Mandarin Oriental Mayfair Is A Serene Hidden Gem In London

Unless you’ve memorized the red brick and glass modern cube exterior or know that Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s symbol is a fan, you might walk past the entrance to the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair. There is no large sign, just a lighted gold fan over the door and very subtle gold lettering on the wall on the side. But this sense of whispering its existence is very much in sync with the feeling guests will get inside.

This intimate hotel which opened in June is hardly in a less trafficked part of the city: Hanover Square is across the street and Regent and New Bond Streets half a block away. Once you pass through the glass entry, though, it’s hard to believe that you’re in a city at all. The small entry salon leads to a small lobby and concierge desk and then across a connecting bridge to another small room containing the elevators and reception desk. Everywhere is quiet with the sense of entering an inner sanctum. And, in reality, you are.

The Design

If the overall tone is tranquil, though, the design is pure drama but with an overlay of nature. Dominating the entry is a massive tree lit from below with clusters of buds curling up the trunk; the lobby which features a large bramble of twigs is blanketed floor to ceiling in green Ming marble, the same material used in the circular staircase leading down to Akira Back, the Japanese restaurant from the star Korean/American chef. The cocktail bar ABar Lounge is accented with shards of shimmering bronze suspended from the ceiling; upstairs ABar Rooftop has a lighted ceiling meant to emulate swirling clouds with a contemporary design of burgundy, slate blue and cream furnishings plus views over London through floor to ceiling windows.

Upstairs, in the 50 rooms and 77 residences, the overall look is subtle, detailed elegance and the feel, restful and cocooning. Design elements start with de Gournay hand-painted and embroidered silk wallpaper depicting magnolias, inspired by the ones over in Hanover Square in a Chinoiserie design reflecting the hotel group’s Asian origins. Other elements include bespoke cream furniture with accents in jewel tones, metallic finishes in brass, gold and bronze and suspended lighting of white and gold porcelain leaves. If a room can be nurturing, these truly are.

The Mandarin Spa

The spa, a Mandarin Oriental trademark, is, naturally, even more nurturing with treatments ranging from cellular collagen-infused facials to holistic therapies derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Binaural Acoustic and Dynamic Stimulation, an acoustic and vibrational therapy to induce deep relaxation. But deep relaxation can even be achieved by just lying around the 82-foot-long pool surrounded by dark walls punctuated by a sprinkling of lights.

The Cuisine of Akira Back

The visuals of the restaurant Akira Back have been featured in numerous Instagram posts from the top of the green marble stairs. Those who make their way down to the restaurant, though, are rewarded with distinctive, innovative selections from the menu, the results of Back’s background: born in Korea, raised in Aspen, Colorado and a graduate of fine Japanese restaurants across Europe and Japan.

Dishes such as his signature tuna pizza constructed on a thin crunchy crust with umami aioli made with ponzu sauce, tuna sashimi, microshiso and white truffle oil; Spider Roll with soft shell crab, dynamite mayo and shiso leaf and Charcoal grilled A5 Wagyu from Hokkaido with yuzu kosho bordelaise are luscious but also artfully displayed particularly on dishes created by Back’s mother, an artist. A 14 seat chef’s table of Korean specialties is also available at Dosa, a private room off the main restaurant.

At Akira Back, even breakfast is a sumptuous affair with dishes such as Wagyu Bresaola with wholemeal focaccia, a seasonal mushroom omelet loaded with Comte and Gruyere and Gianduja Croffle, a waffle made with croissant dough with Hazelnut ganache and vanilla Chantilly. Anyone looking for a place to meet for breakfast, along with the other two meals, would do well here. Particularly if they’re looking for a place that feels off the beaten track and very, very private.

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