This post about our stay at The Savoy is part of my on-going work for Fairmont Hotels in partnership with Travel Mindset. All opinions and words are, as always, my own. Check out the first post in this series about my solo visit to San Francisco.

Danté and I recently had the pleasure of being guests at The Savoy for the weekend and it was such a “bucket list” item fulfilled for me. Not only to stay at a hotel that I used to only dream of being a guest at but also to do so with my love. I’m a fan of both The Savoy, a Fairmont-managed five star hotel, and Fairmont as a brand — so I was glad to know the property is part of the portfolio.

From the moment…

we walked around the corner to take in the hotel’s historic sign on top and the stunning Art Deco entry below — I knew we were going to enjoy our stay at The Savoy. Danté and I share a love of architecture, and Art Deco in particular.

We loved the fact that instead of being bogged down with a check in line, we gave our name and were escorted to our Suite right away to check in privately and in the comfort of what was to be our own space for two nights. Our Butler introduced himself soon after, and brought coffee service in the most beautiful china cups. Much needed to counteract the jet lag we were feeling having flown overnight from NYC.

Our SUITE overlooking The Thames, complete with my favorite Le Labo products, did not disappoint either and I think we both had a hard time getting over the fact that we could see half the city just while sitting in bed. We didn’t even need to stand at the enormous windows in both the living room and bedroom. So much to spoil us right there!

A quick exploration of the surrounding neighborhood and our side of The Thames (revealing gardens I somehow never knew about in all the time I called London my home base) and then it was time for dinner at Simpson’s In The Strand. So historic, so delicious, so.much.great.wine. I chose to make the images black and white here because the light in this historic restaurant, which is part of The Savoy and Fairmont collection now, is not amenable to the best photography. It’s too dim, too yellow — but WHO CARES when the experience is so wonderful!! I particularly loved their logo and branding. The carver uses the same tools which have been a part of the restaurant for decades (centuries even?) so it makes complete sense that they’re part of the logo as well.

After dinner, we followed a staircase to the second floor Speakeasy and had a last round of cocktails before collapsing in bed, the lights of London sparkling outside our window.

Happy. Grateful.

On the Saturday of our stay at The Savoy…

we chose to pack as much sightseeing as we could into the daylight hours and a brunch with our friends Live Share Travel on the South Bank. I loved the book fair, views of The Savoy across the river and the fact that it was so easy to get to from the hotel. A light walk, and an enjoyable one, just across the Golden Jubilee Bridge. We also went to the National Gallery, where Dante allowed me the chance to practice some long exposure photography while he posed amidst the stunning architecture; and Covent Garden, where we stopped to enjoy some live music and enjoyed seeing the variety of food vendors that have popped up in that area since my last visit to London.

We then squeezed in a visit to The Shard just before sunset, so that Dante could see all of London from high above the city. I’d been before but I had forgotten just how good the view is. Sadly, their windows desperately need a good cleaning so I only got one clear shot with my camera but I like that in it you can see Tower Bridge and the shadow of The Shard itself.

That night we had cocktails at both The American Bar and Beaufort Bar back in The Savoy and WOW did those experiences ever live up to expectation and then some. If you’re not a cocktail connoisseur, I can see how you might not feel the same way. However, if a good mixed drink is something you enjoy then this above all else is an experience you simply cannot miss at The Savoy. In particular, The American Bar was chosen to be # 2 on the 50 Best Bars in the World list for 2016. So don’t just take my word for it! Both menus are as beautiful as they are extensive and each tell a story that the drinks themselves expound upon. I particularly loved chatting with bartender Dominic at The American Bar. I think it’s another important aspect of a bar, when the person behind it is as entertaining to talk with as their cocktails are delicious.

Our last few hours in London…

were spent enjoying breakfast in The Savoy at Kaspar’s and wandering the halls to visit The Savoy Museum, the gorgeous gift shop slash chocolate shop and taking in the view of The Thames from our suite one last time. The water that morning was so still it looked like glass. I actually felt a little lump in my heart at the thought of having to leave.

Yet as was true with my visit to the Fairmont in San Francisco, I always know I will return to London. So it’s never goodbye, it’s just “see you later.”