The Londoner

“Well,” I blurted out to no one in particular, as I entered my room at The Londoner in London. “Finally, a hotel room that has been designed by a woman!” Heaving a sigh of relief, I eyed the inviting vanity and the comfy slipper chair in front of it. What would have been dubbed a dressing table years ago was a welcome sight…a large, circular mirror was on the wall in front of the vanity, and all it lacked were twinkling stage lights around the corona, to make me feel like a West End starlet. It did not escape my notice that adjacent to that mirror, on the wall, were electrical outlets—real sockets—where you could plug in the cord of a hair dryer and sit down to perform your toilette, while actually looking at your own face in a mirror. What an ingenious idea. Ha ha

Sounds a little obvious, maybe? Well, I cannot tell you how many hotel rooms I have stayed in, some with pretty posh price tags attached to them, where there was NO place to sit and blow-dry my hair. Being England, and the UK in general—not to mention countless countries that are NOT the US of A—having a socket in the loo, which could accommodate an electrical appliance is verboten. Over the years, I cannot tell you the lengths I have had to go to in order to dry my tresses.

And, to add a cherry to the top of this sundae of a boudoir—there was a Dyson hair dryer to complete Nirvana! Yes, Dyson! Oh, heavens!

Allow me to tell you just what else was in this well thought out chamber. For the record, maybe it was, or maybe it wasn’t, indeed, designed by a woman, but it was clearly tricked out by someone with a frontal lobe who considered human needs! The toilet was one of those fascinating porcelain fixtures that had a million buttons and automatically lifted its own cover and warmed the seat before I even left the writing table. How did it know? In the shower, there were generous bottles of Miller Harris hand wash and body lotion pump-decanters, thus sparing the environment some wear and tear. But, there were also little, individually packaged amenity goodies that we all love—nail and dental kits, shower caps, and so on. A seductive recamier was opposite the closet and there was also a decent-size writing desk. Let’s just say, with my needs met, I was a happy camper.

I should have known, though, that the upstairs hotel rooms—the property has 16 floors and 350 guest rooms and suites—would be comfy and singular just based on the staff uniforms for the women at the front desk. They were, in a word, stunning. It was as if Joan Miró, Frank Stella, and Morris Louis had all collaborated on creating a memorable garment fabric—a rainbow of saturated, primary colors in bold geometric shapes was the canvas for the dresses, which were chic shirt waists of sorts, with a pleat or two here and there—and a stylish, catch-you-off-guard asymmetric hem! They all looked fabulous and I wanted to take one those dresses home.

And I also should have guessed that art plays an important role in the hotel’s interior and exterior concepts, courtesy of the design firm Yabu Pushelberg. As I faced the check-in counter, I was captivated by a panoply of three-dimensional sculptures in alcove showcases behind the desk: striking sculptures depicted the London skyline, the buildings artfully constructed—folded, bent, and cut—from show-white paper, forming some of London’s most recognizable landmarks—there was “The Gherkin,” Tower Bridge, City Hall, Covent Garden Opera House, “The Cheese Grater,” and St. Paul’s. The hotel is chockablock with art, and there are some very special exhibits to inquire about and to visit. An art gallery in your own backyard.

If you venture into Joshua’s Tavern, a cozy, beckoning cocktail lounge, you’ll be struck by the hand-painted murals on the walls, beautifully imagined by design studio En Viu, depicting scenes of silliness and drunken debauchery. This is a tribute to the 18th-century portrait artist and a denizen of Leicester Square. See if you can spot the prolific painter himself in the murals. The hotel also offers a cozy Whisky Room; the Y Bar, a comfy spot open to hotel guests only, with its walls kind of graffiti-strewn; and The Stage, a kind of lobby living room.

That is to say, there are many places to sit down and have a wee dram. Additionally, there is a Japanese rooftop bar, 8 at the Londoner, which features a bold menu written in Japanese and English of nibbles and drinks, with a vast selection of Japanese whiskeys and 45 different Champagnes—and even a Japanese shima garden. Dinner is at Whitcomb’s, lobby level; it’s got a casual atmosphere, but a sophisticated menu. I would enthusiastically recommend the crispy Dover sole with a Calabrian chili salsa.

Also in the lobby, do not miss the art by Rose Robson: Busts of faces encased in fantasy turbans and hats and facial figures, are constructed from a panoply of bird feathers; they are curious, and both subtle and complex…and, in a word, they are utterly stunning. The Londoner’s head of design, Krishma Singh Dear, teamed up with James Robertson Art Consultants and the afore-mentioned Yabu Pushelberg, to curate a world-class art collection that harmonizes with the hotel’s serene design, striking architecture, and the vibe of the always-abuzz Leicester Square location.

The collection includes framed pieces and sculptures, murals and site-specific installations, by a mix of renowned artists and up-and-coming creatives. While the majority of the artwork is British, there are global influences, too, that reflect the city’s diverse, multifaceted personality and population. Also worth noting, in the lobby on a large credenza is a daily assortment of newspapers and trendy magazines. Grab a few and plop down in the comfy lounge—people-watching is a treat here.

I had a delightful stay and loved the central location—a short walk to Covent Garden, a hop over to Green Park and beyond, to the “western” side of London, and near enough to Charing Cross Station so that I could walk there to catch a train. I look forward to a return engagement! There is still the spa to explore and I did not even have time for a glass of Champagne on the roof…but I will remedy that next time.

Additional info: thelondoner.com
All photos courtesy of The Londoner