A few doors down from the former home of Jimi Hendrix, steps from Savile Row and the Burlington Arcade, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is the second London outpost for the Hong Kong-born brand; a fresh-faced counterpart to its Hyde Park sibling. Architectural firm RSHP has reimagined the Georgian streetscape of Hanover Square for a new era, honouring the neighbourhood aesthetics with burnt-red-brick columns between white steel girders that echo the stucco trim of 18th century townhouses. It’s catchy and modern: a bold declaration of belonging for the first new hotel to open in Mayfair for more than a decade.
Smart doormen in baker-boy caps lead the way to a discreet entrance which steers you to a show-stopping concierge desk encased in moss-green Ming marble, a nod to the leafy gardens and magnolia trees of the historic square outside. Tokyo-based design studio Curiosity took inspiration from the neighbourhood for the hotel’s public areas, with colours and textures that bring the outdoors in, and intelligent lighting design that creates a warm mood throughout. Artful touches add to the welcome: a bespoke Mandarin Oriental fan created in collaboration with the house of Vivienne Westwood takes pride of place, and a nest of woven willow created by British artist Julia Clarke represents the cycle of life and flow of energy.
London’s own Studio Indigo, better known for designing country manors and London townhouses than luxury hotels, has given the guestrooms and suites an haute-but-homely feel. The walls of my Deluxe Suite are entwined with blue magnolias on handmade silk wallpaper by de Gournay and wall lamps that look like little Wonderland toadstools, accentuated by indigo cushions and bright, fresh-cut blooms.
An enticing glow emanates from the brushed-gold bar area, which tinkles with Spiegelau glassware and a minibar loaded with British brands. The details delight: a box on the bar-top contains two fresh packs of professional grade playing cards in case you fancy a game of bridge; there’s a wooden noughts-and-crosses set tucked away beneath a side-table; and a swish Dyson hairdryer is a nice touch.
In the subterranean spa and wellness centre, low-lit corridors of elemental wood and stone lead from the grotto-green reception desk to suave changing rooms with emerald marble-framed vanity units. Gleaming TechnoGym equipment and the next-gen Reform RX Pilates studio look too pristine to use, so I while away a pre-dinner hour bubbling in a trio of vitality pools and splashing up and down the 25-metre swimming pool. Encased in black walls and illuminated by a shoal of phosphorescent lights, this is the stuff billionaire bunker dreams are made of.
Of all the theatrical touches and dramatic reveals, the greatest is stepping into the art-filled atrium, a soaring space below a three-storey glass ceiling, accessed via a grand spiral staircase in rare Chinese marble. Below, superstar chef Akira Back takes the helm at a trio of culinary experiences starting with his eponymous restaurant. Modern Asian dishes are presented below a collection of artworks by the Korean chef and former professional snowboarder’s mother, and a swirling installation by UK artist Charlie Whinney, which billows from the wall in ribbons of timber
Elemental evocations continue in ABar Lounge, a sultry cocktail spot where an anthology of Far Eastern-inspired cocktails push boundaries with exotic flavour combinations, and a bronze ceiling evokes the glow of burning embers. Next door is the newly opened Dosa, a salty stone sanctuary where six chefs conjure an eight-course modern Korean tasting menu for 14 diners on a vast marble teppanyaki counter.
After dining at Akira Back — don’t miss the dynamite lobster or the signature truffle-oiled tuna pizza — you’ll soon be able to sip a nightcap while enjoying the Mayfair skyline at ABar Rooftop when it opens this month. But for now, as the nights draw in, I’m more than content to return to my suite. Sleek, svelte and eminently moreish, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is an instant classic.
MandarinOriental.com
