The Chancery Rosewood & Rooftop Bar — Style Without Soul (Yet)

Set inside the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square, The Chancery Rosewood is, without question, an impressive reinvention of a historic landmark. Architecturally, it’s grand. The scale is ambitious. The intention is clear: to create a new cultural and social hub that blends heritage with contemporary luxury.

I was genuinely excited to experience it.

Before dinner at Carbone, I chose the Rosewood Rooftop Bar for pre-dinner drinks, expecting atmosphere, energy, and that intangible “London magic” that great spaces sometimes hold. Instead, I was surprised. Entry requires a £100 minimum spend per person, which immediately sets high expectations. The views are indeed beautiful — sweeping and cinematic — but the atmosphere was strangely flat. Quiet. Disconnected. A little lifeless.

The drinks were good. Well made. Thoughtfully presented, with olives and elegant details. The staff were extremely attentive — almost overly so — eager to please, trying very hard to create warmth in a space that hadn’t yet found its own rhythm.

And that, I think, is the issue.

The hotel itself is vast and pristine, but it still feels uninhabited. Unsettled. More like a beautifully staged set than a living, breathing place. It reminded me of some of the enormous, immaculate hotels in San Francisco — impressive to look at, but emotionally distant. Interestingly, the coffee shop downstairs felt far more alive. Relaxed. Human. More connected. It had the energy the rooftop lacked.

Would I spend £1,400 a night to stay here?

Honestly — no.

Not yet.

Luxury is not only about design, price, or prestige. It’s about atmosphere. Soul. How a place makes you feel. At the moment, The Chancery Rosewood feels cold rather than captivating. I believe it has enormous potential. With time, character, and a more accessible approach — especially reconsidering the rooftop’s minimum spend — it could become something special. Right now, it’s beautiful… but unfinished in spirit. And that matters.