London’s the kind of city where you can choose your own adventure. From uber-cool experiences in the gentrifying neighbourhoods of the east and south, and big-hitting attractions of the city centre, to the myriad world-class museums and well-groomed, abundant parks. But for true luxury, Mayfair’s the only place to be, filled with premium boutiques, legacy five-star hotels and award-winning restaurants. Within this bastion of sophistication, the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London offers a boutique-style stay with all the trimmings. We checked in for a stay filled with cosy opulence.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own. 

Review of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London 

First impressions

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair Exterior
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

This second Mandarin Oriental property in London (a third is set to open in Bankside in 2028) is a far cry from the first. Where the original hotel is housed in a 19th-century chateau, hints at old-world charm, and is situated across from Hyde Park, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is a glass-and-steel tribute to modernity by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners that somehow blends into the surrounding red brick Georgian buildings.

Tucked into a discreet corner off Hanover Square, you’d almost forget you’re just a few minutes’ walk from the shops and blue-chip galleries of Regent Street, New Bond Street, and Piccadilly; the tailors of Savile Row; and a string of green spaces (Hyde Park, Green Park, and Regent’s Park, specifically). In fact, it’s only when we spot the regal black Rolls-Royce sitting in the short driveway that we realise we’re at the hotel’s entrance. 

Inside, clever architecture ensures the rest of the hotel is as discreet as its location. There are two pavilion towers connected by a central stairway and lift, with plenty of glass to allow natural light to flood the building during the day. Interiors by Curiosity and Studio Indigo have been carefully chosen to create a sense of quiet luxury, with timber, marble and stone subtly accented by brass, bronze and gold. 

We wander past a few public spaces before we end up in the small but beautifully rendered lobby anchored by two marble check-in desks. It’s immediately obvious this is a Mandarin Oriental property – the signature scent floats through the air, there are fresh flower arrangements throughout, and somehow, there’s a vague sense of Asia.

Suite life 

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair London hotel interior of Studio Suite
We checked into an elegant Studio Suite

Befitting its hidden location, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, is an intimate property. There are just 50 guest rooms and suites across five floors, so, size-wise, this is more in line with a chic boutique hotel. Each bolthole is beautifully decked out in the same plush opulence of the hotel’s public spaces. 

Once I manage to prise open the surprisingly heavy wood door of my Studio Suite, I step into a world of elegant comfort rendered in a sophisticated palette of creams, whites, bronze, and blue. Painstaking attention to detail pulls the whole space together, making this feel like a personal pied-a-terre rather than a hotel suite.

In the living space, hand-painted silk wallpaper – created by de Gournay to reflect the magnolias of Hanover Square – is set off by a plush carpet and abstract artwork, all of which feature complementary shades of white, blue, and grey. For comfort, there’s an abundance of plush, bespoke seating; for fun and function, there are well-chosen coffee table books, a small velvet coffret for storage, and a complimentary minibar fitted with beautiful crystal stemware, and premium local snacks and drinks. 

The bedroom and massive marble bathroom are equally impressive, with similar attention paid to details. In the first, cosy twin beds dressed in starched white sheets are the perfect foil for my jetlag, but the plentiful charging points and well-lit vanity table are just as useful. In the ensuite, the sprawling double vanity, dual wardrobes, Natura Bissé products, and separate rainshower and bathtub – with the signature Mandarin Oriental rubber duck – are to be expected. But the GHD straightener, Dyson hairdryer, bathrobe and kimono-style dressing gowns, and yoga mat, elevate the space. 

All the extras

We take all our meals at The Restaurant, the hotel’s super-stylish all-day eatery. The dramatic subterranean space, reached by a spiral marble staircase, is situated under a glass-roofed atrium and boasts a light wood feature wall with a sculpture of wooden ribbons. For dinner, we dive into a decadent meal of modern Japanese plates infused with international influences and accompanied by a zesty Greek white wine.
Breakfast here is a bespoke, made-to-order experience that’s a far cry from the average hotel buffet. There’s orange juice, coffee, and viennoiserie to start, and freshly made scrambled eggs and smoked salmon to follow. Design-forward interiors with exquisitely executed dishes? I was completely sold.

Late in the evening, we head to the hotel’s top floor for a nightcap at The Rooftop. As stylish as the rest of the property, with architectural ceilings, a steel-and-marble bar, plush armchairs, and a terrace with Mayfair panoramas, this is a real hidden gem. Sipping a perfectly balanced Negroni, I spot suit-types propping up the bar and two couples on a decadent date night.

Mandarin Oriental Swimming Pool
The indoor swimming pool

The next morning, I make a pilgrimage to the hotel’s basement to visit its subterranean spa – turns out, it’s a real sanctuary for holistic wellbeing. I didn’t have time to indulge in a treatment at the spa, though the robust menu of tailored rituals makes me wish I had. Instead, I put in an hour at the well-appointed gym which features pristine Technogym equipment and a reformer Pilates machine, then take a quick dip in the 25-metre indoor pool, which – with clever lighting and design that makes it look like it’s changing colours – feels like swimming under a star-lit sky.

Final thoughts

Mayfair has several legendary hotels, each delivering opulent spaces, white-glove service, and premium drinking and dining. For a relative newcomer to the neighbourhood – it only opened in June 2024 – Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, had stiff competition. Rather than go head-to-head with neighbouring hotels, the hotel’s chosen to create a different experience that’s just as compelling. In this pocket of Mayfair, you’ll find stylish modernity, sharp, friendly service, great F&B, all delivered with a boutique flair that offers a sense of privacy and intimacy.

Discover more about Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London or Book through Booking.com

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