The Savoy
Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, United Kingdom
The Story
London's most famous hotel opened in 1889 and has, in the century and a half since, hosted virtually every major Hollywood star who crossed the Atlantic. Charlie Chaplin stayed here on his controversial return visits to England after his exile from America. Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich passed through. Frank Sinatra made it his London hotel of choice, and Ava Gardner dined at the Savoy Grill during her London years. It is the kind of place where the guest book reads like a roll call of the twentieth century — and where, mercifully, the staff have always known how to keep a secret.
Marilyn, in a dress to remember
In 1956, Marilyn Monroe held a press conference at the Savoy during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier. By the most reliable accounts she wore a dress so tight that the assembled journalists forgot every question they had prepared. It is a small, perfect anecdote of a hotel that has spent more than a century playing host to people who turned simply arriving into an event.
" The reporters had their questions ready. Then Marilyn walked in, and not one of them could remember a single one.
The oldest cocktail bar in the world
The American Bar, which opened in the 1890s, claims to be the oldest surviving cocktail bar in the world. Its head bartenders have included some of the most influential mixologists in history, and the Art Deco interior is a masterclass in how a bar should look and feel. Frank Sinatra rated the Savoy thoroughly worth a visit even if you only came for a drink at the American Bar. Ava Gardner, who stayed here in 1956 while working with a speech coach for her role in Bhowani Junction, would no doubt have approved of raising a glass in her memory.
Signature Experiences
The American Bar
Opened in the 1890s, the American Bar claims to be the oldest surviving cocktail bar in the world. Its head bartenders have included some of the most influential mixologists in history, and the Art Deco interior is a masterclass in how a bar should look and feel.
The Savoy Grill
The hotel's storied restaurant, where Ava Gardner dined during her London years and where Noel Coward practically lived.
Famous Connections
Who Came Here
Plan Your Visit
Good to Know
- How to Book: Book direct at thesavoylondon.com or by phone. No reservation is needed to visit the American Bar, though booking a table ahead is wise.
- Best Time: Year-round.
- Accessibility: Contact the hotel directly to confirm accessible rooms and step-free access to the bars and restaurants.
- Tip: Come for a drink at the American Bar even if you are not staying — a martini there is considerably cheaper than a room and arguably just as memorable. The Savoy Grill is where Ava Gardner and Noel Coward once dined.
Nearby
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