London’s Booming Hotel Scene
There have been a number of recent additions to London’s booming hotel scene, including:
Launched in October on High Holborn, a five-minute walk from Covent Garden, the Rosewood London is simply beautiful. Make your way to the sofas in front of the large, open fireplace in the bar, enjoy exquisite food in the Mirror Room from Michelin-starred Bjorn Van Der Horst, marvel at the rose-copper corridor connecting the bar and restaurant, or simply relax in your stylish, chic bedroom.
The London EDITION is the latest hotel from Ian Schrager in collaboration with Marriott Hotels. The lobby bar is gorgeous with high ceilings and a dramatic chandelier in the centre of the room, while the Punch Room bar at the back of the hotel is an intimate space designed in dark woods that makes you feel as though you’re one of the few that know the secret.
The restaurant, Berners Tavern, is under the guidance of super-chef Jason Atherton in an absolutely stunning dining room.
Hip hotel group, Ace Hotels, opened in Shoreditch in the autumn of 2013 and already feels right at home in the neighbourhood. A bustling lobby scene, an excellent restaurant—Hoi Polloi, from the team behind Bistrotheque in East London—a small florist, and a coffee roaster all create the hotel brand’s cool, hip global image.
Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross
With an excellent location directly opposite the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras, this is an ideal choice for those travelling by train.
The 91 bedrooms in the hotel are simple but elegant, suited for short business stays or a long weekend in the capital. The restaurant is under the guidance of celebrated chef Mark Sargeant, and while the downstairs bar is full of life, I recommend heading upstairs to the almost hidden bar next to the restaurant, which is gorgeous and feels like your own private bar.
On the Radar for 2014:
Many new openings are scheduled for the year ahead including the Beaumont in Mayfair from the owners of the Wolseley, the Shangri-La hotel in the Shard; Ham Yard Hotel in Soho from Firmdale Hotels (portfolio includes Soho Hotel and Covent Garden Hotel), the Hoxton Holborn, and the Mondrian (sister hotel to Sanderson and St. Martin’s Lane Hotel).
Follow Bon Vivant’s founder Emyr Thomas on Twitter and visit the website for further details about the London-based concierge service.
