Explore Ham Yard Hotel, London

Tucked behind the neon signs of Piccadilly Circus in London’s Soho district is The Ham Yard Hotel. The lobby’s double doors invite you to a contemporary and eclectic wonderland curated by England’s own Kit Kemp. This hotel is the complete package: location, amenities, coziness and fine dining all under one roof.

Louis XV paintings, legume print wallpapers, and monkey textiles are a few details that help  encapsulate the vibe in the space. Hotel Hopping’s favorite amenities are the library- with an honesty bar (we’ll circle back to this) and the 1950’s style bowling alley. Just across from the check in desk is one of Ham Yard’s two libraries which feature an honesty bar.

Honesty Bar Instructions
1. Serve yourself a stiff one from the full bar.
2. Scribble name and room number.
3. Repeat.

The rooms are spacious and filled with natural light (don’t fret, the blackout shades behind the curtains work well) coming through floor to ceiling windows. Every room comes with modern amenities, beautiful ashy granite bathrooms, and a TV in the bathtub so you can watch BBC while taking a BB (bubble bath).

If you choose to leave the hotel- although there are a million reasons not to venture out- you’re set at the bottom of Regents street; perfectly placed to Mayfair and Soho. Stay out of London rain and enjoy a bite at The Ham Yard. The menu - though a bit pricey- is light, contemporary, and British. We recommend the Crab and Salmon fishcake with pickled cucumber and chili. The bar at the restaurant is lovely. Bar hack alert- the main restaurant’s bar can get a little busy on weekends. Avoid the line and follow the neon art collection downstairs where you’ll find the bowling alley bar where you can lace up and strike out, cocktail in hand. 

By: Christopher Menendez