Mandarin Oriental has introduced the group’s second property in London with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair on historic Hanover Square, where fashion, art, business and culture intersect.
The sleek and boutique sister property to Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park comprises of 50 guestrooms and suites, 77 private residences, award-winning Chef Akira Back’s London restaurant debut, two bars and a beautiful spa.
Designed by internationally renowned Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is the first new build in Mayfair for over a decade and brings a modern architectural approach to one of London’s most storied squares. RSHP has created a unique Vierendeel structured building – one of the first in the UK – that provides wide internal space and an elegant contemporary townscape façade, clad with burnt red brick ‘baguettes’ (the longest in the UK), inspired by the Georgian terraces that surround the hotel.
The focus on the hotel’s fabled location informing its identity continues inside with 50 guest rooms and suites, along with 77 private residences meticulously crafted by British based Studio Indigo, who have seamlessly blended Mandarin Oriental’s Asian heritage with locally inspired elements to create a distinct identity. Inspired by haute couture, every guest room has been imagined as a jewellery box, with a palette that includes a rich emerald green, regal maroon and tranquil turquoise, using fine timbers, marbles, soft fabrics and carpets, bespoke lighting and furniture complemented by metallic finishes in brass, bronze, and gold. House of de Gournay hand-painted silk wallpaper is an exquisite focal point of the rooms; its flowering magnolia design – whose leaves have been meticulously considered in relation to the Feng Shui of each room – is a nod to the trees found in Hanover Square, whilst the chinoiserie is a subtle reference to the hotel Group’s oriental heritage.
This best of the East and West can also be found within the hotel’s public spaces – the reception, atrium, Akira Back restaurant, ABar Lounge, 14-seater chef’s table Dosa, private dining rooms and spa – all by Tokyo based design agency Curiosity who have used colour and texture to great effect. The large sculptural lobby and reception to the spa boasts rare green Ming marble to reflect the green spaces of Hanover Square, Berkeley Square and Green Park, whilst the dining spaces have been inspired by “a walk in the park” and the natural elements of ‘wind’, ‘water’, ‘earth’ and ‘fire’, reflected through carefully choreographed lighting, suspended structures, and metallic ceilings.
This atmospheric design sets the stage for the creative culinary concepts of award-winning Chef Akira Back who makes his UK debut at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair. Born in Korea, raised in Colorado and having helmed some of the very best Japanese restaurants in the world, he brings a sense of adventure and boundless creativity to his culinary creations. Comprising 148 seats, including three private dining rooms, the Akira Back restaurant will offer some of his greatest hits, including the ‘AB Tuna Pizza’, a wafer-thin crunchy crust, umami aioli made with ponzu sauce, tuna sashimi, micro shiso and white truffle oil. For added drama, 14-seater Dosa will be the ultimate culinary theatre experience with contemporary Korean dishes expertly presented in an intimate counter-style setting, using seasonal ingredients and cutting-edge techniques. Pre or post prandial drinks can be enjoyed in the ABar Lounge, which features an artistic cocktail programme and small bites menu accompanied by a line-up of live DJs – open until late. Later in 2024 will see the opening of the ABar Rooftop for drinks and dining, whilst enjoying panoramic views over the London skyline.
For indulgence of the more holistic kind, the subterranean The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair brings some dynamic firsts to the UK wellness scene. These include new to London binaural biohacking treatments, offering ‘stress release’, ‘mindfulness’, ‘awaken’ and ‘power nap’ as quick fix 22-minute experiences. The carefully curated spa menu also features treatments by results-driven ‘Swiss Perfection’; the scientific ‘Seed to Skin Tuscany’ and CBD-infused ‘OTO’. Two experiences, exclusive to The Spa, have been inspired by the local surroundings – a four-handed ‘Tranquillity of Mayfair’ massage therapy and a signature ‘Elegance of Mayfair’ facial. The Spa also offers a 25-metre swimming pool, sauna, vitality pools and experience showers, a state-of-the-art gym, personal training, reformer Pilates, nutritional consultations, physiotherapy and NormaTec massage technology used by elite athletes to improve recovery and performance.
