Café Royal, London
David Chipperfield Architects

Led by David Chipperfield, the architectural team has masterfully bridged the gap between 21st-century modernity and the grandeur of the building’s historic interiors, dating back to the 1860s and 1920s.

Despite its unmistakable opulence, the Café Royal’s 159 rooms—including six designated “historic” suites—radiate a sense of calm and restrained elegance. Situated on Regent Street, just steps from Piccadilly Circus, the hotel merges timeless British character with contemporary appointments. The lobby, corridors, and suites evoke the atmosphere of a grand palace more than a hotel in the heart of a capital city. The famed “Grill Room” has been magnificently restored in Louis XVI style, while the standard rooms embrace a more urbane sobriety, grounded in classical stone detailing.

Chipperfield infuses the interiors with a distinctly London minimalism, referencing the geometric rhythms of Regent Street’s façades and translating them into the spatial language of the rooms. Bathrooms are appointed with luxurious Carrara marble, while oak parquet flooring and satin-finish brass doors add a sense of tactile sophistication.

FSB made a fitting contribution—both literally and figuratively—with its model 1004 lever handle, a design by David Chipperfield himself. The handle’s clean, modern lines resonate with the Café Royal’s architectural dialogue of historical luxury and contemporary restraint.