24 August, 2018
This contemporary grand dame takes up residency a short walking distance from London's throbbing artery of Oxford Street, amid the characterful roads littered with boutiques and pubs that make up quintessential Marylebone.
A well-equipped city hotel, The Marylebone will leave you wanting for nothing. Rooms cater equally to business and leisure travellers, while patrons of the ground-floor brasserie and bar spill out onto lively Marylebone Lane as Londoners come to kiss goodbye to the working week. Bright, modern interiors create a feeling of freshness from the expansive lobby up to the marble-clad bathrooms, while the gym and spa are notable attractions. A failsafe option at which you can be confident that you will be well looked after in comfortably chic surrounds - just look at those jewel-toned, velveteen armchairs - it's no surprise that many clientele are returning visitors.
Varying from "cosy" up to its whopping namesake suite (featuring a retractable roof and outdoor television), the 257 rooms (including 44 suites) at The Marylebone are a natural palette of leather furnishings and soft woods, brightened by splashes of colour (think Maldives turquoise or Malbec burgundy) and fresh flowers to create a welcoming albeit spruced-up atmosphere. We recommend booking a terrace suite for people-watching views of London as you sip on something cold - delivered notably promptly by charming a man in dickie bow - and swan about preparing for your evening activities.
An à la carte offering serves everything from the standard porridge, eggs and avo toast to banana bread and sweetcorn fritters.
Studded red bar stools, intimate lighting and a striking curved mirror at 108 Brasserie transport you straight to Paris for your evening soirée. Everything is seasonal and locally sourced as executive head chef Russell Ford centres his menu around the hotel's Josper grill, with a slant towards French cuisine. The somewhat tricky dietary requirements of one our party were nothing more than water off a duck's back, with well-briefed, smiling staff happy to advise.
Yes. The street-level location of the bar at 108 means it feels like an independent offering and fills up with locals (or at least, those who work nearby) who are no doubt attracted by a menu dedicated to whisky. Alternatively, hunker down in The Cocktail Bar, a sleek and snug affair thanks to midnight blues and hints of golds, where you'll find a mean old fashioned.
You'll find all the usual suspects at this Doyle Collection offering, but what really sets the hotel apart is access to Third Space, a private members' gym and spa. Take advantage of a range of fitness classes, go or a dip in the 18m pool, or loosen up with a massage. If you need to cleanse insides as well as out, head to The Juicery where the baristas will mix you up a nourishing, detoxing or "hormone-balancing" elixir.
Be sure to look out for incredible artwork on display around the hotel, much of it sourced from the nearby Rebecca Hossack gallery.
Situated in Marylebone Village near to both Oxford Street and Bond Street tube stations, London really is yours for the taking. But we recommend spending some time exploring the high-end vintage shops, charming cafés and antiquated pubs of this unique quarter of the city.