You know what caught me off guard about Juliette’s? The fact that it actually feels like staying at someone’s home – and I mean that in the best possible way. Tucked into this gorgeous Georgian terrace on Dawson Place (which, honestly, most people walk right past without noticing), it’s one of those finds that makes you feel slightly smug about discovering it. The street itself is this quiet little pocket between the chaos of Bayswater Road and the polish of Notting Hill – you’re literally a three-minute walk from Hyde Park’s north side, but far enough off the main drag that you won’t hear tourist groups chattering past your window at 7 AM.
The thing about staying here is that Juliette – yes, there’s an actual Juliette – seems to have figured out that small details matter more than flashy amenities. My room had these thick, properly hung curtains that actually blocked out London’s stubborn summer light, and the bed was one of those where you sink in just enough without feeling like you’re being swallowed. The breakfast situation is where this place really shines, though. I mean, you’re not getting some sad continental spread here – we’re talking proper English breakfast with ingredients that taste like they came from somewhere specific, not a wholesale catalog. She serves it in this sun-filled conservatory that overlooks a tiny garden, and honestly, it’s the kind of spot where you end up lingering way longer than planned, especially if you snag the table by the back window.
Location-wise, you’re perfectly positioned to actually live like a local for a few days. Queensway tube station is maybe a four-minute walk – close enough that you don’t think twice about popping back to drop off shopping bags, but far enough that you’re not dealing with the constant rumble of the Central Line. There’s this excellent Lebanese place called Maroush just around the corner on Edgware Road (the one that’s open ridiculously late), and if you walk five minutes toward Notting Hill, you hit Portobello Road before it gets completely mobbed with weekend crowds. Parking is typically London awful, but there’s actually decent bus connections if you’re planning day trips – the 94 gets you to Piccadilly Circus in about fifteen minutes, assuming London traffic cooperates. The 8.3 rating feels about right, actually – it’s not trying to be the Savoy, but for what it is, they’ve nailed it. Just don’t expect a concierge or room service; this is more about charm and genuine hospitality than hotel-style efficiency.