Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Review: The Very Definition Of Classic Hospitality

Does one of the most glamorous luxury hotels in London still hold strong amongst fierce competition in the capital? Read on for our full Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London review to find out.

In a city stacked with some of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotels, it says a lot that Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in Knightsbridge is still one of the capital’s most coveted and decorated. The property’s regal reputation completely disguises the fact that the grand Edwardian building, postured beautifully opposite some of London’s most luxurious boutiques, was originally built as a Gentlemen’s Club in 1889.

In 1902, the building was christened the Hyde Park Hotel, and remained so for many decades until it was reskinned by Hong Kong’s most well-known and reliable luxury hotel brand at the turn of the century. Since it was reflagged in 1996, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel has been a cross-cultural beacon of London traditionalism spliced with subtle nods to the brand’s Oriental roots. Though decoration aside, the building’s location opposite Hyde Park is what really draws out its character and brings an almost bucolic character to the hotel. It’s peaceful; infectiously so.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Review – Table Of Contents

• Location
• Design & Features
• Rooms
• Food & Drink
• Service
• Verdict & Value
• Frequently Asked Questions

Location

Knightsbridge is as wealthy as it sounds. As one of London’s most expensive areas, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is in good company with some of the city’s most lauded boutiques and shopping malls. This is where cashed-up locals and travellers come to spend money, so the hotel fits right in with its long history of serving London’s high society.

The colourful building sticks out like a sore thumb, however. It’s hard to miss the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, which is very accessible for travellers with a tube stop within ear-shot and a slightly retro aesthetic helped by the bellhops who stand outside in traditional red, watching over the grand dame and cheerily greeting both guests and really anyone who happens to pass by. Service is golden from the get-go, which only adds to the allure of this charming expression of Mandarin Oriental’s firm grip on sophisticated opulence.

Accessing Hyde Park is a matter of crossing the road behind the hotel’s front entrance. The emblematic, expansive park couldn’t be better suited for morning jogs.

Design & Features

The entrance sets the scene. You’re ushered into a high-polish, ornate space with a large marble staircase that opens into the reception area. This in turns turn leads to the award-winning tea room The Rosebery with its yellow-tinged lounges and classic decor. This space feels like it’s been ripped from the film set of an 80’s British drama about the Royal Family. And that’s fitting, seeing as the building is deeply rooted in British politics.

The hotel is where Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret first learned to dance, and it was also the scene of the 1954 Balaclava Ball, which was reportedly attended by the Queen, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother at the time. This building is dressed in history and it shows. Although that’s not to say any corner appears dated at all. Just about every space throughout this property feels modern, touched up by Mandarin Oriental with a clear sensitivity to the past.

A fire that forced the hotel to close ripped through the building in 2018 and spurred an extensive two-year renovation project. Yet you couldn’t tell this building had been through so much, given everything is so beautifully put together with copious amounts of richly-coloured marble dictated by designer Joyce Wang and softened by gentle design nods to Hyde Park, which is where the hotel draws much of its character.

I didn’t get a chance to go down to the hotel’s signature omakase restaurant, The Aubrey, but I did have a night at the famed Dinner by Heston Blumenthal that drives much of this hotel’s reputation for culinary excellence. The large, open dining room is accessible through the stylish Mandarin Bar. But more on that later.

The hotel’s world-class spa has been named London’s best more than a few times in various publications. High-end products and a genuine feeling of privacy certainly help and while the hydrotherapy pool could stand to be a bit more spacious, it’s rare you’d find yourself sharing space with more than one or two other guests.

Rooms

Light, nutty hues softened by natural light and views of the park are what really made my spacious Hyde Park Junior Suite impress as soon as I walk in. With 168 rooms and 26 suites, there are a lot of categories to choose from and I felt quite lucky that this was available for my stay. Rates for this particular suite seem to begin around €1,600 (AU$2,589), so I’d imagine during the busier seasons many well-off travellers would see these suites all taken up.

My stay was at the tail-end of a month in Italy, squashed into mid-October so the hotel seemed fairly quiet when I was there. Although that could be because the rooms feel incredibly private, and this particular Junior Suite felt like a standalone apartment with high-end features like a Bowers & Wilkins music system, a large marble bathroom and Dyson products.

Oddly enough, London’s policies require you to actually sign or at least promise reception that you won’t jump off the balcony before someone comes up to unlock it. I, of course, had it unlocked, opening up a massive standing-room balcony that could easily fit a mid-sized group of people. Looking out over Hyde Park, it’s a great place to sit and people watch, although the sole seating out here is a rather uncomfortable park bench.

Food & Drink

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal has reached that point where overly pretentious diners might turn their noise and fling accusations of boredom. And yes, culturally, the culinary institution has been weighed down by being the usual suspect in World’s 50 Best yet seemingly failing to capture the imagination of Michelin-fueled gourmands who regularly eat around at the world’s best restaurants.

It may have something with Heston’s Dinner brand being turned into a bit of a chain, with the latest outpost being Dinner by Heston at Dubai’s ritzy new Atlantis the Royal.

Sometimes criticism from exasperated culinary travellers is unfounded and based on bitterness. And while there may be a lick of authenticity to some less-than-favourable reviews, my personal experience at Dinner by Heston was exceptional. The famous meat fruit – Heston’s eternal signature and a clever, theatrical dish – is so deserving of its place in culinary history. The incredibly rich, fatty chicken liver parfait with mandarin orange jelly is served with an equally outstanding piece of brioche toast and is one of those dishes you immediately want to experience again.

The kitchen is, however, from far one trick pony. While the Meat Fruit gets an A+ from me, it’s the grilled lobster with rice curry and trout roe that’s my standout of the experience and something I still think about months later. Dessert leans closer towards average and is more theatre than quality, so I do see the point many culinary aficionados make with the set menu not being entirely worth the experience. However, between an excellent wine list and some food that never falls below an 8, there’s little reason not to book Dinner by Heston if you find yourself staying at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

Breakfast is another sure-shot winner here and easily one of the best I’ve had at a hotel in London. The buffet has numerous stations, all highlighting fresh, hearty produce across all the morning staples with a clear focus on clean, nutritious food. A la carte options are more substantial and a hybrid approach works best here, as does a table right by the window so a bit of the serenity from the edge of Hyde Park comes shining through to start the day.

Service

Key to the feeling of golden-age hospitality are the bellhops who mill around outside the hotel’s main entrance – there’s another entrance parkside, but it’s reserved for the Royals (and I assume celebrities as well) – and are all incredibly approachable. This is the kind of hotel where all staff would know your name, even those you’ve never interacted with before. Although attention-shy guests need not be worried; there’s not even a trace of overworked or scripted friendliness, which is my pet peeve whenever it comes to a hotel’s service. It’s all faultless, from the turn-down service to the spa staff.

Verdict & Value

Australian travellers can expect to pay around $2,589 for a night in the Hyde Park Junior Suite. There are lower-category rooms, of course, but even these would still run you up a hefty bill in a city that’s already increasingly expensive. Yet, it’s Mandarin Oriental. Paying something like this is expected, especially for one of the group’s signature European hotels.

So is it worth it? If cash isn’t an issue, then yes. As long as you can justify the price tag, a stay at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park goes a long way in elevating your trip to London, whether that’s direct access to Dinner by Heston and Hyde Park or a large, comfortable room on par with some of the best in the city.

However, many travellers might find it hard to justify such an expensive stay. London hotels are notoriously expensive, yes, but even when considering nearby options Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park can be a bit too ambitious for some. Although even if you aren’t staying here, I’d recommend booking in for Dinner by Heston or The Aubrey.

Mandarin Oriental has done a fantastic job shaping this historic hotel towards the Hong Kong-based brand in very subtle, unobtrusive ways. Nothing feels out of place here, presenting an elegant grand dame that sticks true to its royal history. Where many expensive London hotels can feel garish and overdone, there’s a lot of value in Mandarin Oriental’s soft touches. No divisive colour schemes certainly help but the amenities are the main reason to stay here.

And while Knightsbridge isn’t the most exciting neighbourhood if you’re in town for a lifestyle that goes beyond expensive shopping, you’re still quite close to a tube station (9-minute walk).

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Address: 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA, UK
Contact: +44 20 7235 2000

Rates in a Hyde Park Junior Suite start from around AU$2,589 per night.

The author stayed at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park as a guest of Mandarin Oriental.

RELATED: Mandarin Oriental Lake Como Review

RELATED: Mandarin Oriental Milan Review

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Review – Frequently Asked Questions