"The great advantage of a hotel is that it's a great refuge from home life" - George Bernard Shaw

Your home away from home - Hotel Rafayel continues its streak in building its reputation as it inches towards the 3,000-mark, with 2,801 reviews!

Guest reviews

“Fabulous Hotel”
Excellent on all levels, and when arrived we where told that a 50% discount was given in the restaurant for two courses for those staying at the hotel. We used this offer and wasn't disappointed at all. Far better than a Jamie Oliver experience in the past and can't wait to come back to try other dishes on the menu!!! The NY Cheesecake with chillie chocolate is to DIE FOR!!!! Even though I really didn't have enough room for it!!

“Friendliest staff”

Friendlyest staff ever seen! Excellent service, superb rooms, good restaurant. Special thanks to reception ladies! You were outstanding. Will definetly use the hotel for all my next stops in London.

“Hidden Gem”
We were very surprised at how good Hotel Rafayel was. The standard of our room was excellent and we found all the staff to be helpful.

“Beautiful hotel”

Beautiful hotel, friendly staff, couldn't ask for more, our room was very spacious and comfortable. Some reviews implied it was out of the way, but the bus service was from the door and excellent, it was a pleasant walk over the river to the centre, or if neither of those options suited, the staff offered to take us to the train station in the hotel car. We thought the location was great. Also, the hotel website doesn't make a song and dance about all the offers available, but the staff are careful to ensure you benefit from them, especially half price on food in the restaurant and half price on spa treatments. These make the hotel really good value for such a lovely place and it's a really nice restaurant and spa. Would stay again.

“Stunning Hotel”

Service
…Have to say the service was excellent - from the warm welcome on arrival, to my bags being taken to the room, very helpful and informed reception staff, more than happy to go the extra mile to make your stay enjoyable. They also stored my friends luggage for them after to check-out to collect later in the day.

Rooms
Absolutely lovely. Large, spacious, well thought out. Very contemporary, so if you are a fan of floral this isn't the place for you. My room had a partial river view, but my friends had a direct view of the storage facility. Luckily the view isn't the reason these rooms are great!!! Bathroom massive. Double size walk in shower, toilet, bidet (!) and my room had a bath too with LCD tv at the end of the tub. Spotlessly clean. Plenty of towels. Robes. Minibar in room, wired internet access and a TV bigger than mine at home…

“You have three choices in London”

Choice 1. stay in at a premier inn type hotel, no facilities, no style, not cheap.
Choice 2. stay in an old edwardian hotel room, small, poor service, in need or refurbishment, not cheap.
Choice 3. Search out a Gem like Rafayel.

Stayed 3 nights, wish it were more, this is why:
Its very modern, clean, contempary, everything works, right on the river in a great spot opposite Chelsea, quiet and relaxing. Yet, easy to commute, excellent courtesy tube/station drop off service (Ali), but also on a direct bus route 170 from Victoria.

The rooms are huge including the beds and bathrooms, free wifi, plug in any audio visual device, 40" TV, english and continental sockets, full drinks bar and safe, air con.

Spa & fitness area, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi for hotel guests. Visited every evening after the city tour. Beauty treatments available 50% off for guests.

We ate at the restaurant 2 nights, the food is a fusion of asian and continentals styles which was absolutely fabulous, fish curry, pasta ricotta, again guests have 50% off.

No hesitation in recommending, no need to be disappointed again. This is a small hotel greedy to please its guests.

“Lovely spa, food & stay; easily accessible to Victoria station”

… Had a fabulous stay here, we picked it for having a spa; because it looked good on the website; but a big reason was the price. It seemed really good value compared to similar London hotels & we wanted a base to do some relaxation/spa type stuff but also go to the theatre & galleries etc in London. I was aware it was not as Central as some BUT I have to say to anyone considering it, it is a lot more accessible than the reviews make it sound. The bus stop is right in front of the hotel & this bus runs to & from Victoria every 8-10 mins until 1am-ish; Victoria has the tube, the buses & the mainline train station all there. You are at Victoria within 10-15 minutes. If posh shopping in Chelsea (Kings Rd) is your thing you are really near to that. Bit further away you have Knightsbridge, more posh shopping & museums.

The staff here were lovely - hub had mentioned when phoning to book a table for dinner that it was my birthday, we arrived in our room to a card signed by staff & 2 cupcakes from the boutique bakery in the hotel, so I was won over straightaway. The service was always unobtrusive, polite but friendly & good humoured.

Another massive bonus is the not very well advertised discounts for hotel guests - 50% off spa treatments; 50% off restaurant food when you eat 2+ courses. The food in Banyan on Thames was SO nice; good choices & the fish courry I had was so delicious; also good cocktail 'Rafayel'…

Would definitely recommend the hotel for a city break that is relaxing, a bit of bling & great quality service & style at a good price…

Latest reviews on Banyan on the Thames

“This restaurant is in a beautiful location overlooking the river and we parked right outside the door. The service was excellent and the food was first rate. There was a fusion of Asian and international cuisine. Our choices were well presented. The crab dish was exceptional and the fish curry delicious. With the 50% off food it was great value for money and we will be returning for another special occasion.” – Foodie – Overall rating: 8.7

“Yet another lovely evening on friday at Banyan on the Thames. We all agreed it was even better than before, from the extremely helpful doorman assissting with parking - to all the restaurant staff who were friendly and attentive. The food was delicious and beautifully presented - and excellent value with the 50% two course a la carte menu! Will certainly be visiting again.” – Foodie – Overall rating: 9.0

“banyan on the thames is very nice location,very pleasant staff and attentive . food was nice and presented very well.steaks especially nice. drinks on the dearer side.Very nice evening and pleasamt overall experience.” – Gastronaut – Overall rating: 7.3

“It was the third time we'd been to Banyan on the Thames in London SW11. The food has always been great quality and excellent value. The service is friendly and attentive without being over-the-top. If there's one complaint, it's that it's so prompt, you barely get time to digest the starter before the main arrives!” – Anonymous – Overall rating: 7.8