Defining Hidden Gems

And Finding a Special Home in London

Is there such a thing as a hidden gem in this day and age? With people traveling more than ever before, despite fluctuating economies and new challenges that arise with flying, nothing seems to be a true discovery. Even if I myself am forever on the hunt.

Recently in London, my sister-in-law Caroline introduced me to a extraordinary hotel, At Sloane, whose dining room she visits often as a local. After a lovely breakfast surrounded by sumptuous interiors and a working fireplace, we were given an impromptu tour by their gracious sales director.

Caroline in the Dining Room of At Sloane

A Victorian townhouse that describes itself as “a perfect blend of discreet British charm with Parisian flair,” discreet it is, as one could travel the edge of London’s Sloane Square and easily walk past it without a second glance, save for the lone, elegant gentleman standing outside, ready to welcome you beyond its doors.

Once inside, one feels as if in the private home of a well-traveled, cinephile couple with the finest of taste. There is no front desk, but a long dining table with coffee table books stacked on top, along with burning candles and fresh-cut roses. Here is check-in, surrounded by genuine antique Roman vases and bookcases filled with glossy, glamorous books on art or fashion or design of every kind. It’s an impressive yet warm entry, designed with aesthetes in mind.

The rooms are refined with luxurious touches throughout, restored antiques, trompe d’oeil paintings, exquisite custom mouldings on the ceilings and walls. In contrast, cinema’s well-known faces line the halls in striking black and white photography. Overall it is a very special, intimate space for a visitor who wants to feel like a guest in someone’s gorgeous home, instead of the transitory feel of a hotel.

Rooms and Lobby of At Sloane

At Sloane’s quiet yet inviting air led me to believe it a true hidden gem, a gem of the more exclusive, upscale kind. Until I discovered At Sloane is a hotel conceived by the hotelier Jean-Louis Costes— “renowned for his ability to craft seductive atmospheres and evocative spaces.” Having lingered many evenings at Paris’ Hotel Costes way back in my days in fashion, I can attest nothing he creates can be called a hidden gem! His style is distinctive and admired globally— his touch very evident here.

For so many of these reasons, and in my continuous search for the feeling of home in my travels, I currently call At Sloane one of my favorite hotels— whether it fits my own definition of “hidden gem” to date— or not.

At Sloane is located at 1 Sloane Gardens. If interested in booking for a future trip to London, please contact me directly for more information.