SAN DOMENICO HOUSE

Sumptuous Chelsea townhouse splashed with Italian chic

A VOLUPTUOUS CHELSEA HIDEAWAY tucked away near Sloane Square, San Domenico House is a striking blend of elegant red-brick London townhouse splashed with opulent Italian.

Huge, lavishly furnished bedrooms - some with soaring ceilings - blend space and intimacy with flair, inviting you to draw down the shutters and maybe trade that night out on the town for an indulgent night in. Expensive designer fabrics, original paintings, rag-rolled walls and antiques collected by the owners around the world add to the feeling of cosseted luxury. Each is individually themed, and upper rooms  look over a vista of Chelsea's rooftops and gables.

Beds – many four-postered or canopied – are heaped with silken cushions, flouncy curtains spill onto the carpets while marble and chrome bathrooms with huge mirrors are generously stocked with Molton Brown bottles. Needless to say you’ll find all the digital gadgetry there too.

Chelsea rooftop views

There’s meticulous attention to detail throughout, while the warm fireplaces, gilded mirrors, books and cosy lamps – plus the odd quirky ornament – lend an expensively at-home feel. Immaculately-clad Italian staff are friendly and attentive, and you can enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea or drinks from the sunny rooftop terrace, with its brilliant views over the Chelsea rooftops.

Explore the King's Road stores, have a room-service dinner in your luxuriant quarters or hit some of the bars and restaurants in the vicinity. Flamboyant touches of Latino chic  are a reminder that the owners – who also run San Domenico Palace and Masseria Cimino in Puglia – hail from Italy. A good enough reason to plot your next trip south, perhaps.


San Domenico House was reviewed by Room for Romance

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Aside from breakfast, afternoon teas are served in the lounge and there's an extensive room service menu featuring both Italian and international dishes if you don't fancy dining out at night.

Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 11am.

Room service
Available until 9pm






See & Do
Walk through some of London's lovely royal parks, and hire a rowing boat on the Serpentine in the midst of Hyde Park – proposals are said to be legion here. Go west to historic Hampton Court or Kew Gardens, explore the little known Chelsea Physic Garden or walk through the fascinating Thomas Carlysle House on Cheyne Row.

Diary Dates
May
All things floral are centre stage at the big Chelsea Flower Show – assuming you can get tickets.

June
The Chelsea Festival kicks off with a broad menu of arts events – whether your taste is skinny guitar bands or Wagner

GETTING THERE

Location
Draycott Place, Chelsea, London SW3 2SH

Parking
There is parking 400 yards away if you must bring the car – approx GBP 40 per 24 hours

Tube and train
Nearest tube station is Sloane Square (Circle Line) – three minutes walk. Heathrow Express trains arrive at Paddington station.

Taxis
GBP 50-55 from Heathrow Airport

Airport
London Heathrow – 45 minutes, or London Gatwick – 90 minutes vis Victoria station

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
GBP 235 – 360

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
2pm

Check-out
12.00 midday

Minimum night stay?
No

Children
Welcome

Pets
No

Air conditioning
Yes

Wedding license?
No