London’s Great Scotland Yard Hotel Makes Being Bad Look Oh So Good

Great Scotland Yard Hotel had just opened when the world shut down — and you all know what I mean… the pandemic. And so, the opening was quieter than projected, but the hotel, as I was pleased to discover five years later, was just as beautiful and even more fantastic than I remembered from my first experience, when Haute Living shot Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright here for his role as Felix Leiter in the 007 flick No Time to Die. But now, there’s even more to love given that world-famous Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt opened his eponymous Ekstedt as a special evening eatery with the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Yard.  But what should you expect from a stay, and why do I recommend it? Read on!

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard

Location, location, location. Great Scotland Yard is in the beating heart of Westminster, minutes away from Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Covent Garden. It’s the best of every world, a quick walk in one of the most walkable cities in the world (and trust me, I know, I have walked almost every inch of The Big Smoke).

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard

Historical significance. The building that hosts this five-star hotel was once home to Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan police. What I found interesting is that many of its concepts celebrate the illicit or the bad, and in a way, that means it’s rewriting its history. There is an illicitness about speakeasy Síbín, and its main bar, 40 Elephants, actively celebrates a vintage-era band of female thieves.

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard

Accomodations. The best place to stay is actually adjacent to the hotel, and that’s The Townhouse — a luxury serviced two-bedroom residence filled with modern amenities and luxurious comforts. The five-story, 2,153 square-foot, two-bedroom stay was once a Georgian property that served as the former home to H.R.H. The King of Scotland. It features a spacious sitting area exuding a homely yet stylish feeling of warmth with designer furniture pieces and a generous-sized, bespoke desk; a fully equipped kitchenette, games room, and snug; walk-in, rainfall showers; and — my favorite — roll-top copper bathtubs.

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Interesting bars and restaurant concepts. In the evening, the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Yard, transforms into Ekstedt at The Yard. Here, Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt serves up a fiery Nordic-inspired menu using the finest seasonal British ingredients. When I arrived around New Year’s, there were cozy blankets and candlelights at each table, lending the restaurant loads of ambiance. For those who are adventurous and love fish (not Swedish fish, but kind of) try the tasting menu.

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

The 40 Elephants is the hub of the hotel, open all day until late serving everything from barista-served coffee to signature cocktails, local craft beers and ciders. It’s a place to roll up your sleeves and get social — and I love the story, in that it was named after an all-female crime collective — The Forty Thieves — who operated out of the Elephant and Castle area of London in the 19th and 20th centuries. During the latter, the gang was led by Alice Diamond, a.k.a. Diamond Annie. Try the Rags to Riches: Don Julio anejo, Amaro Santoni, Tokaji, and passion fruit, with champagne foam, and the Clever Club, made with Tanqueray gin, peach, rose water, citrus, sugar, and raspberries.

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

The Parlour offers an incredible afternoon tea, a multi-sensory experience (with vegan options for those who need it) designed to take guests on a journey through history, nobility, and perfumery with its Bouquet de La Reine afternoon tea in collaboration with royal-warranted perfumery, Floris London. There’s also a GSY-themed tea, inspired by the the first British Police Headquarters, with appropriately themed pastries. My experience was slightly different in that, as I came during the holidays, I experienced a festive tea, with adorable holiday-inspired and designed treats.

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Last but not least is Síbín. It’s a whisky bar hidden in plain sight, behind a mirrored wall in the hotel’s lobby. “Síbín” is an Irish word síbín that refers to an unlicensed bar or club that sold homemade whisky which originated in Ireland between 1780 and 1790. Here, the spirits are all legal, but the space still has that speakeasy cache due to its hidden nature. It’s a great spot that presents a fresh and inclusive approach to the world of whisky through a carefully curated and ever-changing selection. In addition to a slew of sipping whisky and Scotches, I recommend the Nightcup: Tromba anejo, Casamigos mezcal, elderflower, Pol Roger, grapefruit, and citrus.

Photo Credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

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Great Scotland Yard Hotel is located at 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN