100 Queens Gate Hotel review: Kensington townhouse hotel

Inside the 100 Queen's Gate hotel I was immediately greeted by a mix of eccentric artworks, fascinating curiosities, and an underlying sense of history. It has a few spaces that really do make for Instagramable moments with its stunning floral pieces and giant oriental vases.

It set the tone for what lies ahead – a captivating blend of class and charm, infused with an inviting casualness that made me feel right at home.

Originally constructed in the 1870s, the original townhouse was the former home of Victorian aristocrat William Alexander.

Outside the hotel at 100 Queens Gate (Image: Amy C)

Since then, 100 Queen's Gate has undergone a remarkable transformation and expansion into a cozy and personable hotel that oozes character.

It’s not hard to imagine that you're wandering through seven distinct townhouses, thanks to the stunning master staircases that gracefully flank either end of the property.

These staircases serve as reminder of the building's rich history and the outside of the building has the façade that everyone thinks about when you mention London – rows and rows of grand-looking shiny white homes.

Each of the suites at 100 Queen's Gate are masterpieces with curated art, furniture, and ornaments in each of the cosy spaces. During our stay, we had the privilege of experiencing one of the king duplex suites, spanning two floors with a separate living space, bedroom, and bathroom.

The living room space in the dulpex suite (Image: Amy C)

The suites are named after famous residents who once called this neighbourhood home- with ours named after Lord Baden Powell, adding an extra layer of historical richness to our stay.

It gave off a ‘dark academia ambience’, complete with a working fireplace, old books, a working retro radio, and even a map of the stars.

The upstairs bedroom featured a generously sized bed and a second TV in case someone has taken over downstairs, while a desk offered the perfect spot for makeup application or some work.

My only complaint was a slightly noisy air conditioning unit in the bedroom – as someone who is an incredibly fussy sleeper, it was a bit of a distraction at first when I was trying to drop off.

We were welcomed with fresh fruit, macaroons, and champagne in our room, setting the stage for a culinary journey that did not disappoint later that evening.

The hotel's restaurant, Cento (Image: QG)

The hotel's restaurant, Cento, showcases Italian cuisine at remarkably reasonable prices. The staff's personalised attention elevated our dining experience, as they expertly recommended wine after asking what we generally preferred.

Starters were delightful, with fragrant meatballs served on sourdough bread held a tomato-rich flavour that tantalized the taste buds. I chose fried aubergine, courgette and pepper pastellate which was a unique and light introduction to the meal.

For main I ordered a medium rare steak with peppercorn sauce which was cooked to just the right level whereas my partner had chicken Milanese, a regular favourite of his, which he happily labelled as “the best he’d ever had”.

Dinner and cocktails at the hotel (Image: Amy C)

Dessert was a real treat, featuring a sumptuous chocolate cake and a tiramisu alongside an espresso – a true Italian ending to a meal.

We finished our night feeling merry and concluded with two cocktails from the downstairs bar, ESQ, which felt a little like a secret speak easy complete with relaxing jazz music.

The mixologists here were enthusiastically sharing insights into the creative process behind each cocktail and offering glimpses into their exciting plans for upcoming menus.

The drinks managed to combine an element of theatre with an abundance of rich flavours, without either qualities overshadowing the other.

I tried the punchy Beach Comber whilst Ben went for The Last Samari, a show stopping Asian whisky cocktail displayed in a glass that I can only describe as something that looked like it came straight from a science lab.

ESQ (Image: QG)

100 Queens Gate is also perfectly positioned to explore the cultural treasures of South Kensington. Nearby attractions include London’s most famous museums, the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace – which we stumbled upon following checkout after a gentle walk around this gorgeous area.

For those seeking a truly special stay in London, 100 Queen's Gate welcomes with open arms and gives you a taste of history, class and home comforts – alongside staff that you make you feel like you’ve truly made some good friends whilst staying there.

Location: 100 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5AG