L’oscar

Housed in a former church, L’oscar embraces its Baroque origins with a decadent design that invites romance and intrigue.

Despite its status as one of the city’s most buzzed-about hotel openings of 2018, L’oscar feels intimate and discreet. Its entrance onto the hotel scene was greeted with much press and fanfare, but the building’s actual entrance on Southhampton row is anything but flashy. The hotel, situated in the central Holborn neighborhood, occupies the former London headquarters of the Baptist Church. Built between 1901 and 1903 in the “Edwardian Free Baroque” style, the church shuttered in the 1960s, and the space is now home to a hotel that has made headlines for its sexy atmosphere. Pervading the property is a bold sensuality that could make the building’s original occupants blush.

The hotel’s rich, romantic interiors—heavy fabrics and gilded surfaces abound—were dreamt up by the lauded Parisian architect and designer Jacques Garcia, known for his work on several hotels and restaurants in France. And indeed, the interiors seem to channel French romanticism more than British traditionalism (Duncan Shakeshaft, creator of L’oscar and the CEO of L’oscar International, described the aesthetic as “a seductive interior in a typically non-English style”). Every element—from the peacock motif throughout to the plush purple chairs at the Baptist Grill to the chandelier, bedecked with birds, that spans seven floors—feels decadent and theatrical, though the rich color palette of purple, gold and black can sometimes feel too dark.

This opulent atmosphere continues into the rooms, which range from subtler in design to the ultimate in Baroque decadence. Standard rooms are on the smaller side (approximately 182 to 215 square feet), but all rooms feature exquisite detailing and artistry, as well as access to 24-hour butler service. The 409-square-foot Duplex Suite has a balcony with panoramic views of the cityscape, while the signature L’oscar Suite is a spacious 700 square feet and features a striking marble and mirrored bathroom.

Restaurants include the formal Baptist Grill, set underneath a dramatic dome in a former Edwardian chapel, and Café L’oscar, inspired by the world’s oldest café (in Venice) and featuring a glowing onyx bar that serves excellent cocktails. Since opening, the hotel and the restaurants have earned rave reviews for their high-touch service.

Couples looking for a dramatic and romantic property in a central location.