London has so many good hotels that New Yorkers understandably feel a little underserved with our options at home. Where is our Claridge’s? We don’t even have the Plaza anymore! We get our revenge, as it were, by crossing the Atlantic and checking in and establishing ourselves at the bar. Everybody wins. The next great reason to head over is to check in at the superb St. Clement, at 180 the Thames, which opened early this month.
The people who love London know a good thing when they see one, and St. Clement had attracted attention all summer before it was even properly open, with one tabloid claiming the buzz has reached a “fever pitch.” This seriously ambitious project on the banks of the Thames from Soho House founder Nick Jones, and his partner, Mark Wadhwa, treats you like an adult. Yes, there’s anticipation, but the owners appreciate that if guests want action in public spaces, they want serenity in private.