The London EDITION – An Intense Excellence of Inscrutability
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. The London EDITION is an alluring and contemporary masterpiece composed by iconic hotelier Ian Schrager and the Marriott International group.
“This is my best work,” Ian says at the launch party, in the former Berners Street Hotel — a landmark Georgian building in Fitzrovia that was once the haunt of London society.
“The lobby has evolved,” he continues. “It’s now multiple venues for work and play—a new kind of gathering place.”
The atmosphere seduced me right at the entrance. A Belle Époque extravaganza at its finest, filled with smart-looking guests lingering over cocktails by the impressive fireplace, playing pool, and tapping away on Macs, all under a magnificent polished silver sphere designed by Ingo Maurer.
Crispy cheets balanced with the softest faux fur.
A new level of leisure
The hotel reflects the grand traditions of great britain: the traditional, aristocratic english country manor and the quintessential London private gentleman’s club with a modern, edgy, urban feel.
When these diametrically opposed aesthetics come together, they create an alchemy that takes the hotel and the experience to an entirely new level.
Wood-panelled walls with dimmed lights.
The London EDITION mixes a lot of concepts and values that I believe in. It is contemporary classic. Classic can be very heavy whilst contemporary gives it some balance. They have achieved that very well. The masculine color scheme is perfectly balanced with feminine details. As for the bedrooms – cozily, sexily chic. Dark wood-panelled walls, fake fur throws on the beds, cool mid-century wooden furniture, they exude the feel of a luxe Alpine lodge – but in the middle of the city. At my arrival, I received a wooden plate of in season Gariguette Strawberries, a complimentary gesture from the Guest Experience Manager.
Planet-like lamps hanging from the roof.
The hotel restaurant, Berners Tavern by Jason Atherton, is breathtaking. Faced with elegance, indulgence and well-executed traditionalism, one struggles to find fault. Ceilings as high as a cathedral, walls covered in gold-framed photographs, stuccoed goddesses the height of real goddesses. Make sure to add this hotel to your bucket list.
