Try this next time you are in London:

1. Dress like this: <Steve Jobs> in black turtleneck and blue jeans.
2. Go to the Savoy.
3. Go into the bar (not the lobby). Sit at the bar.
4. Try to order a drink.

I failed miserably. I would note that tasks 1-4 assumes you can actually get through the lobby and into the bar. This is not a good assumption.

Year ago, before The Connaught reconstruction, I was checking in amidst the opening party for the Marc Jacobs store on Mount Street. They whisked me in via the side door, handed me a glass of champagne and checked me in up in the room. Of course, I was invited to come downstairs and join the soiree. So, I went down in my American khakis and nice-ish shirt and guzzled more champagne and hung around with several dozen super models. My attire made me stick out like a sore thumb but that's part of the charm of the memory.

I haven't experienced it either. Including at the Savoy where I will go in and out of the lobby in my sneakers and casual clothes. I also ate breakfast wearing like that and also the bar. If I frequent their restaurants, then I will respect their dress code. The only property in London that I know that seems to be excessively obsessed about dress code is the Ritz.


It seems you have more than you fair share of such experience I recalled? Savoy, MO BKK and Park Hyatt Tokyo. Maybe you are extremely sloppily dressed? Or they just don't like you. LOL That said, lots of high end luxury casual hotels that have no dress code which will welcome you in open arms without any restriction of attire. :cool:^

Not quite, but your comments are reasonable. Let me clarify ...

On MO BKK - I've never stayed. My only stays in BKK have been at the Pen and Siam. I did take the boat from the Pen to the Mo BK to eat at the bar, and I had no issues with the dress code. I thoroughly enjoy the meal I had no issues at the bar in the MO. The MO BKK is high on my list when I return to Bangkok. I was not floored by Siam or the Pen.

Park Hyatt Tokyo was a different issue, not related to attire. I've stayed twice at this hotel. I stand by the statement that 'this is a famous bar with hotel attached'. Park Hyatt Tokyo is vastly over rated. It might be worse than Aman. THAT is a different thread.

Savoy was a complete and total disaster. This hotel made *clear* that it did not want my business. I'm not sure what the problem is. I work in high tech, and `fashion` is not in my vocabulary. I could not even cross the lobby without getting hassled. Actually trying to get something to eat was impossible. I (frantically) moved to the Lanesbough, where I had no problem with my attire.

You will find a little bit of tweed goes a long way in London hotels. It's amazing how throwing on a tweed jacket with a pair of jeans and a shirt makes all the difference. I'm a bit like Tom and don't care much for fashion at all - since my family and I spend a huge amount of time in FL my wardrobe is mainly filled with shorts and tee shirts. That said I'd rather blend in than stand out so I put on something vaguely smart when I stay in London and my hotels of choice are 45PL and The Lanesborough.

My apologies. I must have recalled wrongly. But few years back, there were several case of heated debate over MO BKK dress code. Some posters were expressing profound indignation for being prevented to enter either the restaurants or the hotel compound due to perceived failure to meet the official dress code, while other posters defended the hotel's policy. Those threads end up getting locked.

While I am all for hotel guests being allowed to enjoy the premise in more comfortable and casual clothing ( a suit and tie is really passe in this day and age ) and not being bothered by security, I wonder sometimes where does one draw the line? I have seen guests having breakfast dressing like they just walked off the beach, T-shirt, shorts exposing hairy legs and slippers. And no, that's not in a beach resort. It's in a 5-star luxury city hotel and yes, in London. Worse, occasionally they have to put their legs up on another chair and exposing their feet.

it is not about dress code or security, but allowing differentiation based on what class
(and re dress code, when dress code is not enforced, there is no dress code)
so far seems impossible to have asynchronous text based discussion on these topics.
very easy to not allow nonguests, rather than treat everyone differently based on ...
MacMyDay, staff learned who you were very quickly as you are a local, age also factor.
some business travelers (not locals) here report various issues at certain hotels/brands

most here underestimate being tracked / watched by hotel.
at savoy, so busy watching lobby, not watching elevators..

frankly this is part of why i do not like regular hotels, vs aman/independent style.
many here report better service (identify guest) booking via agents or managers.
FS has started differentiating more, even if not as much as most luxury brands

I remember now. You confused MO Bangkok with MO Singapore. I did check out of the MO Singapore after a 'dress code violation'.

and with cords and a tie you even fit the Ritz-dresscode;)

I see, we have something in common;)

ritz (and savoy?) did downgrade their dress codes some

sold hotel residences including townhouses, first two have no hotel rooms.
land was available, hotel brands want the revenue and marketing to owners.
peninsula owns their development, presumably dorchester owns theirs too

obviously these would follow existing MO considering sale prices there