L'oscar
Wilde at heart
Old church, new devotions
Inspired by turn-of-the-century decadence and London’s dandiest playwright, L’oscar is a hotel that’s given to theatrics and partial to pleasure. Built in 1903, the Grade-II listed building was revived by designer Jacques Garcia, who restored marble fireplaces and oak-panelled walls, and added a seven-storey chandelier and a bar that glows like molten lava. Oscar Wilde thought that moderation was a fatal thing; seen through his eyes, L’oscar might just be London’s most life-affirming hotel.
Facilities
Rooms
39, including 18 suites.
Checkout
Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
More Details
Rates don’t include the hotel’s full English (£32). For a feather-light start, go for pastry chef's flaky croissants or seasonal feuilleté. Doing penance after last night’s revelery? Prevail upon the restorative powers of the Monte Cristo toastie.
Also
All the common areas are wheelchair accessible, as are some of the guest rooms. The hotel may need wheelchair measurements to ensure they can accommodate guests comfortably.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Pet Friendly
On-Site Restaurant
Room Service
At the Hotel
Free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV; minibar; Nespresso coffee machine; free bottled water and Lalique bath products.
Our Favourite Rooms
If you’re looking to splash, it has to be the L’oscar Suite. Unable to add a wall because of the ornate ceiling, Garcia divided the room using a vast silk screen – the sort that was fashionable among Victorian society. On one side, there’s a decadent bathroom with a deep soaking tub and marble shower; on the other, a super-king size bed, velvet furniture and one of the building’s finest fireplaces – a showpiece of wrought iron and decorative tile. Above it, there’s an original bas relief titled ‘Freedom from Sin’ – a final detail that would have made Oscar Wilde smile.
Packing Tips
Technically, there’s no need to dress up, but if there was ever a place to peacock…
Children
All ages are welcome, but the hotel’s rakish character makes it more of an adult affair. That said, toys can be provided for little Smiths and babysitting is available for £15 an hour; two days’ notice is needed. Extra beds start from £90 a night.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Pick one of the opulent corner tables and you’ll be able to survey the surrounding scene.
Dress Code
Mrs Smith could channel Mrs Cheveley, the femme fatale of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband. Mr Smith should think of a dandy after dark.
Hotel Restaurant
Inspired by a Venetian café said to be the oldest in the world, L’oscar Restaurant is a seductive affair sporting a mirrored ceiling, dark-purple panelling and a bar of backlit onyx. The menu combines the best of British produce with a globe-trotting array of flavours, often combined with aplomb. It's best to keep an eye out for the black cod miso and the desserts are equally worldly – try the port poached figs with blackberries and cardamom ice cream.
Last Orders
L'oscar Restaurant serves breakfast from 7am to 10.30am; all day dining from noon to 10.30pm; afternoon tea from 2.30pm to 5pm (12pm to 5pm on weekends).
Room Service
A reduced menu is available as room service from 10.30pm to 7am.
Planes
Touch down at London Heathrow for the quickest routes into the city. The Heathrow Express will whisk you to Paddington in 15 minutes; a car or taxi will take you about an hour if the traffic plays nicely.
Trains
All of London’s major stations are within easy reach. The most convenient is Kings Cross, where you’ll be able to hop straight onto the Piccadilly line, riding two stops to Holborn, a short stroll from L’oscar.
Automobiles
You won’t need a car if you’re staying at L’oscar, which could hardly be more central. The Tube has you covered within the city, and trains will take you further afield should you need them. If you do plan to drive, be aware that London traffic’s generally quite wretched, and the hotel’s within London’s Congestion Charge Zone – expect to pay £11.50 a day if driving between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Still want to hire? The Smith24 team can arrange it.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
The hotel’s historic character didn’t allow for a spa or pool, but it’s just 50 meters from Holborn Tube station and within walking distance of the West End, Soho and Covent Garden, putting a world of diversions on the doorstep. If L'oscar’s interiors have awakened an appetite for more splendour, pay a visit to Sir John Soane's Museum, the former home of its eponymous owner, one of the most famous architects of his day. Left exactly as it was when he died in 1837, the house is still bursting with Soane’s extraordinary collection of artifacts. It’s a real down-the-rabbit-hole experience, with rooms cycling through almost every artistic style that existed in his day. Among the curiosities you’ll find paintings by Turner and Hogarth; Grecian urns; secret rooms and a sarcophagus from the age of the Pharaohs. Once you’ve come out, go for a stroll around the courtyard of Lincoln's Inn, one of London’s prestigious Inns of Court. Were it not for the red brick and Porsches parked outside, this impressive set of buildings could easily pass for an Oxbridge college. Also within walking distance is the Royal Opera House, the West End – where drama of every description awaits – and the louche distractions of Soho, home to London’s most famous jazz bar, Ronnie Scott’s. Occupying a prime riverfront spot on the Strand, neoclassical palace Somerset House often tops lists of Londoners’ favourite buildings. Its gallery regularly plays host to some of the capital’s biggest art exhibitions, and its cobbled courtyard spurts into life when the fountains are turned on in spring.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
