HOT HOTEL
The Marylebone Hotel, London
Living with two housemates and a hyperactive cat means finding the space to indulge in some quality time with the beau can be a mission at the best of times. Throw into the mix all the various lockdowns, plus the ongoing back and forth with travel restrictions — I’m all for jumping on a plane for even the shortest break, but the variables are too varied even for me — and a UK getaway is definitely the sensible option.
Our destination is The Marylebone hotel, named after its central London location. Although the tourist masses flock to nearby shopping mecca Oxford Street or Notting Hill, the hotel’s astute visitors are quite happy to forego all that rushing about to relax, soak up the summer sun and sip on a finely blended cocktail in the hotel’s 108 Brasserie.
The modest 1960s exterior of the hotel belies a grand interior: dark walls with gold accents delight, while the furnishings offer nods to art deco — my favourite architectural era. We go all-out and opt for a south-facing terrace room on the penthouse floor.
It is an inspired choice: it soaks up the light from sunrise to sunset – plus we’ve timed our visit perfectly with a heatwave, so we lie back, pop the music on, order a drink or three from room service and proceed to unwind. Outside, the panorama extends from the steel and glass gothic spire of the Shard near London Bridge to the east and the treetops over Hyde Park to the west.
Day slips into evening, and the view from the terrace takes on a new dimension as the stars appear and the city lights flicker on. The next morning, the super king-size bed requires us to text each other a breakfast order from our respective ends; when we eventually rise from our slumber, that is — I guarantee you won’t find a better night’s sleep.
The biggest compliment I can pay to The Marylebone is that we don’t leave the hotel all weekend; between the gorgeous room, the hotel’s perfect outside space, and its restaurant, we have all that we need right here. Dining at the 108 Brasserie, we start with tuna ceviche so fresh it jumped right out of the sea and onto the plate, while our main course of herb-crusted rack of lamb slides off the bone. But it’s the cocktails that really shine, with the attentive bar manager guiding us through their bespoke twists on a classic frozen margarita made with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto that offers a bouquet of flavours with every sip, while the negroni with Antica Formula Sweet vermouth is an essential aperitif.
As weekend escapes go, we leave fulfilled in every way. We have had some much-needed couple time, while the hotel presents luxury beyond our expectations. Book us back in for 2022, please.
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