1 Hotel Mayfair: the new benchmark for low-impact luxury

Marking the European debut of the 1 Hotel’s mission-driven portfolio, 1 Hotel Mayfair offers a new benchmark for low-impact luxury within the capital’s ever evolving, decidedly sumptuous, hotel market. With sustainability at its core, this is a stylish yet refreshingly informal option for a stay in one of London’s busiest spots.

Where is it?

In buzzy Mayfair where enticing new hotels and hot restaurants seem to appear weekly, making it London’s most desirable location. From its front door on Berkeley Street, it is steps away from London must-visits such as The Royal Academy, Fortnum and Mason, Hatchard’s book shop and many of the West End theatres. And, should there be sunshine, then you can bask in it, in neighbouring St. James’ Park.

Style

Driven by its mission to consciously draw on inspiration from nature, it is no surprise that the design here is biophilic, with a capital B. There are over 500 sq. metres of verdant, vertical, gardens, with more than 200 plant species represented here and in the planting beds in the guest rooms.

All 181 bedrooms feature moss walls with British oak flooring and there is Welsh slate in the bathroom (and Yorkshire stone elsewhere). Nature comes in art form too, courtesy of artisans and craftspeople from the UK and beyond, with Kate McGwire’s feather installation on the bar counter in Dover Yard, the leafy lobby chandelier created from air plants by artist Patrick Nadeau and the reception desk hewn from a giant oak tree from the English countryside.

Prioritising reconstruction over new construction, the hotel utilised 80 per cent of its existing structure in its rebuild, which was repurposed to avoid significant environmental impact. Something which allowed it to recently achieve the BREEAM Excellent certification, a world-leading sustainability assessment method for the built environment and environmental impact.

The two, newly added, upper floors have floor to ceiling windows throughout bringing – yet again – the outside in.

Adjacent to the hotel is a newly cobbled, leafy, pedestrian walkway, accessible to all Londoners and given to the neighbourhood, called Dover Yard.

Food & Drink

Inside the hotel, the bar of the same name, Dover Yard, follows through on the hotel’s emphasis on sustainability with its carefully curated cocktails which use local, seasonal ingredients and British spirits. Try the homemade Lemon Sour Mash, created with the leftover skins from juicing lemons or the Garden Sour, where a parsley syrup is added to mezcal and green chartreuse or a Lilac Martini where gooseberry cordial enhances the gin.

Dovetale, the ground floor restaurant, has Chef Tom Sellers at the helm. Lunchtime offers earthy dishes such as haunch of venison with lentils and blackberries while dishes on the evening menu include roasted Orkney scallops with black trompettes and cep caramel or potato gnocchi with black winter truffle and aged parmesan alongside carnivore favourite carpaccio of English Wagyu with beef fat chips and mustard.

Neighbours is all about supporting local farmers and suppliers with their range of organic goods. Here you can grab a smashed avocado muffin or a mortadella sandwich and a slice of cake to go, or stop and sip one of the impressive selection of wines by the glass, have a cocktail, a fairtrade coffee or a cold pressed juice. They even showcase Mayfair artisans serving their unrooted baobab shots and Fibe prebiotic sodas. As I said at the beginning, 1 Hotel Mayfair is refreshingly informal and impresses in its aim to deliver a luxury which puts climate change concern front and centre.

Facilities

The Bamford Wellness Spa, housed on the first floor of the hotel, offers holistic treatments from foaming enzyme facials to LED light therapy to sugar scrubs in particularly peaceful, soothingly coloured, surroundings. The Field House aka the gym has renowned visiting practitioners and personal trainers if you want guidance on the Technogym equipment, a yoga class, to improve your breathwork – or even your boxing. The hotel organises a weekly run for its guests around the area, but if you prefer to see it from the comfort of the car, hop into the emission-free, Audi e-tron, the official electronic vehicle of 1 Hotels, available daily for guests on a first come, first served basis.

Extra-curricular

London is on your doorstep, with some of the most iconic museums, galleries and of course, designer shops, minutes away. You’re less than half an hour from both the Victoria & Albert Museum and National Gallery on foot.

Which Room

If space is what you hanker for, indulge and book into the largest one-bedroom Penthouse Suite in Mayfair, which overlooks Green Park. Otherwise, any of the 137 rooms and 44 suites will suffice nicely. They all come clad in muted, peaceful, tones overlaying oak floors and wooden décor, which enhances the cocoon-like tranquillity despite the hotel being in the heart of London. Plants add welcome touches of the natural world, as do the walls of moss.

Best for

Those who love conscientious luxury, who want to do their bit for climate change, and care that their money goes to the good people.

Details

Doubles from £500 excluding breakfast. 1hotels.com