From caviar menus to dinner delivered by canoe, in-room dining is not only rising in popularity, it’s getting fancier too.
Remember when you’d arrive back at your hotel late, too tired to face the restaurant, and all you could order from room service was a sad-looking club sandwich or a wilting Caesar salad? Those days are well and truly behind us, because room service has gone A-star. Beneath those silver cloches you’ll find the very finest cuisine, offered across a host of imaginative, and utterly lavish, concepts. Whether you’re hankering after omakase, mezze or Beluga, it can be in your suite at the touch of a button. For extra luxe, ask for your own personal mixologist or a one-to-one concert while you eat. Welcome to the room service renaissance…
Raffles Doha
@rafflesdoha
Suite living at Raffles Doha
Familiar with the expression ‘breakfast of champions’? Raffles Doha may offer in-suite dining 24-7, but it’s the nine-course set morning menu that wins the gold medal. Lie back on the crisp high-thread-count bed sheets, as a butler lays out sumptuous dish after sumptuous dish. Feast on Qatari favourites such as foul medames (broad beans with chilli and garlic), sujuk pie and labneh with honey, as well as organic omelette, pancakes and all the viennoiserie. You may never want to eat again, but a visit to the spa or a gentle swim in the infinity pool and you’ll be thinking about dinner before we can say shakshouka.
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
@fschicago
Ice-cream galore for tots at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
If you’re a kid at heart or travelling with little ones in tow, you’re in for a sweet treat at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. When wee legs are tired from exploring the Magnificent Mile, the towering five-star has the perfect solution: an on-call ice-cream cart that will whip up the sundae of your dreams in your hotel room. The red-and-white striped trolley comes laden with toppings to spruce up your scoop, from gummy bears and mini marshmallows to sprinkles. Grown-ups get a look-in, too; just contact the concierge and ask for the mobile martini cart.
Cheval Blanc Paris
@chevalblancparis
Balcony breakfast in a Junior Suite at Cheval Blanc Paris (Image: Vincent Leroux)
Is there anywhere dreamier than the City of Light? Set on the banks of the Seine, a stone's throw from the Louvre, Cheval Blanc Paris will have your heart. The Dior Spa, the leafy rooftop garden and the Michelin three-star Plénitude are incroyable, but it’s the river panorama which seals the deal, with Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower in either direction. You’ve got a front row view of this cityscape from your room, so dial up the romance by dialling down for a Carte Blanche Ambassadeur to bring you dishes from downstairs. Whether classic French breakfast, goûter by the pastry chef or a gastronomic extravaganza, they will make it happen.
The Connaught, London
@theconnaught
The Chef’s Table at Hélène Darozze at The Connaught, London (Image: Jerome Galland)
The Connaught has forever been a byword for quiet elegance, whether in the supremely elegant David Collins-designed suites, Hélène Darroze’s starry restaurant or sipping negronis at the world-famous bar. Though you might get FOMO if you choose to dine solo (downstairs, it’s buzzy all the time), the in-room dining doesn’t disappoint. It features breakfast every way; all-day salads, seafood and wagyu steaks; and a spoilt-for-choice wine list. But it’s the Middle Eastern and Indian selection that shines, with hot and cold mezze, lamb okra, Old Delhi-style butter chicken, daals and chana masala.
Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
@atlantistheroyal
Caviar from Ariana's Persian Kitchen at Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
Dubai has long been the city of superlatives: the tallest skyscraper, the most gargantuan mall, a record-beating dancing fountain. It also plays host to the ritziest hotels on the planet, with Atlantis The Royal topping the bill. Here, 24-carat gold facials, Dolce&Gabbana parasols and 90 – yes, 90 – swimming pools are the norm, so it should come as no surprise that you can have whatever you like from the multiple restaurants and bars delivered to your room. But for real lavishness, order from the special caviar menu and your Beluga or Ossetra will arrive in minutes, served with egg whites, capers, sour cream and more.
Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa
@ic_boraborathalasso
Breakfast delivered as room service by traditional canoe at Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa (Image: Tim McKenna)
Fanning out over a lagoon so aquamarine it’s almost neon, Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is paradise defined. The resort is fringed by cream-coloured beaches and thriving forests, while the warm waters brim with marine life. Days here are spent underwater, on the waves or in the easygoing restaurants. If you’re looking to push the boat out, order 24-hour room service and have it delivered to your thatched overwater villa in a traditional outrigger canoe. Champagne and fresh mahi mahi on your own private terrace under the stars? No wonder this island is called the Pearl of the Pacific.
The Milestone Hotel & Residences, London
@milestone_hotel
A private concert from a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra trio at The Milestone hotel in London
Situated opposite Kensington Palace, everything about The Milestone Hotel & Residences is majestic. The rooms, suites and residences are individually and elaborately decorated with rich fabrics, antique furnishings and rare artworks. The attention to detail is regal, too – a big bowl of fresh flowers and Penhaligon’s toiletries here, a two-to-one staff-to-guest ratio there. Live like a king or queen and up the tempo of your in-suite dining by opting for a private Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recital, with a solo harpist or string trio playing all your favourite classical tunes while you eat.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
@waldorfbevhills
Room service breakfast in a suite at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
Since opening in 2017, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has delivered a polished spin on modern luxury. Think seamlessly integrated state-of-the-art technology, nothing-is-too-much-to-ask staff, even in-house SUVs to whisk you down Santa Monica Boulevard. They’ve raised the bar with their room service, too. Stay in a deluxe suite and you can have Mediterranean, French, Asian, Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Italian or American (phew) prepared fresh on your private terrace, while your own mixologist rustles up a cocktail. Upgrade by adding a personal butler or some in-room jazz.
Aman New York
@amannewyork
Sashimi starter at Aman New York (Image: Robert Rieger)
In keeping with Aman’s uber-zen ethos, the New York outpost is a soothing refuge within this high-energy city. Not least in the signature suites, where the subtle colour palette, mood lighting and spa-like bathrooms underscore the vibe. Here, of course, room service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, delivered to your room with charm and finesse. Bypass the in-room burger (though it still comes beneath a gleaming cloche) and opt for omakase instead, crafted by chef Takuma Yonemaru. Nigiri, sashimi, tempura and sushi served in the privacy of your own room. Amen to Aman.
