Rosewood The Chancery London – First Look Review

Discover Rosewood The Chancery, London’s newest five-star hotel in Mayfair. A suite-only property blending Eero Saarinen architecture with Joseph Dirand interiors, Asaya Spa, and eight restaurants including Carbone. First look review.

London doesn’t lack five-star hotels, but every so often a newcomer arrives that shifts the conversation. Rosewood The Chancery, opening August 19, 2025, is one of those. Tucked into Grosvenor Square in the heart of Mayfair, it reimagines the former U.S. Embassy as a suite-only sanctuary where light, texture, and discretion are the real luxuries. I had the cnance to visit on my most recent trip to London. Here are my thoughts:

A Sense of Place in Mayfair

Rosewood’s guiding ethos has always been “A Sense of Place,” and The Chancery embodies it beautifully. The Grade II–listed building, originally designed by Eero Saarinen, has been reinterpreted by David Chipperfield with interiors by Joseph Dirand. Portland stone and embassy gravitas on the outside give way to American walnut, suede, and geometric midcentury furnishings inside. The palette—creams, greens, and burnt orange—creates warmth without fuss.

Because no construction can crowd the neighboring U.S. Embassy, natural light pours in. Suites and public areas feel expansive and luminous, a rare quality in central London where many luxury hotels lean heavy and dark. British art fills the walls, with a few American nods to the building’s past, and a rooftop eagle sculpted from a B-52 bomber seals the connection to history.

Suites Only, and They Mean It

There are 144 suites—no standard rooms. The entry point is already generous at 544 square feet, while the top-tier Houses exceed 4,000 square feet, complete with terraces, fireplaces, and private dining. Many suites have full kitchens and studies, and the building allows entire wings of up to 10 suites to be sealed off for groups or families who prize privacy. Every bathroom has a separate tub and shower, every shower faces a view.

From the Mews Junior Suites with their balconies over Mayfair rooftops to the Grand Premier Suites with dual-aspect views, the layouts feel thoughtful and residential. The Chancery and London Signature Suites (1,787 sq ft) add kitchens, dining for six, and butler service. At the very top, the Elizabeth House offers over 3,700 sq ft of private residential-style living plus access to the Windsor Suite at Heathrow.

Dining and Social Life

There are eight restaurants and bars, anchored by Serra (breakfast and all-day dining), Jacqueline (tea lounge), and GSQ (grab-and-go). New York’s Carbone opens mid-September, and Tobi Masa brings modern Japanese dining in September as well. With 350 outdoor seats across venues, it has more al fresco space than almost any other luxury hotel in Mayfair.

Importantly, the design differentiates between residents and external visitors. Guests dining at restaurants enter separately, so hotel residents keep their privacy.

Asaya Wellness

The Asaya Spa (exclusive to Rosewood) offers five treatment rooms, a large pool with family hours, sauna, steam, and jacuzzi. The gym is spacious, sandstone-toned, and features the first Pilates reformer in a London hotel. It’s luxurious without being ostentatious—exactly in line with the rest of the property.

Who It’s For

The Chancery is tailored for leisure travelers, VIPs, and design-conscious guests who value privacy, space, and service delivered without theatrics. Families will appreciate the suite layouts and connectivity, while executives and long-stay guests will find the kitchens and studies genuinely useful.

It’s less suited to travelers who crave historic formality or a buzzy social lobby scene—that’s what Claridge’s or The Corinthia are for. The Chancery is the choice when you want Mayfair calm, natural light, and a contemporary interpretation of British luxury.

The Competitive Context

London luxury is never one-size-fits-all. In Mayfair alone you’ll find the theatrical glamour of Claridge’s, the hushed heritage of The Connaught, and the clubby charm of Brown’s. The Peninsula London brings formality and grandeur in Belgravia, while Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is smaller, sleek, and modern. The Chancery distinguishes itself by being entirely suites, with residential layouts, modern British design, and an unusually abundant sense of light and space.

It doesn’t try to outshine its neighbors—it offers something different, and deeply personal.