Raffles London at The OWO

Raffles London occupies the Old War Office on Whitehall, a Grade II* listed building reborn as a hotel with nine restaurants and three bars. The interiors, led by Thierry W Despont, draw on the building's history while the event spaces carry a theatrical scale, anchored by the double-height Whitehall Ballroom with its seven-metre ceilings.

The Whitehall Ballroom is among the largest in central London and divides behind soundproofed walls, with built-in rigging points for lighting and sound that make it equally suited to a gala or a late-night party. The Lawrence Room handles mid-sized gatherings, while the Morse and Code rooms work for smaller dinners. For receptions with atmosphere, the Guards Bar and Lounge keeps its own street entrance, and the Spy Bar, set in two former MI5 and MI6 storage vaults numbered 006 and 007, offers a discreet and unusual setting for private drinks.

Michelin-starred dining from Mauro Colagreco — whose London restaurant holds a star, with the all-day Saison alongside — and a dedicated events team round out a property built for high-production private events that still want a sense of secrecy and occasion.