A contemporary hotel in one of London’s most historic neighbourhoods
Mandarin Oriental is pleased to announce the opening of the second property in the British capital, the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, which adds to the historic Hyde Park hotel.
Overlooking the elegant Hanover Square, it features the new boutique hotel of 50 rooms and suites, 77 private residences, two bars and the restaurant that marks the London debut of the award-winning Chef Akira Back, in addition to the inevitable Spa. Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbors + Partners, the hotel is located within one of the few contemporary buildings in the elegant Mayfair district.
The design studio created a Vierendeel-style complex – one of the first in the UK – with large internal spaces and an elegant contemporary urban façade, clad in red bricks inspired by the Georgian terraces of the surrounding buildings.
The hotel’s tribute to the Mayfair district continues within the 50 rooms and suites and in the 77 private residences designed by Studio Indigo. In a perfect fusion of Asian roots of the Group with elements of local culture, each room has been imagined as a jewelry box, with a soft color palette that extends from emerald green to brown, passing through turquoise.
Everything is embellished by the use of precious woods, marble, fabrics and plush carpets, as well as custom lighting and furniture completed with finishes metalwork in brass, bronze and gold. The hand-painted silk wallpaper from House of de Gournay, is undoubtedly a focal point of the rooms: the motif of the flowering magnolia – whose the leaves have a relationship with the Feng Shui philosophy – remember the trees in Hanover Square, while the chinoiserie are a strong reference to the oriental origins of the Group.
The relationship between West and East is also the protagonist of the common spaces, including the reception, the atrium, the Akira Back restaurant, the ABar Lounge, the chef’s table Dosa, the dining rooms private and the Spa, designed by the Tokyo design agency Curiosity, which used colors and texture with great effectiveness.
Restaurants & bars
The spa’s lobby and reception are covered in green marble Ming, reflecting the nature surrounding Hanover Square and nearby Berkeley Square and Green Park, while the restaurant rooms are inspired by a “walk in the park” and the elements natural, such as wind, water, earth and fire, reflected through accurate lighting choreographed, suspended structures and metal ceilings. The evocative design frames Chef Akira Back’s culinary concept, which debuts in British panorama at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair. Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, he arrives in London after managing some of the best Japanese restaurants in the world, bringing with him his sense of adventure and boundless creativity.
With 148 seats, the Akira Back restaurant will offer some of the Chef’s greatest classics, including the AB Tuna Pizza, a very thin crispy crust with umami aioli sauce made from ponzu, tuna sashimi, micro shiso and white truffle oil. For a more theatrical experience, the Chef’s Table is available Dosa, with fourteen seats.
Here the Korean-inspired menu is divided into dishes presented with skill which involves the use of seasonal ingredients and techniques cutting edge. For an aperitif or after dinner, you can taste something at the Abar Lounge excellent cocktails and a menu made up of small tastings accompanied by a line-up of DJs and live music.
Later in the season the Rooftop Abar will be inaugurated, where you can dine with a panoramic view of the skyline. A hallmark of the Group, the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair’s underground spa features many news on the London scene, including binaural biohacking treatments, which aim to release stress by promoting a state of awareness thanks to the awakening of the senses and a short power nap lasting 22 minutes.
Onsite spa
The Spa menu, curated by expert therapists, also offers treatments with Swiss Perfection products, from the 100% natural Seed to brand Skin Tuscany and with CBD-based infusions from the OTO brand. Furthermore, they have been developed two characteristic paths that are inspired by the surrounding environment: the four-handed massage Tranquility of Mayfair and the Elegance of Mayfair facial.
To complement the offer wellness there is a 25 meter swimming pool, a sauna, vitality pool and emotional showers, a cutting-edge gym with personal training service, Pilates reformer and consultancy nutrition, physiotherapy and NormaTec massage technology, used by top athletes to improve recovery and performance.
