29-31 Draycott Place, London, United Kingdom | (251) 219-4428
Quiet and convenient location, near King’s Road
Four-minute walk to Sloane Square Station
Occupies a pair of stunning Victorian townhouses
Art- and antique-filled rooms, some with a balcony or terrace
All include air-conditioning, minibars, and LED Smart TVs
Marble en-suite bathrooms with Penhaligon's toiletries
Posh lobby/lounge with wood-burning fireplaces
Small but sunny rooftop terrace
Bespoke room service menu
Free Wi-Fi throughout
No restaurant, bar, spa, or fitness facilities
No meeting rooms or business center
Rooms lack tea/coffeemakers
Ornate decor won’t appeal to minimalists
Breakfast costs extra
History buffs and hopeless romantics will be dazzled by the 19 individually decorated rooms that make up this opulent yet intimate luxury property in the heart of Chelsea. Housed in an ornate redbrick Victorian building, guest rooms incorporate original architectural elements with sumptuous furnishings and finishes. Modern comforts -- like LED Smart TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi -- are also plentiful. Some rooms even include a terrace or balcony. The downside is that there’s little in the way of luxe hotel features on the premises. If you love the lush look but want more amenities, consider The Milestone instead: Its on-site perks include a fine-dining restaurant plus a health club with spa facilities, a fitness room and resistance pool.
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Scene
A high-end heritage hotel with a low-key atmosphere
San Domenico House appeals mostly to refined vacationing couples -- and understandably so. After all, the location is tranquil, and the two Victorian townhouses that make up the hotel itself evoke Old World elegance. Outside, the gorgeous redbrick facade -- complete with a double-arched entry, gracious bay windows, and wee roof-top gables -- creates a striking first impression. Inside, the lobby and lounge areas are filled (some might say crammed) with original art, quality antiques, rich fabrics, and wood-burning fireplaces, which together set a tone that is at once hushed and homey yet undeniably opulent. Since there’s a dearth of other common areas (a teeny terrace and breakfast room are the only alternate places for guests to gather), the overall atmosphere here isn’t just discerning -- it is also very discreet.
Location
An elite urban retreat, just four minutes on foot from Sloane Square
Located next to the Spanish Consulate on a largely residential side street lined with stately Victorian townhouses, this hotel feels like a quiet enclave despite its proximity to bustling King’s Road. There's only a smattering of actual sites within strolling distance (the Saatchi Gallery and the beloved Victoria and Albert Museum being the most notable). But world-class shopping and dining opportunities are close by, and excellent public transportation links put the rest of the city in easy reach. Sloane Square’s tube station is a five-minute walk away, while South Kensington Station is 12 minutes. If traveling by limo is more your style, chauffeured service can be arranged directly through San Domenico House. Airport transfers to either Gatwick or Heathrow are also available.- Three-minute walk to the Saatchi Gallery
Rooms
Grandiose rooms combining historic appeal with contemporary comforts
The hotel offers accommodations in four categories, ranging in size from 194 to 430 square feet. All boast modern amenities like air-conditioning, minibars (alcohol-free), digital safes, Smart LED TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Befitting a heritage building, most have beautiful “bones” as well (picture high ceilings and heavy moldings); and some also come with added bonuses, such as balconies, terraces, or separate seating areas. However, it’s the decadent decor that really sets them apart. In each individually appointed option -- from the compact Classic Doubles right through to the spacious Junior Suites -- plush carpets, rich draperies and beautifully dressed beds (often canopy or cornet-style) create a suitably regal look, while vintage paintings, gilded accents and handsome pieces of antique furniture lend an air of authenticity that appeals to lovers of London's gilded past. The marble-trimmed bathrooms outfitted with walk-in showers or combination shower/tubs are plainer but still posh and come with welcome extras, including towel warmers, monogrammed robes and tempting Penhaligon's toiletries. Travelers with limited mobility should note that the hotel as a whole has relatively narrow corridors, and the bi-level Gallery Suites contain steep internal staircases.
Features
Expect attentive service but little else.
The big caveat here is that, due to the hotel’s diminutive size, there is a definite lack of facilities, particularly for this pearl level. So if a spa, a fitness room, a business center, or a bar is on your must-have list, you’d best look elsewhere. There is no in-house restaurant either; however, San Domenico House does feature a bottom-floor breakfast room where morning meals (either continental or English-style) are served at extra charge. There's also a bespoke room service menu that you can order from throughout the day, plus a beverage menu so you can enjoy a drink in your own digs. Travels can also take drinks on the property's sunny rooftop terrace that offers chimney-pot views, which could be the backdrop for a Mary Poppins revival. The presence of professional, personable staff is another upside: concierge services, secretarial support, and on-request babysitting are all available. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
