Gilded Sun draws on the gold leaf and deliate tones of Sue Arrowsmith’s artwork, whilst Velvet Brown pays tribute to Maria Rivas’ elaborate collage of Elizabeth Taylor and The Dorchester with more exotic flavors. Time Remembered mimics Melanie Goemans’ painting by incorporating carefully selected herbs and fruit, whilst Ewan Eason’s map of London forms the basis of the City of Gold cocktail with the use of gold dust and lemon verbena cordial.

The culinary offerings here are pretty sensational as well. There isn’t much we can say about Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester that hasn’t already be said: the restaurant is perfection. It is housed is a serene, otherworldly space dedicated to the sheer pleasure of food. Here, Jean-Philippe Blondet masterfully executes the Alain Ducasse vision with his contemporary French fine dining, served for lunch, dinner and weekly tasting menus.

Then, there’s The Grill by Tom Booton, a glamorous, treasure-trove of a restaurant helmed by young talent Tom Booton, who shares his interpretation of a modern-day British grill, with a vibrant atmosphere to match. alongside the sommelier’s impressive wine list.

Meanwhile, China Tang extends an invitation to step in time to the sumptuous, golden age of Art Deco splendor, where a cocktail bar and traditional dim sum menu add extra intrigue to the mix. This is the spot to enjoy fresh, authentic Cantonese cuisine served in beautifully glamorous surrounding, likened to a subterranean jewel box of adventure.

The Dorchester also launched Cake & Flowers last year, a eatery dedicated to showcasing stunning patisserie and floristry, with its own entrance on the Deanery Street corner of the hotel. The visionaries behind the upcoming Cake & Flowers boutique are The Dorchester’s in-house designer florist Philip Hammond and executive pastry chef Michael Kwan.

Jewel-like interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon inspire joie de vivre, with mirrors, marble counters, and mosaic floors that create an atmosphere of gilded elegance and discerning opulence. Feature windows will come alive with captivating masterpieces that showcase the passion and mastery of The Dorchester, and designed for guests to take creations directly from the display. Within, shelves and cases will be filled with edible delights; signature cakes to take away in chic packaging, uniquely presented gift hampers, floral bouquets, and a selection of champagnes and artisan chocolates.

Last but not least, there’s the spa. The Dorchster Spa is a gorgeous, tranquil retreat with healing soundwave chairs for ultimate relaxation in its lounge, sun-and-moon patterned doors, an aromatic steam room, and an ethereal, pink and cream changing rooms.  Guests can luxuriate in the world-renowned powers of ishga, Valmont, and Carol Joy London in one of nine treatment rooms. It now also features a new collaboration with award-winning doctor in cosmetic and aesthetic treatments Dr. Uliana Gout, founder of Harley Street’s London Aesthetic Medicine (LAM) Clinic, awarded Best Clinic London 2021-2023.

Gout, who was awarded the Practitioner of the year 2022 (Aesthetic Medicine awards), is a world-renowned pioneer and thought leader in evidence-based aesthetic medicine and will be introducing her cosmetic expertise to The Dorchester Spa. She has curated a LAM Luxe menu of cosmetic treatments that embody the philosophy of “revealing your unique and natural beauty whilst making you look and feel your best.”

A menu highlight, exclusive to The Dorchester, is The LAM Luxe Celebrity, the ultimate combination of enhanced hydration, smoothness, and tightening. The LAM Luxe Celebrity Facial infuses skin with a unique blend of pure hydrating molecules to help optimise smoothness and pore refinement. M-mode Radio Frequency is used to help tighten and enhance facial contours, followed by Dr Gout’s signature LAM Exosome infusion technique to promote hydration and plump skin by delivering an Exosome cocktail deeper into the skin using Electroporation. The treatment ends with anti-inflammatory red LED and a hydrating mask for extra sparkle and glow.