#Mandrake hotels london full

At first sight, the room seems perfectly normal for a boutique hotel - beautiful bed, lovely rug, a mini bar, a cosy floor lamp. Just like the rest of The Mandrake, my room held curious details that kept me on my toes. There was a king size bed with crisp white linens (which are all made in Italy exclusively for The Mandrake), and a velvet loveseat and mirror-top coffee table at the foot. My room was cosy and chic, decorated in a palette of earthy greens and rich fabrics, giving it a royal vibe. There are 30 rooms, ranging from the entry-level Mandrake rooms with double beds up to the Terrace rooms (where I stayed), in addition to three suites and the penthouse, at The Mandrake. When you walk into your room, you’re suddenly brought in a cocoon of velvets and heavy drapes, vintage design pieces, and a wonderful bohemian-glam environment. In the hallways, there’s a fab New York vibe with bare brick walls, wrought iron stairs, and edgy cowgirl paintings. This is where one of the greatest transitions occurs. After all, working here isn’t for those who are just looking to clock in and clock out each day, doing only what’s listed on their job description. Smart, polished, and extremely accommodating, they all had an entrepreneurial vibe that makes them exactly the type you want to have in a boutique hotel like The Mandrake. The artwork around the hotel includes sculptures from Bushra and paintings by Malec Fustok, Rami’s brother, and the entire collection is one curated by Rami and sourced from around the world.Īlthough the hotel itself will steal most of the spotlight (and how could it not!), the staff can hardly be overlooked. The hotel was designed with the lead of Rami’s interior designer sister, Tala Fustok, and Culture in Architecture Interior Design, and it’s a bit of a family affair. Opening The Mandrake was a passion project for him - a combination of his love for hosting and his passion for art. He spent much of his youth soaking up London’s street culture, particularly graffiti, and has always been immersed in the world of art.

Born in Beirut and raised in London, he is the son of Bushra Fakhoury, a renowned sculptor know for her themes and inspirations rooted in myths, fables, carnivals, and parades. I had been hearing little snippets here and there about this new hotel and since it sounded exactly like the kind of spot where it would be one #caviarmoment after another, I was curious to step into the world of The Mandrake.īut then when you find out more about Rami, it all begins to make sense.

#Mandrake hotels london full

Imagined from the mind of Beirut-born Rami Fustok, a businessman and entrepreneur, The Mandrake is an eclectic, artsy hotel full of dark whimsy and a fashionable crowd with a guest list that includes plenty of recognisable names (a quick Google search will reveal who they are!). A mystical creature in the window, some sort of feathered beast, lured us inside.

Instead, The Mandrake’s eye emblem sits above the entrance, to the right of a window display that stopped us in our tracks. You’ll find it in Fitzrovia, a diverse and super swanky area close to the West End, but don’t expect to see a big flashy sign indicating where it is. It’s enigmatic, a hotel of curiosities, and if we could, we’d rename it The Mystical Mandrake. The Mandrake Hotel in London is a newcomer to the city’s boutique hotel scene, not even a year old at this point.