Editor’s notice: The Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London supplied TPG with a complimentary two-night keep in order that we might get an inside take a look at the resort and its facilities. The opinions expressed under are totally these of the writer and weren’t topic to evaluate by the resort or any exterior entity.
Should you did not know to be looking out, you may miss the doorway to the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London. However that is sort of the purpose.
Though its brick- and metal-clad exterior is kind of up to date in comparison with the opposite buildings surrounding bucolic Hanover Sq. (that is Mayfair’s first new-build resort in a decade), it blends into its elegant environment like the luxurious pied-a-terre it’s meant to be.
Opened in June 2024 with simply 50 rooms and suites plus 77 adjoining residences, the property is among the many smallest within the luxurious resort group’s portfolio. It is definitely extra diminutive than its beloved sister property on the intersection of Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, and far much less of an overt see-and-be-seen scene … which implies you are really extra more likely to spot an incognito superstar or two attempting to relax, maybe within the moodily lit underground spa or on the top-floor ABar Rooftop overlooking the town.
However no matter brings you right here, you’re certain to really feel at residence — that’s, if your house additionally has a floating spiral staircase created from uncommon inexperienced Ming marble and a profusion of beautiful flower preparations — the second you cross the brink, due to employees who will know you by identify upon arrival.
Here is what it is like staying on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London and every little thing it’s best to see, do, eat and drink in your subsequent go to.
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London location
While you’re staying at a Mandarin Oriental, you understand the neighborhood shall be tony. That is why there’s one other outpost close by in Hyde Park. This new Mandarin Oriental, nevertheless, is in bustling Mayfair, nestled alongside historic Hanover Sq. so you possibly can triangulate purchasing sprees amongst a number of the metropolis’s greatest excessive streets.
And whereas a lot of the clientele may take non-public automobiles to and from the airport, if the lion’s share of your funds goes towards your keep and also you hope to save lots of on transportation prices, you are in luck. The resort is only a block away from the Bond Avenue Station on the Underground’s Elizabeth Line. Meaning you possibly can zip out to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in a mere 45 minutes with out altering strains — and at a value of underneath $20.
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Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London reserving particulars
When you cannot use factors from one of many main resort loyalty packages to remain on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, the resort is a part of Amex Tremendous Inns + Resorts, so these with The Platinum Card® from American Categorical or The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical who make a reserving by way of AmexTravel.com can take pleasure in advantages like complimentary day by day breakfast for 2, room upgrades based mostly on availability, a $100 on-property credit score to make use of throughout their keep and assured late checkout.
Charges on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London begin at $1,030 per evening for the standard class Deluxe Room, whereas the Deluxe Suite lodging I stayed in begins at $1,725 per evening.
Standout options of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
- With simply 50 rooms, the resort feels intimate and unique.
- The placement alone is a purpose to e-book, with a few of London’s greatest purchasing at the doorstep.
- Superstar chef Akira Again will be sure to’re well-fed whereas staying right here.
- The spa seems like a refuge from the hectic metropolis streets and is one among London’s most original wellness areas.
Drawbacks of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
- As a result of building, put together to spend time in visitors if arriving or departing by automotive.
- You will not have skyline views from the common visitor rooms.
- There’s only one foremost restaurant, although you may get bites at both of the bars, too.
The vibe on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
You will not discover an imposing historic edifice, tailcoated bellmen or dusty chandeliers right here. Fairly, the brand new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London leans extra up to date stylish than your run-of-the-mill London luxurious resort, from the runway-worthy uniforms of the pleasant bell employees to the light-filled central atrium and the cosy reception space.
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And though its appears and feels totally contemporary and new, the resort additionally appears destined to belong on this subtle neighborhood due to little regionally impressed design touches, together with the resort’s bespoke symbolic hand fan (all Mandarins have their very own, and you’ll spy this one in its framed case in your approach in). It was designed by the late trend doyenne Vivienne Westwood, whose flagship boutique sits simply throughout Hanover Sq..
Your fellow company are more likely to be designer-clad jet-setters in addition to members of bigger entourages on the town for weeks or months at a time, due to the sizable residential part of the challenge. However you may spot a well-known face or two having drinks at ABar or dinner at Akira Again as properly.
Rooms on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
Though many accommodations declare to have “residential-inspired” lodging, my 549-square-foot Deluxe Suite really felt that approach due to its distinctive format.
It had a form of railroad apartment-style configuration folded in upon itself with every room main into the subsequent, all framed by floor-to-ceiling home windows overlooking the encircling buildings.
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Stepping by way of the entry lobby, the primary area I got here to was the lounge, its partitions adorned in ornate, hand-painted de Gournay silk wallpaper with chinoiserie floral designs in turquoise impressed by Hanover Sq.’s magnolia timber — a visually alluring nod to the resort’s distinctive locale.
The room — whose palette was a mixture of silver, platinum and gold — was anchored by a small sectional and ottoman piled excessive with artwork books, a number of curvaceous armchairs and a desk that doubled as my work desk throughout my keep, over which hung a flat-screen tv.
There was additionally a phenomenal mirrored minibar stocked with a Nespresso machine and an electrical kettle, plus complimentary treats together with a bottled cocktail from Akira Black.
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Ducking by way of the far doorway, the bed room held a king-size mattress wearing immaculate white sheets with silver piping and framed by a top-lit overhang in addition to rectangular brushed-brass hanging lights to 1 aspect.
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Set between the 2 nook home windows, a wood-topped Artwork Deco-style self-importance was the best place to primp, due to pure lighting and Dyson hair styling apparatuses.
Previous a wall of closets, the lavatory was tiled in a panoply of cream- and brown-hued, deep-veined marbles.
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On the far finish, previous the dual-sink self-importance, was a soaking bathtub provisioned with Natura Bisse merchandise. The window subsequent to it appeared into the entry lobby however could possibly be fogged up for privateness with the contact of a button.
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Subsequent to that was a water closet with a Toto rest room and a separate walk-in bathe with extra Natura Bisse facilities together with overhead and handheld bathe heads.
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General, the room felt brilliant and breezy but in addition like a non-public, comfort-filled cocoon after a time out within the metropolis.
Food and drinks on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
The resort’s foremost restaurant comes courtesy of South Korea-born, Colorado-raised superstar chef Akira Again and sits on the coronary heart of the resort, one stage under the road and accessible by elevator or a dramatic glass-framed spiral staircase.
The atrium-like area is illuminated by monumental skylights and has dramatic creative installations together with a swirling picket sculpture affixed to the wall and work by the chef’s personal mom (you may also select her designs on a number of the plates).
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Breakfast is a leisurely affair as company peruse the morning newspapers over dishes like avocado toast with artichoke pesto, confit tomato, pepper and seed tabbouleh with poached eggs ($24); a breakfast bento with salmon teriyaki, glazed mushrooms, spinach salad, onigiri, egg castella cake, miso soup and fruit ($48); and the specialty gianduja croffle with hazelnut ganache and vanilla Chantilly cream ($28).
The lunch crowd appears to draw a mixture of socialites, energy brokers and younger creatives who come to munch on the signature half-and-half pizza of tuna with umami aioli, shiso, truffle oil on one aspect and trumpet mushrooms and truffles on the opposite, throughout an ultrathin wafer crust ($33).
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Different specialties embody a melange of Western, Korean and Japanese fusion dishes similar to wagyu bulgogi tacos with roasted tomato ponzu ($23), Jeju domi sea bream with tobiko (flying fish roe) and savory-sweet chojang paste ($28), native lobster dynamite ($58), juicy Jidori rooster with potato puree and savory teriyaki sauce ($35) and rolls just like the Cow Wow with marinated bulgogi and coleslaw ($28) and the Scorching Mess with sashimi poke, crab tempura and spicy ponzu aioli ($28).
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Be sure you question sommelier Andres Ituarte a few inventive pairing or two from the globe-spanning wine checklist he is curated together with vintages from China and a sure bottle made in Sweden from grapes grown in Iran.
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Go away room for luxurious desserts like Chocolate in a Cup with spongecake, banana foam and vanilla bean ice cream ($21.50).
At evening, you will discover a DJ spinning within the nook of the adjoining ABar Lounge, which serves Korean-inspired cocktails like a spirit-forward Makgeolli Colada with Hwayo soju, makgeolli rice wine, pistachio orgeat, strawberry and coconut ($26.50); the playfully named Javapolitan with Honest Natural quinoa vodka, Cointreau, clarified cranberry, lime, Indian spices and purply butterfly pea tea ($24); and the nutty Peanutful with Suntory Toki whiskey, peanut butter oils, XO syrup, soy sauce and umami bitters with a chocolate truffle topper ($28).
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The savory sweetness of the latter pairs properly with the couple of bar bites I ordered together with piping-hot Korean fried rooster with gochujang purple pepper paste ($19) and silky smoked salmon tostadas ($18).
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Open Tuesdays by way of Saturday evenings and tucked away down a brief hall between Akira Again and ABar Lounge, Dosa is an intimate affair, with a single seating per evening (at 7 p.m. sharp!) for simply 14 diners at a counter round an open kitchen helmed by govt chef Jihun Kim. Company are handled — properly, for 185 British kilos ($234) per individual — to a multi-course menu that adjustments incessantly and is predicated on seasonal substances and the “mineral parts of the earth.” (We had been requested to not take footage since our go to was throughout the cooks’ prep time.)
Although not fairly open on the time of our go to, we did get a sneak peek at ABar Rooftop on the highest ground. The Artwork Deco-style decor and the palette of blues and grays had been impressed by the London sky, together with a cloud-like textured mild fixture over the dramatic marble bar.
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There may be area for 50 company with numerous seating choices starting from bar stools to low-slung tables and even an out of doors terrace with some sweeping metropolis views. The cocktail menu was created by barman Paolo Silvestri and impressed by the seasons.
Facilities and repair on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
Two ranges under the road, company will discover a serene subterranean sanctuary full with a fitness center, indoor pool and spa.
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Convey your bathing go well with since you will not need to skip a dip within the 25-meter pool, which has completely different darkish and lightweight sections and is ingeniously lit with reflective surfaces so it feels such as you’re floating amongst the celebrities. The moist space additionally features a sauna, steam room, small remedy swimming pools and loungers.
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The fitness center is provided with TechnoGym cardio machines and weights, a Pilates reformer and areas for stretching and yoga, and private coaching companies can be found.
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The spa has simply two therapy rooms, together with a double suite with blond wooden paneling and flooring. Mainly, you choose the period of time you need to spend within the spa (an hour, 90 minutes, two hours, and so forth) and might create a tailored expertise for your self that may embody therapeutic massage, facials, physique wraps and extra.
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Nevertheless, there are additionally particular experiences on provide that incorporate skincare manufacturers similar to Seed to Pores and skin Tuscany and Swiss Perfection. The 2-hour Tranquillity of Mayfair, as an example, is a four-handed therapeutic massage adopted by a binaural vibroacoustic remedy (like a sound bathtub) for 440 kilos ($555).
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Out and about
As its identify would counsel, the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London is within the midst of one of many metropolis’s most upscale neighborhoods, Mayfair, and a brief stroll to pleasant Marylebone, which seems like just a little (albeit very costly) village within the coronary heart of the capital.
Should you’re on the town for purchasing, you are in luck, because the resort is positioned between Bond Avenue, Regent Avenue and Oxford Avenue, the place you will discover every little thing from international trend manufacturers to boutiques peddling customized designs, and never removed from trendy Carnaby Avenue, whose pedestrianized lanes are wonderful for window purchasing. The resort can also be a brief stroll from the Royal Academy of Arts in case you’re on the lookout for tradition, or the hopping cafes and bars of Soho if you wish to expertise some vigorous native life.
Accessibility on the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
Due to the truth that this can be a new-build resort, you’ll find all of the up-to-date accessibility options you’ll count on, together with zero-step entry from the road and wheelchair-accessible elevators with chair-height buttons to entry every stage. With using a hoist, spa attendants might help company who want help getting into the pool.
Numerous tailored room sorts embody facilities similar to wheelchair-accessible loos with rest room and bathe seize bars and lowered counters and sinks, accessible mild switches, and visual doorbell notifications and fireplace alarms. As at all times, name the resort instantly to make sure you can e-book a room that meets your particular necessities.
Testing
Luxurious accommodations in London vary from the historic and grandiose to the tiny and tucked away. The brand new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London skews extra towards the latter, with simply 50 rooms in a slender tower overlooking one among Mayfair’s oldest squares.
Although small in measurement, due to its unparalleled location and show-stopping facilities — together with its beautiful spa and Akira Again’s complicated of eating and consuming institutions — the resort has already skilled a launch that might make even essentially the most formidable London debutante jealous.
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