If, like us, you are not a fan of the large hotels then No. Ten Manchester Street is tucked away on a quiet street, lined with impressive Georgian mansion blocks – great for a relaxing stay in the heart of London’s elegant Marylebone.
Delightfully understated, the hotel is only recognisable by a flag that bears its name. The polished, classical door opens into a glitzy reception. We are greeted by sleek black floor tiles, oversized red velvet chairs and friendly hotel staff.
You can choose from 44 well appointed bedrooms but we enjoyed a junior suite, located on the 5th floor. Yes, there is also a lift which is dainty and rather eccentric. We are greeted by neutral shades, clean and bright, luxurious drapes and an expansive bed. There is a separate seating area with a rather large TV. Mr O gleefully snatches up the remote control and flops down happily on the sofa, while I check out the rest of the room.
In the bedroom area there’s another large screen, great for watching TV in bed. The built-in wardrobe has ample hangers, able to cope even with Mr O’s exuberant packing (we are here for one night – he has brought three hats, two jackets and multiple shirts).
The bathroom has a separate walk-in shower and double-ended bath as well as thoughtful additions such as a toothbrush, shaving set and even a loofah. I gather up the desirable Malin and Goetz toiletries and retreat to the bathroom. An hour later, freshly loofah-ed and having used all of the body lotion (it smelt heavenly) I slide down to dinner with Mr O.
The dining room is quiet and very velvety. Maurizio looks after us and he is delightful, telling us about the upcoming restaurant and bar revamp. He knows a lot about the hotel and we bombard him with questions during dinner (sea bass and chocolate fondant for me, lobster pasta and tiramisu for Mr O). We are most fascinated to hear about the cigar terrace and the tasting room for sampling the cigars available to purchase.
Although we are not smokers, there is something rather reassuring about the earthy smell of cigars. We can definitely see the appeal of the tasting room. It’s rather like a private members club in the 1930s, with walls adorned with portraits of the great and the good, each enjoying their favourite cigar.
The covered outdoor heated terrace is also very comfortable and you can see why this place attracts cigar-loving clientele. You can choose from a range of hand-rolled Havana cigars, meticulously maintained by a dedicated Cigar Team who will cut and light cigars for you.
We ascend back to our suite and turn-down service has made our room clean and cosy. The bed is supremely comfortable with great pillows and weighty white cotton bedding. This, along with the quietness of the room and location all make for a superb night’s sleep.
In the morning, we gather our newspaper and make our way down to breakfast. Back in the dining room at our usual window table, there is a decent choice of hot dishes prepared to order along with a healthy yoghurt, fruit and muesli option.
No. Ten Manchester Street was our home away from home for one night – a boutique Central London base to enjoy the village-like charm of Marylebone, with a walk-in humidor of dreams!
To discover more about the manchester street hotel and book, visit: www.tenmanchesterstreethotel.com
Five things to do whilst staying at No. Ten Manchester Street:
Visit Churchill’s cigar shop – At James J. Fox of St James’s there’s a vast collection of cigars to suit all budgets. The shop features a small museum displaying vintage cigars (among them a box made in 1851 for the Great Exhibition), old photographs and memorabilia associated with illustrious former customers, including Churchill and Oscar Wilde. www.jjfox.co.uk
Try whisky tasting with Scotland’s oldest independent bottler – Cadenhead’s is a short walk from the hotel and you can book to learn more about whisky with a tasting session. Choose between the popular Whisky Tasting Experience or A Trip Around Scotland. www.whiskytastingroom.com
Take a stroll around Marylebone Sunday Market – one of the flagship London markets, you can find a variety of produce as the seasons change. Pick up a coffee and a delicious pastry from one of the various stalls to enjoy in Paddington Street Garden.
Lunch at Relais de Venise – Two minutes from the hotel, this amazing restaurant is one of London’s best kept secrets. There is no menu at this French institution. All you need to decide is how you would like your steak cooked and which wine you would like. The main event is an entrecote steak with unlimited fries and the star of the show – their world famous secret sauce. You will not leave hungry! relaisdevenise.com
Go shopping at The Conran Shop. At the top of Marylebone High Street, this flagship design store is the place to find the very latest unique and contemporary products. Next door you can also pop into Michelin starred Orrery restaurant. www.orrery-restaurant.co.uk
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