Hotel Opera

Hotel Sanders markets itself on discretion, personalised service, and a “curated stay” experience. My recent four-night visit fell far short of all three. Shortly after arrival, a personal incident was handled by front desk staff in a way that left me feeling my privacy had been seriously compromised. Details of that interaction — highly specific, private information — were subsequently raised with me by multiple members of staff, including a waiter, who had no conceivable reason to be privy to them. Rather than feeling like a valued guest, I felt gossiped about, watched, and deeply uncomfortable throughout my stay. As a result I was unable to enjoy the hotel’s dining, common areas, or amenities — the very things I had paid a premium for. Beyond the privacy concerns, the staff were notably young and inexperienced. When I asked for dining and entertainment recommendations — a basic expectation at any luxury property, let alone one that promises a curated experience — I received little help. I ultimately had to visit a neighbouring hotel, Hotel d’Angleterre, to get concierge assistance. The overall atmosphere felt more like a summer camp than a luxury hotel. The rooftop conservatory, one of the property’s signature spaces, was also closed on two of my four evenings with no explanation. On one occasion I was told I could “take a quick look but not stay.” On the billing front, the full cost of my stay was charged to my card on the day of arrival without my knowledge or prior notice. This is not standard practice at any hotel, luxury or otherwise. I also had to repeatedly request an invoice before leaving — I was told it would be emailed — and it never was. When I raised my concerns formally, it took three separate emails to reach the General Manager, with guest relations staff acting as gatekeepers throughout. Once I did reach her, she was dismissive and declined to offer any resolution or goodwill gesture despite conducting two internal reviews. For the price point, the gap between what is promised and what is delivered is significant. I would not return and cannot recommend.

Atmospheric describes this hotel. Candles everywhere and the dining room with the retractable roof has to be seen to be believed. The staff were excellent and friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. I thoroughly recommend this hotel.

From the moment we set foot into Hotel Sanders we were enchanted. A lot of careful thought has gone into to the design of this hotel - from the comfortable and stylish restaurants and seating areas to the textured wallpaper and deep colours in restrooms and corridors to the (small) stylish bedrooms. Delicious breakfast and THE most delightful staff made our long weekend stay exquisite.