Mandarin Oriental Mayfair London review

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London location

When you’re staying at a Mandarin Oriental, you know the neighborhood will be tony. That’s why there’s another outpost nearby in Hyde Park. This new Mandarin Oriental, however, is in bustling Mayfair, nestled along historic Hanover Square so you can triangulate shopping sprees among some of the city’s best high streets.

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London booking details

Standout features of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

• With just 50 rooms, the hotel feels intimate and exclusive.
• The location alone is a reason to book, with some of London’s best shopping at your doorstep.
• Celebrity chef Akira Back will make sure you’re well-fed while staying here.
• The spa feels like a refuge from the hectic city streets and is one of London’s most unique wellness spaces.

Drawbacks of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

• Due to construction, prepare to spend time in traffic if arriving or departing by car.
• You won’t have skyline views from the regular guest rooms.
• There’s just one main restaurant, though you can get bites at either of the bars, too.

The vibe at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

You won’t find an imposing historical edifice, tailcoated bellmen or dusty chandeliers here. Rather, the new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London leans more contemporary chic than your run-of-the-mill London luxury hotel, from the runway-worthy uniforms of the friendly bell staff to the light-filled central atrium and the snug reception area.

And although its looks and feels entirely fresh and new, the hotel also seems destined to belong in this sophisticated neighborhood thanks to little locally inspired design touches, including the hotel’s bespoke symbolic hand fan (all Mandarins have their own, and you can spy this one in its framed case on your way in). It was designed by the late fashion doyenne Vivienne Westwood, whose flagship boutique sits just across Hanover Square.

Your fellow guests are likely to be designer-clad jet-setters as well as members of larger entourages in town for weeks or months at a time, thanks to the sizable residential component of the project. But you might spot a famous face or two having drinks at ABar or dinner at Akira Back as well.

Rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Although many hotels claim to have “residential-inspired” accommodations, my 549-square-foot Deluxe Suite actually felt that way thanks to its unique layout.

It had a sort of railroad apartment-style configuration folded in upon itself with each room leading into the next, all framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding buildings.

Stepping through the entry foyer, the first space I came to was the living room, its walls adorned in ornate, hand-painted de Gournay silk wallpaper with chinoiserie floral designs in turquoise inspired by Hanover Square’s magnolia trees — a visually alluring nod to the hotel’s distinctive locale.

The room — whose palette was a mix of silver, platinum and gold — was anchored by a small sectional and ottoman piled high with art books, several curvaceous armchairs and a table that doubled as my work desk during my stay, over which hung a flat-screen television.

There was also a beautiful mirrored minibar stocked with a Nespresso machine and an electric kettle, plus complimentary treats including a bottled cocktail from Akira Black.

Ducking through the far doorway, the bedroom held a king-size bed dressed in immaculate white sheets with silver piping and framed by a top-lit overhang as well as rectangular brushed-brass hanging lights to one side.

Set between the two corner windows, a wood-topped Art Deco-style vanity was the ideal place to primp, thanks to natural lighting and Dyson hair styling apparatuses.

Past a wall of closets, the bathroom was tiled in a panoply of cream- and brown-hued, deep-veined marbles.

At the far end, past the dual-sink vanity, was a soaking bath provisioned with Natura Bisse products. The window next to it looked into the entry foyer but could be fogged up for privacy with the touch of a button.

Next to that was a water closet with a Toto toilet and a separate walk-in shower with more Natura Bisse amenities along with overhead and handheld shower heads.

Overall, the room felt bright and breezy but also like a private, comfort-filled cocoon after a day out in the city.

Food and drink at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

The hotel’s main restaurant comes courtesy of South Korea-born, Colorado-raised celebrity chef Akira Back and sits at the heart of the hotel, one level below the street and accessible by elevator or a dramatic glass-framed spiral staircase.

The atrium-like space is illuminated by enormous skylights and has dramatic artistic installations including a swirling wooden sculpture affixed to the wall and paintings by the chef’s own mother (you might also pick out her designs on some of the plates).

Breakfast is a leisurely affair as guests 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 seems to attract a mix of socialites, power brokers and young creatives who come to munch on the signature half-and-half pizza of tuna with umami aioli, shiso, truffle oil on one side and trumpet mushrooms and truffles on the other, all over an ultrathin wafer crust ($33).

Other specialties include a melange of Western, Korean and Japanese fusion dishes such as 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 chicken with potato puree and savory teriyaki sauce ($35) and rolls like the Cow Wow with marinated bulgogi and coleslaw ($28) and the Hot Mess with sashimi poke, crab tempura and spicy ponzu aioli ($28).

Be sure to query sommelier Andres Ituarte about a creative pairing or two from the globe-spanning wine list he’s curated including vintages from China and a certain bottle made in Sweden from grapes grown in Iran.

Leave room for sumptuous desserts like Chocolate in a Cup with spongecake, banana foam and vanilla bean ice cream ($21.50).

At night, you’ll find a DJ spinning in the corner of the adjacent 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 Fair Organic 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).

The savory sweetness of the latter pairs well with the couple of bar bites I ordered including piping-hot Korean fried chicken with gochujang red pepper paste ($19) and silky smoked salmon tostadas ($18).

Open Tuesdays through Saturday evenings and tucked away down a short corridor between Akira Back and ABar Lounge, Dosa is an intimate affair, with a single seating per night (at 7 p.m. sharp!) for just 14 diners at a counter around an open kitchen helmed by executive chef Jihun Kim. Guests are treated — well, for 185 British pounds ($234) per person — to a multi-course menu that changes frequently and is based on seasonal ingredients and the “mineral elements of the earth.” (We were asked not to take pictures since our visit was during the chefs’ prep time.)

Though not quite open at the time of our visit, we did get a sneak peek at ABar Rooftop on the top floor. The Art Deco-style decor and the palette of blues and grays were inspired by the London sky, including a cloud-like textured light fixture over the dramatic marble bar.

There is space for 50 guests with various seating options ranging from bar stools to low-slung tables and even an outdoor terrace with some sweeping city views. The cocktail menu was created by barman Paolo Silvestri and inspired by the seasons.

Amenities and service at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Two levels below the street, guests will find a serene subterranean sanctuary complete with a gym, indoor pool and spa.

Bring your bathing suit because you won’t want to skip a dip in the 25-meter pool, which has different dark and light sections and is ingeniously lit with reflective surfaces so it feels like you’re floating amongst the stars. The wet area also includes a sauna, steam room, small therapy pools and loungers.

The gym is equipped with TechnoGym cardio machines and weights, a Pilates reformer and areas for stretching and yoga, and personal training services are available.

The spa has just two treatment rooms, including a double suite with blond wood paneling and flooring. Basically, you pick the amount of time you want to spend in the spa (an hour, 90 minutes, two hours, and so on) and can create a tailor-made experience for yourself that might include massage, facials, body wraps and more.

However, there are also specific experiences on offer that incorporate skincare brands such as Seed to Skin Tuscany and Swiss Perfection. The two-hour Tranquillity of Mayfair, for instance, is a four-handed massage followed by a binaural vibroacoustic therapy (like a sound bath) for 440 pounds ($555).

Out and about

As its name would suggest, the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London is in the midst of one of the city’s most upscale neighborhoods, Mayfair, and a short stroll to delightful Marylebone, which feels like a little (albeit very expensive) village in the heart of the capital.

If you’re in town for shopping, you’re in luck, since the hotel is located between Bond Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street, where you’ll find everything from global fashion brands to boutiques peddling custom designs, and not far from fashionable Carnaby Street, whose pedestrianized lanes are excellent for window shopping. The hotel is also a short walk from the Royal Academy of Arts if you’re looking for culture, or the hopping cafes and bars of Soho if you want to experience some lively local life.

Accessibility at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Thanks to the fact that this is a new-build hotel, you will find all the up-to-date accessibility features you would expect, including zero-step entry from the street and wheelchair-accessible elevators with chair-height buttons to access each level. With the use of a hoist, spa attendants can help guests who need assistance entering the pool.

Various adapted room types include amenities such as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms with toilet and shower grab bars and lowered counters and sinks, accessible light switches, and visible doorbell notifications and fire alarms. As always, call the hotel directly to ensure you can book a room that meets your specific requirements.

Checking out

Luxury hotels in London range from the historic and grandiose to the tiny and tucked away. The new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London skews more toward the latter, with just 50 rooms in a slender tower overlooking one of Mayfair’s oldest squares.

Though small in size, thanks to its unparalleled location and show-stopping amenities — including its gorgeous spa and Akira Back’s complex of dining and drinking establishments — the hotel has already experienced a launch that would make even the most ambitious London debutante jealous.

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