The Chancery Rosewood hotel, London’s former US embassy, gives a whole floor to 12 art galleries

In London, the former United States embassy on Grosvenor Square became a 144-suite Rosewood hotel on 1 September 2025. Until Sunday 18 October, The Chancery Rosewood is giving one of its floors to the 12 galleries of the London Invitational fair, in the thick of Frieze Week, London’s big week for contemporary art.

☰Contents

1. London Invitational: 12 galleries, one floor
2. Ed Ruscha, Josef Albers: who is showing?
3. Eero Saarinen’s embassy, now a hotel
4. 144 suites by Joseph Dirand
5. 700 artworks and an art concierge
6. Carbone and seven other bars and restaurants
7. A 1,119 m² spa and a 25-metre pool

London Invitational: 12 galleries, one floor

The fair was born in Dallas in 2023 as the Dallas Invitational, the brainchild of James Cope, a British gallerist based in Texas. The London edition is its first in Europe. For its founder, the scale of The Chancery Rosewood recaptures the intimacy of Dallas. Art advisers Jessica Nowitzki and Melissa Ireland sit on its advisory board.

After an invitation-only day on Thursday, the fair is open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 11am to 6pm. The last day is Sunday 18 October, from 12pm to 4pm, with day and weekend tickets on sale on the fair’s website. The idea echoes that of the Hotel Warszawa, which turns its suites into galleries in Warsaw.

Ed Ruscha, Josef Albers: who is showing?

Ten of the twelve galleries come from the United States: Andrew Reed Gallery (Miami), Bel Ami (Los Angeles), Broadway, EUROPA, Marinaro and franklin parrasch gallery (New York), François Ghebaly (Los Angeles and New York), James Cope Gallery (Dallas), James Kelly Contemporary (Dallas and Los Angeles) and LOMEX (New York and Las Vegas). Two are from London: Charles Asprey and Vardaxoglou.

James Kelly is showing Ed Ruscha, Josef Albers, Edmund de Waal, John Chamberlain and Ken Price. Vardaxoglou brings together Howard Hodgkin, Robyn Denny, Prunella Clough and Roger Hilton, franklin parrasch presents Peter Alexander, and Broadway stages the first UK exhibition of the artist Victoria Roth.

Eero Saarinen’s embassy, now a hotel

The building was designed in 1960 by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen to house the United States embassy. Grade II listed, it has been restored by Sir David Chipperfield for Qatari Diar Europe. On the façade, Theodore Roszak’s gilded eagle, sculpted from the aluminium of a B-52 bomber, remains in place.

144 suites by Joseph Dirand

The hotel has nothing but suites, 144 in total, designed, like the public spaces, by French interior architect Joseph Dirand. The largest are four “Houses” (Saarinen House, John Adams House, Kennedy House, Chancery House) and two penthouses on the seventh floor, Charles House and Elizabeth House, each with its own landscaped terrace.

For the night of Wednesday 20 to Thursday 21 January 2027, for two, the official website lists the 53 m² Grosvenor Junior Suite King at £1,550 a night including taxes and fees, on a flexible rate with transfers and the non-alcoholic minibar. Allow £1,800 for the Mayfair Junior Suite and £3,900 for the 108 m² Premier Grosvenor Suite (prices checked on 17 October 2026).

700 artworks and an art concierge

The fair has moved into a hotel already filled with art. London consultancy Cramer & Bell selected 700 works for the suites and public spaces, and a dedicated art concierge looks after the collection. Rosewood describes it as the largest of any hotel in Europe.

Carbone and seven other bars and restaurants

The hotel has eight restaurants and bars. New York restaurant Carbone has opened its first European outpost here. Chef Masayoshi Takayama is behind Tobi Masa, while Serra, Jacqueline, GSQ with its terrace on Grosvenor Square, and the Eagle Bar complete the line-up.

A 1,119 m² spa and a 25-metre pool

The Asaya Spa occupies 1,119 m² below ground, with a 25-metre pool and five treatment rooms. Its suite for two offers a 90-minute couples’ massage at £1,100 from Monday to Thursday and £1,300 from Friday to Sunday. To compare it with its Mayfair neighbours, see our guide to Claridge’s and our pick of the best hotels in London.