REVIEW: The Mandeville Hotel, Marylebone

Passing the designer windows and gasping at the prices on Bond Street, I turned the corner to find The Mandeville Hotel, with its flags flowing in the wind. Located in the heart of Mayfair, the Victorian hotel is just a stones throw away from Oxford Circus, St Christopher’s Place and everything the city centre has to offer. The luxury four-star hotel’s reception is decked out in an extravagant décor, with a nod to all things British – think cars and flags. What’s more, you’ll also find eclectic royal memorabilia dotted about the reception too.

English Roses

My room was on the third floor looking out onto Mandeville Place – perfect for people watching. I was treated to a Riviera Deluxe Double, which was a comfortable size with a quintessentially English mix n’ match theme; each chair upholstered in a different fabric, while the bed cushions were covered in a flowery textile. The bed itself was a small double. It would have been nicer if it was a little bigger, but I couldn’t complain as I melted into the grooves of the mattress as I sprawled across it. The bathroom was very modern; it was decked out with a shower as well as a bath and the toiletries were C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries – another quirky addition (look the brand up, it’s fab!)

We decided to make the most of the location and have dinner in St Christopher’s Place, which was a two-minute walk from the hotel. Basking in the evening sun, we sipped red wine and nibbled on treats from Carluccio’s menu in the square. We were also serenaded by Italian folk singers – I felt like I was in Italy! However, we wanted to make the most of the cocktail menu in the hotel itself, so made our way along the cobbles to get a little tipsier.

Cool Cocktails

A tall Romanian waiter told us to ignore the cocktail menu and describe our favourite tastes and flavours. Keen to impress, he wanted to create a drink we had never tried and one to fall in love with. I explained how I would like to try something dry, yet fruity, and within seconds he was shaking up a storm. The Cherry Martinez the barman whipped up was incredible. It was a sophisticated maraschino-cherry tipple, with a subtle not-too-sweet taste. It was delicious and not expensive (for London prices, I mean) but beware: it’s very strong!

We chatted to the bar staff for the rest of the evening about speakeasy bars and favourite hangouts in the city. It was relaxed and comfortable in the high-end bar, before making our way upstairs to hit the hay. The room was classic and comfortable but we could hear the light hum of traffic from the street.

In the morning we finished the overnight stay with a light continental breakfast buffet in the restaurant. Admiring the gold furnishings and contemplating our stay, we ate our mini croissants and washed them down with OJ.

The Mandeville is a luxurious hotel hidden in a tourist hot spot. For those dropping into town for a quick visit the hotel is a perfect place to drop your bags and soak up the city’s offerings. Plus, I discovered the entire fifth floor has rooms decorated by designer Christian Lacroix – how very Absolutely Fabulous indeed! Already planning my trip back, darling!