At Sloane

A game-changer for Chelsea and Sloane Square, this welcoming, discreet property is the showpiece of talented creatives with time and resources to create an undeniably British space, with a touch of Parisian flair.

The intimate private dining space in the top-floor restaurant, fitting up to four people in a romantic cupola. The lighting throughout the hotel, a mix of candles, antique Benson lamps, chic chandeliers and dimmers. The downstairs speakeasy bar, equally a draw for Chelsea locals and visitors to the capital. In two private tables in the bar, guests can draw the Loro Piana cashmere curtains closed for more privacy.

Outside At Sloane, which is only steps away (and world apart) from the Sloane Square tube station in Chelsea, only a single friendly doorman announces the fact that this is a hotel. Upon entering the 30-room property, which opened in 2023, there is a sense of being transported to a more beautiful, peaceful world.

One of the first things you notice are the candles–Scandi-style gold candlesticks are everywhere–in the speakeasy bar downstairs, on tables in cozy corners. Original Benson lamps hang throughout the hotel, further adding to the romantic lighting. The reception room consists of cozy corners and window seats, plus bookcases filled with art, fashion, and design books; the reception team sits at a long black table that feels like someone’s exquisite dining room table. Above the reception table is a mural of the London sky, evoking the sky above Sloane Square.

The hotel is owned by the Cadogan Estate (and Earl Cadogan), and designed by Francois-Joseph Graf (his projects include the Holland Park home of Valentino). The interiors are an extraordinary mix of English antiques and reproductions and a bit of French flair. Graf designed all the patterns on the rugs, furniture, and mosaic floors–he worked with a French stained-glass firm for the windows.

Everything inside was built from scratch, hidden behind the 1888 Victorian facade, a building designed by Edwin Thomas Hall, who also built London’s beloved Liberty department store. The Cadogan estate partnered with the team behind Hotel Costes in Paris but not to ride on the name–in fact, the Costes touch is almost irrelevant because At Sloane feels like its own singular experience. Still, the highly curated playlists, delicate scent, food menus, and very discreet sensually-driven touches like a “love” dimmer in the rooms and playing cards for intimate conversations, all echo the ethos of Costes, which is to enjoy the beauty and physicality of life to its fullest.

Rooms are airy and bright, with more of the signature touches–beautiful bookcases with curated selection, oversized tubs, a large minibar selection, and a mix of patterns everywhere–cashmere curtains are custom-made with Loro Piana fabric. Elegant wood closets evoke a train ride on the original Orient-Express.

You can call it buzzy–and it certainly is, particularly on weekend evenings for dinner in the top-floor restaurant. The restaurant is open to outside guests with a reservation; the speakeasy bar is open to walk-ins. But overall, At Sloane is subtle, lovely and welcoming–a showcase of a team of creatives with time and resources to create an irresistible space.

At a time when major brands are expanding in the capital, At Sloane stands apart as an extraordinary boutique option.

Those who love trying new boutique hotels–this is the hotel opening in London right now. There is no gym on-site, though guests can use a nearby facility with passes. This is a great hotel for couples on a responsibility-free London getaway.