Eighth wonder
VIBE
The ‘iceberg hotel’, ‘the world’s first super boutique hotel’, ‘an urban resort’... the team behind London’s most desirable new opening are not short on slick phrases.
The Londoner in Leicester Square, the £500million flagship of the Edwardian Hotels group, was 10 years in the making.
They call it an iceberg because the 16-storey property, which opened last month, is eight up, eight down. That’s right, they dug down for eight floors. Now you see why it took a decade.
All of the 350 guest rooms and 35 suites are above ground, though. I’ll get to what is below, later.
STYLE
From the moment the doorman ushers you through the smoked glass doors and into the Diptyque candlescented grey and pink reception, you can smell the luxury.
There is no waiting with your bags at a desk to check in. You will be ushered to a plush sofa by a perfectly polished member of staff to hand over your details, before being escorted to your room.
We stayed in a deluxe king, three up from the entrylevel queen. The hotel describes it as ‘generous yet intimate’ and what it lacked in space it made up for in design.
A king-sized bed with 400 thread-count Irish linen, feather down pillows, Roberts Bluetooth radio, Miller Harris toiletries in the open-plan bathroom, a handheld steamer instead of an iron. There was even a Dyson hairdryer and a Japanese toilet with heated seat.
FOOD AND DRINK
With six food and drink offerings you can see why they call The Londoner ‘an urban resort’. We dined at the French Mediterranean themed Whitcomb’ s restaurant. The crevettes a l’huile de piment – seared king prawns with garlic and chilli (£16) – were exceptional, as was the tarte au fromage (£12) a light-as-air
cheese pastry. My husband and I shared the boeuf au poivre (£42) a tasty, tender garlicky rib-eye. And our server’s dessert recommendation: the Grand Marnier French toast (£12) was heavenly.
Whitcomb’s is also where breakfast is served with a choice of buffet-style and a la carte.
I spotted tennis ace Emma Raducanu over my eggs Benedict.
If French doesn’t take your fancy, you can sample contemporary Japanese cuisine at 8 at The Londoner, the hotel’s stylish rooftop lounge. We enjoyed afternoon drinks there and returned in the evening to find a DJ playing house music to a dressy crowd. I can imagine it quickly becoming a hotspot for the glitterati.
For something less formal, ‘gastro pub’ Joshua’s Tavern offers the likes of baked Philly cheesesteak bites and posh popcorn, while if you like your fizz, The Stage bar on the ground floor is home to more than 45 different kinds of champagne.
Hotel guests also have access to an exclusive area – The Residence. Located on a mezzanine floor above The Stage, your room key opens the door and soft drinks, tea and coffee are served throughout the day.
There is also a hidden whisky den if you can find it. We did. I won’t spoil your fun by giving away its location. The secret speakeasy is just one of the hotel’s countless quirky touches. Look out for the peepholes in the lifts.
And if you overdo it on the booze, you can grab a health-boosting ‘vitality shot’ at Refuel at The Retreat, The Londoner’s ‘superfood and drinks clinic’ situated in its subterranean spa.
ACTIVITIES
The best of London is literally on your doorstep. However, if you just want to chill, the aforementioned Retreat is hard to beat.
Four floors down from the hotel reception you will find a swimming pool, hydropool and steam rooms, as well as a gym and workout studio.
Get a trim at the in-house barber’s, a blow-dry at the salon or enjoy a relaxing treatment.
My Omorovicza signature gold facial (£110 for 60 mins) from magic-fingered therapist Dolce left me feeling on cloud nine. I certainly didn’t feel like I was deep underground at the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities.
And that, I guess, is The Londoner’s USP. To take you away from it all, at the centre of it all.
Now there’s a concept I dig.
The secret speakeasy is just one of the hotel’s many quirky touches