Sofitel London St James has drawn the curtain on its long-running renovation programme with the official opening of two flagship suites designed by celebrated Paris-based interior architecture studio Pierre-Yves Rochon.
Suite 70 and the Opera Suite represent the final phase of a project that has seen all six of the hotel’s signature suites completely reimagined. Four Prestige Suites are already open and taking bookings, and the two new arrivals complete the picture.
Both suites take their cues from the creative energy of 1970s London, though each interprets the decade in markedly different fashion. Suite 70 leans into the era’s musical and stage heritage with a bold palette of orange, deep green, brown, black and white. At its centre sits what the hotel calls the Experience Bar, a glamorous trunk-style drinks cabinet lined with vinyl records, while a vintage record player and saxophone add to the backstage atmosphere. Bespoke furnishings include pieces by Pierre Paulin, carpets by Edition 169 and bathroom fittings developed with Devon & Devon.
The Opera Suite takes a softer approach across a generous 109 square metres, with views over Waterloo Place. Its palette of nude, pale pink, taupe and ivory creates what the designers describe as a residential cocoon, furnished with Paulin armchairs, Knoll pieces including the iconic Tulip chair, and a striking pale pink suede headboard inspired by the sculptural forms of the decade. A bespoke art collection curated by consultancy VISTO features works by emerging and established artists reflecting both London’s cultural history and Sofitel’s French heritage.
The project forms part of a wider global investment programme across the Sofitel portfolio. Recent completions include properties in New York, Montreal and Sydney, with Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema scheduled to reopen later this year. The brand signed ten new properties in 2025, among them the world’s largest Sofitel in Makkah.
For business travellers, the five-star hotel’s broader offering remains firmly in place: Michelin-starred dining at Wild Honey St James, afternoon tea in the Rose Lounge, cocktails in the St James Bar, Diptyque amenities and the brand’s signature Sofitel MY BED. Its Pall Mall location, moments from St James’s and the West End, continues to make it one of central London’s most convenient luxury addresses.