Discover the newly renovated Garden Room at The Lanesborough

Spring is finally starting to bloom in Knightsbridge. And one institution that is filled with a sense of joy and newness is five-star hotel The Lanesborough, which has unveiled the first phase of a multi-million-pound refurbishment of its Garden Room.

The Garden Room at The Lanesborough is one of London’s finest cigar and whisky lounges, designed as a tranquil city oasis to enjoy all year round. Officially launching on 20 March, the Temporary Garden Room pop-up has been conceived as an elegant interim setting that offers guests an early glimpse of the new vision, which will open permanently in July.

The refurbishment has been overseen by award-winning international design firm 1508 London, who were also at the helm of the recent Lanesborough Spa renovation project. Commenting on the task of ‘reimagining The Garden Room’, Ayomide Ogundeyin, designer at 1508 London, says the intention was to ‘capture the hotel’s historic charm while reinforcing its timeless elegance’.

‘We enhanced the space with warm timber tones and thoughtfully layered materials, creating an atmosphere of refined comfort that invites guests to relax and feel immersed in the surrounding greenery,’ she explains.

The Garden Room is a discreet hideaway that draws inspiration from nearby Hyde Park as well as the luxury world of cigars. It is an outdoor space but covered to adapt to the seasons and provide shelter from the predictably unpredictable British weather.

The spirit-led drinks menu includes fine champagne and rare whiskies, while the food is now overseen by executive chef Shay Cooper. Innovative dishes are designed to complement the drinks and cigars, with highlights such as British farmhouse cheeses and charcuterie, sea bass ceviche with miso and yuzu aioli and Native lobster brioche rolls with kimchi and fennel.

Cuban-born Yeni Momblan is the newly appointed head of cigars at The Garden Room and is one of only a handful of female cigar sommeliers in London. She brings years of experience, Cuban heritage and authenticity to the new space. It houses one of the most distinguished collections of Habanos in the capital, including rare and limited-edition cigars.

And while the temporary space offers a tantalising preview, the full unveiling this summer promises to cement The Garden Room’s status as one of London’s most refined destinations.

The Garden Room at The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA