A night in the eclectic and mysterious five-star boutique hotel in Fitzrovia
It’s a Saturday, the weekend bag is packed and I’m off for a very short, one-night stay in the city, which just so happens to be one of my favourite things to do in London. I hop on the Lizzie line, jump off at Tottenham Court Road and it’s a quick 4-minute walk through Fitzrovia to the five-star luxury boutique Mandrake Hotel.
The hotel is a bit of a mysterious one, housed inside a converted RIBA award-winning building on Newman Street. The subdued corridor paves the way into the lobby where the dark interiors continue with a mix of art featuring mythological creatures and scenes of nature.
Check-in is short and sweet and I’m led straight to a terrace room on the first floor. Inside, my eye is immediately drawn to the windows, where jasmine and passionflower is cascading from the hanging gardens. The double doors open out to a semi-private, shared balcony overlooking the courtyard. The room has a few key features; a king-sized bed with exclusive Italian linens, an enclosed rainfall shower, Grown Alchemist products, a huge flatscreen TV, a two-seater sofa, coffee table books, and a coffee machine, which I use immediately. It’s a nice space and the view of the hanging garden is amazing.
Early eve, it’s dinner o’clock and just off the reception is The Mandrake’s main restaurant Yopo. It’s South American inspired, with Executive Chef George Scott-Toft drawing influence from his travels through Argentina, Chile and Peru. Seated at the table we’re about four feet away from a giant ostrich-like beast, which has a rather impressive headdress and snakeskin running down its entire neck. As long as it stays there and doesn’t move, it’s quite interesting to look at.
We tuck into small plates of Portland crab with apple and caviar on soft brioche and Jamón Ibérico on salted butter crispbread. The yellowtail and ají tiradito is my favourite – sashimi of yellowtail with red chilli, sweet potato, green herbs and a yoghurt dressing served with plantain chips – and I think I could it eat all day and be quite happy. The pan-roasted day boat pollock sat on a bed of charred corn salsa, chickpeas and lime is beautiful and the josper-grilled sirloin with pebre salsa and spring onions is impressive. The service is also noticeable, casual without any awkwardness and the right amount of attentiveness.
After dins, the bar picks up as the DJ provides a backdrop of beats for the crowd gearing up for a night out – the hotel is a popular party destination Thursday through Saturday. If you love an early night, then maybe this isn’t for you as it’s all about joining in the experience at The Mandrake.
In-room brekkie is probably my favourite thing about staying over in hotels. So I robe up, get the slippers on and crack enough light through the curtains to open the door, let the goods be ushered in and plonked on the table in front of the sofa. There’s coffee and it’s hot and it fills the air with a blissful weekend scent that reminds me Sunday mornings are just the best. I’ve gone for the full English breakfast and lifted the silver lid from the plate to reveal eggs, tomato, mushroom, beans, bacon, hash brown, toast, and half a sausage. The half a sausage had me, I was tempted to get on to room service to see if the guy who delivered it had taken the other half hostage. Still, as hotel fry-ups go it hit the spot, half a sausage short of full marks I’d say. I swig down an orange juice while watching the end of Sunday Brunch, Ross Noble is still pretty funny isn’t he?
Those looking for a base for weekend breaks or a little respite from the hustle and bustle (and Christmas music) then Fitzrovia’s finest five-star boutique hotel The Mandrake might be just what you’re after.
Rooms at The Mandrake start from £430
20-21 Newman Street, London, W1T 1PG
themandrake.com