A New Chapter on the Thames: The Riverview Suites at Sea Containers London

Perched on the cultural heart of the South Bank, Sea Containers London has always been one of those hotels that feels distinctly of London yet slightly transported from somewhere else. Inspired by a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner, the hotel carries a sense of cinematic glamour, the kind that makes you want to dress up for dinner and linger over cocktails long past bedtime. 

Now, the property is entering a new design era, led by creative director Jacu Strauss of Lore Group, who has reimagined the hotel’s 59 suites with a playful and elevated sensibility that leans into the building’s maritime story while embracing the way we travel today. 

And the result? Suites that feel less like hotel rooms and more like the stylish London apartments you wish you owned. 

A Suite Designed for Living (and Celebrating) 

I stayed in one of the newly introduced Riverview Studio Suites, part of a refreshed collection that also includes updated Riverview Balcony Suites, One Bedroom Riverview Suites and the distinctive Cabin Suites introduced last year. The moment you walk in, the design narrative becomes clear. Nautical references run throughout, subtle rather than kitsch, with brass accents, curved silhouettes and a palette that echoes the Thames at dusk. 

What struck me most was how residential the space felt. The suite was layered with textures: bespoke tapestries, sculptural furniture and tactile surfaces crafted from recycled plastics, once destined for the sea, now transformed into terrazzo-style tabletops that shimmer gently under the light. There’s a thoughtful sustainability story woven into the design without it ever feeling preachy.

One of my favourite details was the coffee table made from a reclaimed ship propeller, a striking piece sourced from vintage dealers around the world. It’s these playful touches that give the suite character. But the real showstopper is the view. The layout is cleverly arranged so your eye is drawn straight to the river. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Thames like a moving painting, with boats gliding past and London unfolding beyond. 

And then there’s the balcony. As the sun began to set, my friend and I stepped outside and watched the city transform. The sky shifted through pinks and deep blues before the lights flickered on across the skyline, with St Paul’s Cathedral glowing magnificently just across the water.

With the suite’s bar area, guest bathroom and generous living space, we both agreed it felt less like a hotel room and more like the perfect setting for a small party. And honestly, it would be. 

Cocktails at One of the World’s Best Bars 

Of course, no stay at Sea Containers London would be complete without a visit to its legendary cocktail bar, Lyaness. Our reservation was for 6:30pm, and the atmosphere was already buzzing. Created by the celebrated bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, known globally as Mr Lyan, the bar has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative cocktail destinations in the world. It recently became the first-ever 3 PIN bar awarded by The Pinnacle Guide, an accolade reserved for the very best cocktail bars globally. 

The concept is wonderfully unconventional. Rather than listing traditional cocktails, the menu focuses on unusual ingredients and flavour combinations, many of them experimental, some slightly mysterious with the bartenders guiding you toward a drink tailored to your tastes. 

I began with the delightfully named Cosmo Salad, a playful twist on the classic cosmopolitan featuring Belvedere vodka, pink sherry and a bitterless aperitif layered with citrus brightness. Then came Baloo-Za, a tropical rum sour made with Diplomatico Planas rum, sour pineapple and intriguingly unexpected ingredients including lion’s mane mushroom and bearberry. 

The drinks were inventive without being intimidating, beautifully balanced, vibrant and just the right amount of theatrical. The room itself is striking too. Electric blue tones wrap around the space, centred by the original green marble bar from the venue’s previous incarnation, creating a setting that feels both glamorous and slightly mischievous. 

In short, it’s exactly the sort of place where a “quick drink” effortlessly turns into two. 

Dinner by the River 

Dinner followed at Sea Containers Restaurant, which sits right on the riverfront with sweeping views across the Thames. The atmosphere here is relaxed yet polished, with an American-British inspired menu designed for sharing and celebrating seasonal ingredients. 

Perhaps it was the proximity to the water, or perhaps simply the mood of the evening but I found myself gravitating toward seafood. The jumbo shrimp cocktail arrived first, paired with a punchy horseradish and Bloody Mary sauce that delivered exactly the right level of indulgence. Next came Porthilly mussels cooked with English cider and served with garlic bread, deeply comforting and perfect for soaking up the broth. 

To finish, I enjoyed the Neal’s Yard cheese selection, complete with chutney, grapes and brown soda crackers, which felt like the ideal slow ending to the meal. 

Service was warm and unpretentious, the sort that makes you feel immediately at ease. 

A Nightcap Above London

Before calling it a night, we made one final stop at the hotel’s rooftop bar, 12th Knot. Up on the twelfth floor, the energy shifts again. A DJ was spinning and the panoramic views stretched across London’s skyline. It’s the sort of place where you can watch the city sparkle beneath you while sipping something strong and delicious. 

After a final drink, we drifted back down to the suite, the river now dark and quiet outside the window. 

The Luxury of a Good Night’s Sleep 

One of the true luxuries of a well-designed hotel room is how effortlessly it allows you to unwind. The bed was vast and impossibly comfortable, and with the gentle movement of the river outside, sleep came quickly. Morning arrived with soft light pouring across the Thames. 

Breakfast back at the restaurant was relaxed and leisurely, the kind of slow start that makes you reluctant to check out. 

A New Era for a South Bank Icon 

The new Riverview Suites mark the beginning of an exciting design evolution for Sea Containers London, which will continue throughout 2026 with updates to the restaurant and rooftop bar, alongside the launch of agua Studio within the hotel’s spa, a dedicated wellness space offering yoga, breathwork and sound baths. 

It’s a thoughtful evolution rather than a reinvention. As Jacu Strauss describes it, the goal was not to replace the hotel’s story but to enrich it, allowing the maritime narrative and bold personality that have always defined Sea Containers London to shine even brighter. 

And after one evening there, it’s clear that this next chapter is off to a very stylish start. Sometimes, the best kind of escape isn’t leaving London at all. Sometimes it’s simply seeing the city from a different perspective, preferably with a cocktail in hand and the Thames glittering beneath you.