Henrietta Hotel

1 November 2017

Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden is close to both the theatres of the West End and the boutiques, restaurants and nightlife of Soho,

but once you step through the innocuous black front door of this 18-room boutique hotel on Henrietta Street, which dates back to the 17th century, the frenetic pace of London is left behind.

The first hotel from Experimental Group, best known for its bars and restaurants in London, Paris and Ibiza, offers bold but elegant interior design from Dorothée Meilichzon. The founder of design studio Chzon, she respects the storied history of the two townhouses that make up the property – one of which is the former office of George Orwell’s publisher Victor Gollancz Ltd.

The rooms enjoy comfort aligned with a strong combination of colours and patterns – for example, a super king size bed, in the Henrietta room, with a striking headboard integrating a circular mirror and patterned fabric panels. Mosaic patterned carpets with mismatched plush velvet chairs, sofas and brass lamps; and a bathroom with pink walls and a black and white tiled floor. It exudes warmth and a genuinely stylish homeliness.

But the highlight of the Henrietta Hotel is its cocktail bar and restaurant. The seasonal restaurant menu is designed by Ollie Dabbous, the man once described by The Guardian as “the most wanted chef in Britain”. Getting Dabbous on board was a real coup for the hotel’s owners, and his food does not disappoint.

Words: Charlie Carver