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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s Guide to London
I take a deep breath and inhale as many pleasant fragrances as possible without looking indifferent. Woody and rustic, it is truly a stylishly decorated room with expensive Ecra furniture to smell. I can’t help but think this should be like walking into the Montecito Mansion in Gwyneth Paltrow.
1 We have arrived at Hotel Mayfair. It opened last year as the latest European product from the US luxury brand, a stone throw from Green Park, an ambitious renovation project. From the moment we cross that threshold and bulge like a welcomed vampire somewhere civilized, we are surrounded by peace and tranquility (and the scent of the hotel’s signature). It all feels straight from Southern California, with lush, healthy leaves, wooden paneled walls and piles of creamy fabric. This is a fearless design choice for a child- and dog-friendly venue. Home to some of London’s most historic traditional hotels, the 1 hotel offers chic and modern alternatives and features a new bar for sustainable, luxurious travel.
room
We headed the nine stories to the corner room and soaked in natural light from surrounding windows that reflected untouched pale furniture. As someone owned by a dachshund where Jackson pollocked our assortment of furniture, I consider contacting Housekeeping to ask about their selected upholstery cleaners.
Our room, like everyone else, has a terrace overlooking Piccadilly, with route masters, black taxis and other vehicles appearing to be stacked like dominoes. One of London’s more enthusiastic streets is from here, very quiet, with a comfortable king size bed, topped with an eco-friendly pillow top mattress and organic linen, wrapping thick, light blocking curtains.
During our stay, furniture terrorists are with sitters, but there are plenty of other creatures. It reminds us of the hotel group’s sustainable spirit. Much of the floor is made from responsibly sourced British oak wood, and the use of British products extends to bathrooms with vanity counters made from Welsh slate and eco-friendly Bamford toilets with geranium scents. Elsewhere, the minibars stock mostly local artisan drinks and snacks.
Other sustainability initiatives include indoor water filtration systems to fill bottles. Instead of paper pads, chalkboards were offered, and glassware, hangers and other furniture were produced from recycled or recycled products. While these sustainability efforts look easy, it is impressive how the results of one hotel group in this space far exceed those managed by most of its competitors.
Wellness
Keeping up with Californians, each bedroom comes with a yoga mat, but guests can head to the hotel’s 24-hour gym for various group fitness classes and personal training, or use a weight training and an array of cardio equipment. For those of us who prefer our health without work, spa services are a 90-minute signature body treatment that includes serious treats, especially scalp, face and full body massage. I emerge deeply relaxed from my treatment room – and I’m depressed as 1.5 hours flew so fast.
Food and drink
The hotel is also a destination for locals and visitors at Dovetale, an in-house restaurant led by London chef Tom Sellers. What are the benefits of being a part of a new building? The cleverly designed dining space does not have any bad seats. The tables are well spread out, either taking in views of the dining room and open kitchen or hidden in a modest corner. The lighting is perfect for the pitch: intimate and not too dark, but the music and sound are lively, the atmosphere is noisy and not noisy.
Dovetale is also sustainability oriented, offering seasonal produce-driven menus that refine or reimagined European classics, featuring open fire dishes and a raw seafood bar. We started by pushing into a half dozen plump Irish oysters and otherwise led servers and award-winning sommelier Taraosol. We are instructed to try the English Wagyu beef carpaccio and eat thinly sliced raw beef wrapped in “chips” (a suppressed synonym for potato terin containing beef fat for 48 hours before frying). Then, dressed with a tiny crumpet and a crab bisque of brown crab, and as they say we have to do, this all turned out to be very good advice.
The wine list is in the US, but you can’t resist finishing with the dessert wines of Klein Constantia, a well-known South African producer available in glass. We couldn’t manage it, but the doveTale dinner should end with the excavation of Knickerbocker’s glory cart. With a fascinating nod to the hotel’s US heritage, diners choose from dentist nightmares to make American dreams: create the perfect ice cream sundae.
At a glance:
Rooms and Suites: 129 rooms and 52 suites
Good: A vibrant bolt hole within walking distance of modern and sustainable luxury and some of London’s cultural, tasteful and chevalistic highlights
Not very good: Traditionalist
For reference, don’t miss the hotel’s in-house restaurant Dovetale, and is led by chef Tom Cellars (the story of two Michelin Star Restaurant Stories) for seasonal, contemporary European cuisine. First drink (or after a night cap) at the hotel’s cocktail bar Dover Yard.
Doubles: Starting from £700
Address: 3 Berkle Street, London W1J 8dl
Website; Directions
Niki Blasina was a guest at 1 hotel Mayfair
Do you have a favorite London hotel? Please tell us about your favorite stay in the comments below. Follow FT Globetrotter on Instagram to find out about your first latest story
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