With its eclectic independent shops, restaurants and boutiques, Marylebone is a bijou oasis in the heart of West London. Mirroring its postcode, No.Ten Manchester Street Hotel is a classy, artistic and intimate place. With just 44 beautifully appointed bedrooms and suites, a modern Italian restaurant Dieci and award-winning Cigar Terrace, all housed in a classical Edwardian townhouse, it’s the ideal bolthole for a London weekend.
LOCATION
The hotel is nestled just off Marylebone High Street, with its village feel, eclectic and independent boutiques, art galleries, fine dining restaurants, brasseries and bars. There’s plenty to explore on foot in the local area without having to even touch public transport. Conveniently located near some of the city’s iconic attractions, including the Wallace Collection, Madame Tussaud’s, Sherlock Holmes Museum, Regents Park and London Zoo as well as the most famous streets in the world for shopping; Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street’s designer stores if shopping takes your fancy.
STYLE & CHARACTER
With its Edwardian townhouse facade, No.Ten Manchester Street is as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, its a proper gem of a boutique hotel with quirky design features combing old London charm with contemporary cool. The lobby is home to a shiny lacquered black floor and two statement red velvet armchairs and gold mirror. The design feels plush and pleasing on the eye without being over the top. The original, arty furniture gives a relaxed but still affluent style that doesn’t feel stuffy or outdated like some West London hotels can.
ROOMS
The Junior Suites are more muted in design and colours than the rest of the hotel, perhaps to provide a more peaceful atmosphere, but still retain a sense of individual character with interesting Asian style mirrors and enormous velvet headboards in a soft gold colour. You won’t find any standard issue hotel furniture here. Even the hotel robes are stylish, white and soft with a gold thread piping around the edges. The rooms are generously sized with a room divider providing both a partition to the lounge space and bedrooom, and a convenient stand for the TV which can be viewed from the bed or sofa, or both. The bed was absolutely enormous with a very thick matress which was hard to leave, as was the room, well equipped as it was with a Nespresso Machine, powerful rainfall shower and Aveda toiletries.
FACILITIES
If your partial to a cheeky cigar, the hotel has a dedicated all-weathers cigar terrace and a world-class selection of hand-rolled Cuban cigars which is fun to explore and have a drink in even if you don’t smoke. With heaters, blankets and a rooftop covering, the space is enjoyable all year round and makes a cosy after-dinner drinks spot.
FOOD & DRINK
The Dieci restaurant offers authentic Italian flavours in an elegant, informal setting with a menu of classic Mediterranean dishes in the evenings. They keep things classic with the cocktail menu too with crowd pleasers like Sidecars, Espresso Martinis and Moscow Mules. Our starters of 24 months aged Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella served with toasted bruschetta bread, and Beef fillet Carpaccio, wild rocket salad, toasted pinenuts and capers flowers were simple homages to well cured meat and cheese. Mains of Gragnano linguine with Canadian lobster and spicy tomatoes sauce, and Black ink squid tortellini filled with salmon and mascarpone on “Grana Padano” sauce were comforting with classic, reliable flavours. In the morning we opted for breakfast in bed with a full English and Eggs Royale providing the perfect staple breakfast dishes.
WHY GO
If you’re looking for a central London hotel that feels both luxurious and personal, this is it. There’s lots of touches that make the hotel extra special, like the HANDY smartphone located in each room, allowing complimentary local and international calls to select countries, as well as internet access with 3G data free of charge.
Website: www.tenmanchesterstreethotel.com
Disclosure: IDEAL stayed as a guest of the hotel