Schrager ‘the daddy of designer hotels’ has joined forces with ‘Marriott’ to give the boutique hotel experience a new lease of life. The outcome – another jewel in Fitzsrovia’s already remarkable crown. Gallery were lucky enough to try it out…
Celebrity hotelier Ian Schrager is renowned for design led, service light establishments and this 5-star hotel is a beguiling mix of traditional and contemporary styles – complete with an unrivalled location – just moments away from a handful of fashion’s most coveted labels, London’s most iconic attractions and every cuisine imaginable. Brimming with art, culture, shopping and dining, the Edition’s bohemian neighbourhood only adds to this hotel’s unique charm.
The establishment is every bit as alluring from the outside as it is on the inside. Doormen rush to welcome the fashionable crowd through the eloquent doorway, which encases a magnificent lobby bar complete with sky-high, stuccoed ceiling, stainless steel orb, billiard tables and roaring fire. To the right is Berner’s Tavern, an equally aesthetic space, with loft-like ceilings and walls flaunting no fewer than 185 artworks, all peering out from antique-style frames. It comes as little surprise that the London Edition’s restaurant was bestowed with the ELLE Decoration Award for Best British Interior in 2014.
The food – which is every bit as enticing as the décor, owes itself to Jason Atherton – the culinary connoisseur behind the Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social. Dining here is a real occasion and the menu swanks an edgy twist on traditional British cuisine, consisting of produce sourced solely in the UK.
After dinner drinks are a must and the well- stocked bar plays host to an encyclopaedic menu of must-try cocktails. Tempt your tastebuds with the likes of a ‘Late British Shake Off’, ‘Vintage Vesper’, ‘Aging Hipster’ or ‘Blood and Smoke’ concoction. And it doesn’t end there, downstairs, the basement boasts a ‘Studio 54’ style get-up, where DJ’s dish out a series of bouncing beats, guaranteed to bring on the Saturday night fever.
When you can dance no more, simply retire to your lavishly styled suite. Blending a sense of the past with a style of today, bedrooms play second string to social spaces. Cosy, sophisticated and inundated with natural light, rooms are decked out with oak floors and walnut panelling, and exude an elegance more suited to a super yacht than that of a city-central hotel. From the desk, which appears cantilevered off the walls, to the luxurious linens, the artfully strewn faux fur throws, soft, inviting shades and tufted George Smith lounge chairs – the designer décor sets a new standard for luxury hotels in London. Select rooms, including the Penthouse suite, offer oversized terraces with fantastic city views, lounge chairs and cast- iron bistro tables. Returning back to our room after a successful shopping trip, a welcome note and two Elderflower and Gin Cocktails awaited our arrival, both served in chilled glass bottles, freshly made by the Lobby Bar’s Mixologist Matteo – a much-appreciated touch that shows the London Edition is very much about a personal service.
Breakfast in Berner’s Tavern is every bit as enjoyable as dinner and if you fancy a lie in, you needn’t worry as last orders conclude at 12pm. Our plates arrive brimming with Severne & Wye cured smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, with lashings of buttery spinach. Additional offerings include moreish hazelnut waffles, avocado on toast, crispy middle white back bacon sourdough sandwiches and melt-in-the- mouth buttermilk pancakes – washed down with freshly made juices. The curly kale, apple, cucumber and lime concoction is a guaranteed pick-me-up! With dishes on par with the surroundings, it’s no wonder this establishment has been dubbed the ‘new gathering place for all day dining and entertaining’.
Once inside the realms of the London Edition, you’ll find it difficult to leave – and with ground-breaking innovative design, outstanding dining, on-tap entertainment and a personal, friendly modern service – you’ll find little reason to want to.
10 BERNERS STREET LONDON W1T 3NP UNITED KINGDOM Rates from £270
PHONE +44 020 7781 0000
www.editionhotels.com
Getting here from Jersey: Fly Blue Islands direct to London City Airport and avoid the Gatwick rush, hop on the DLR to Central London (leaves every 15 minutes) and take the Central Line to Oxford Circus. Berner’s Street is a six-minute walk from the station.
Alternatively, you can book a private car from the airport in advance by calling the Hotel Concierge. If you’re hiring a car, parking is a three to five minute walk from the establishment and costs £10-15 per night.
Photo credit-Nikolas-Koenig
