The weight of history is palpable here. Not in a dusty, museum-piece way, but as a living, breathing presence. You walk the same corridors where Churchill plotted, where spies whispered secrets, and now, where Raffles at The OWO has redefined London grandeur. More than a hotel; it’s a power play, a place where the echoes of empire meet the sleek lines of contemporary luxury – a sophisticated reinterpretation of a British icon.
Quite simply, OWO stands for the ‘Old War Office’, once the nerve centre of the British Empire, it now pulses with a different kind of energy – where discerning travellers find sanctuary. Raffles has taken this storied edifice and transformed it into a masterpiece of modern luxury, respecting its past while firmly anchoring it in the present.
Step inside, and you’re immediately struck by the sheer scale, the sense of history that hangs in the air. The design is a masterclass in subtlety, blending the building’s original grandeur with contemporary flair. The rooms and suites are sanctuaries of refined taste, each a study in understated elegance, with bespoke furnishings and state-of-the-art technology. It’s the kind of place where you feel both connected to history and utterly indulged.
Dining at The OWO is an experience in itself. Mauro Colagreco, a culinary maestro, has crafted menus that are both innovative and timeless, a reflection of the hotel’s own ethos. The bars, with their hushed atmosphere and expertly crafted cocktails, are the perfect setting for discreet rendezvous and late-night musings.
And then there’s the Guerlain Spa, a haven of tranquility in the heart of Whitehall. Here, ancient rituals meet modern science, offering bespoke treatments that rejuvenate both body and mind. It’s a reminder that true luxury is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about well-being, about finding balance in a world that often feels chaotic.
The location, of course, is impeccable. Whitehall, the seat of British power, is now your address. You’re a stone’s throw from Parliament, from Downing Street, from the very heart of London. A more refined address, there might not be—the nearby Buckingham Palace, excluded.
Raffles at The OWO is a place where history and modernity collide; where old power and new elegance now intertwine. It’s a testament to the enduring allure of London, a city that continues to reinvent itself, to redefine what it means to be truly sophisticated. This is London for the 21st century gentleman, a place where the past informs the present, and the future is always impeccably tailored.