Are you in for a trippy, surreal experience? Let's say they've engineered everything - the sumptuous jewel colors, the striking artwork, the hanging jasmine gardens, the boudoir-style bedrooms - so that if your stay isn't memorable, it's not the Mandrake, it's you. The third should have been obvious: The hotel is named for a hallucinatory plant rich in folklore. The next clue is the two-story lobby, dominated by a Gothic, dominatrix-y chandelier of candles. That you enter through a dark corridor off a quiet street in Central London is the first indication that you're not at the typical come-one, come-all hotel. All photos courtesy of the Mandrake Hotel. For those for whom the world “wellness” creates a flutter of happy butterflies, staying at a hotel which doesn’t force you to suspend your healthy lifestyle entirely is truly a treat.The Mandrake Suite at the Mandrake Hotel. This is no Spartan detox retreat.įrom the Anima Mundi plant medicine elixirs in the minibar, to the organic cotton bedsheets to the botanical infused cocktails this is unintimidating, modern wellness without restriction or punishment. The word “wellness” may be irritatingly ubiquitous, but the Mandrake sneaks in “healthy” in a way that feels fun rather than preachy. This artistic sensibility offers some culture for the soul, while their health-conscious menus allow your body to find equilibrium. Diverse in their style and medium, they all nod to the occult or fantastical in some way and certainly bring personality into the often soulless world of hotel art.

Scattered throughout the property is an eclectic collection of artwork from their rotating roster of in-house artists. The Mandrake endeavors to nourish and delight you, body and soul. Having a calm, nurturing space from which to start and end your day is essential to well-being. Busy days in large cities are inevitably an assault on one’s nervous system. Well, this place argues for the contrary. The oft given advice for traveling in big cities is to not waste money on a hotel you’ll barely see the inside of. Fill your cauldrons with the intoxicating Herbivore Botanical potions provided (non-toxic in beautifully sleek packaging-a lovely manifestation of modern well-being) and cast a spell of deep relaxation upon yourself. The beds are heavenly while the deep marble bathtubs provide an almost spiritual experience. In the smaller rooms these artifacts act as pointed accents-Venetian masks peering down from atop a stylish wardrobe, for example-while the larger suites offer eclectic luxury on a medieval scale. Well, the home of a very wealthy eccentric explorer, displaying his worldly collection of unusual artifacts. The furniture in every room is a mix of modern pieces and antiques which lend the property a personal, almost homey vibe. This contrast of old and new, occult and luxury, threads through every aspect of the hotel-it’s the lair of the high-end fashion hippy, if you will.

They’re light and airy, but certainly not minimal. The terrace rooms feel clean and modern, while eclectic design details keep the mystical atmosphere afloat. The Mandrake may be dressed in magic, but it’s still a luxury hotel at heart.

Mandrake hotels london