A Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair VIP is Super Excited About November 2025

26/10/2025

Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair in Hanover Square

I am very proud to be one of the first people to be presented with one of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's new VIP cards, which offers discounts when using the hotel.

During October 2025 I had lunch with Helmut, the new Hotel Manager. We ate lobster ravioli with ginger and the occasion called for Ruinart champagne. After lunch GM Hemal came to say hello and then Marcel, GM of Mandarin Oriental, Manhattan came to chat with me.

All this has made me even more eager to stay at Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair next month. I have had a special relationship with Hanover Square since Bob Payton's Chicago Pizza Pie Factory was based in the square in the 1990s.

The Emory in Belgravia

My stay at The Emory in Belgravia has been confirmed at the end of next month. I am taking Issy there next week to be measured for his first Maybourne outfit.

The Emory is the latest hotel in a group that includes Claridge's, The Connaught etc and an architectural masterpiece by the late Richard Rogers' practice, with just 60 suites and a penthouse. Described as a hidden world of discreet understated luxury.

The restaurant is 'abc kitchens' by Jean-Georges Vongerichten ("JGV"). I have eaten in the New York original and have dinner booked in The Connaught Grill, also by JGV, with Roland, COO of Maybourne, next month too.

My 'SF Martini' will be served in their Rooftop Bar with panoramic views of London and my suite will have a butler, fully stocked complimentary mini-bar, floor-to-ceiling window looking out over Hyde Park, Surrenne bath products and a Japanese Toto toilet.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park; A Meal Cooked by Mark Hix, Elliott Grover, Tom Parker Bowles, Jack Stein etc at 45 Park Lane & Peninsula, London's Christmas Tree Lighting

I am being invited to pre-Christmas events by Peninsula, London; Pan Pacific, London; Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park; 45 Park Lane; Raffles, London at The OWO etc.

A Heston Blumenthal lunch with Flavia, Mandarin Oriental's Area Vice President, Operations should be fascinating and a 'Too Many Cooks' dinner at 45 Park Lane involving Chef Elliott Grover, Chef Mark Hix, Tom Parker Bowles, Chef Jack Stein etc would give a chance to ask about HRH King Charles' 'Wet Martini' while eating white truffle Ruinart champagne risotto; grilled langoustines, Pernod & tarragon and sugar pit beef cheek, carrot puree, mixed carrots & carrot top pesto.

You will see that November 2025 is likely to break my 'teddy scoring system' again.

16 Comments

Marcel - GM, Mandarin Oriental, Manhattan

26/10/2025 09:21:23 pm

Wonderful write up & great to see you in London.

Hopefully we will be able to welcome you to NYC soon again.

Si Frew link

26/10/2025 09:24:14 pm

Such a nice surprise to see you again. Hope to sort out my own Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair stay next week.

Gus

26/10/2025 09:22:35 pm

Well done and I look forward to reading all about the November fun!

26/10/2025 09:27:03 pm

Thanks. So excited about The Connaught Grill dinner. There will be a surprise for Roland there.

Peter Gong

26/10/2025 10:53:07 pm

Trick or treat, and definitely a "treat" only for Simon for the month of October. The treats were so exquisite starting with the VIP card to the MO Mayfairs that bears gifts upon your stay at the hotel. No tricks, but only treats continue with a delicious lunch with the new hotel manager. The lunch or treat, I approved, of lobster ravioli with ginger accompanied with Ruinart Champagne. It sure wets one appetite to book an accommodation on the spot.

With the anticipation of the stay at the Emory in Belgravia next month will certainly be the highlight of next month's blog. The hotel sounds very boutique-like with only 60 suites and a penthouse that insure discretion blended with quiet luxury. With an excellent restaurant, SF martini will be served in the rooftop bar with a spectacular panoramic views of London will be one of the highlights. I would be so overwhelmed with a butler in my suite, complimentary mini-bar (my favourite) and a view looking out of Hyde Park from floor-to-ceiling windows. Don't get me started on the Surrene bath products.

As the holidays season begins next month, I cannot wait to read about the pre-Christmas events you will be attending at the Peninsula London, Pan Pacific, MO etc. The icing will be the "Too Many Cooks" dinner at 45 Park Lane which also involves Tom Parker Bowles and various famous chefs. I am in such a giddy anticipation of the news of this is unbearable. But good things come to those who waits. I have patience in abundance and at times it is a little annoying. Until November.

Cheers. Ta!

26/10/2025 11:29:25 pm

Your generous and kind comments have made my evening.

Just ordered a Cedric Grolet, from The Berkley, 'apple' as dessert to go with my Dan Dan noodles from Peninsula, London on Tuesday evening. Hope to see Annabel's Halloween decorations that afternoon too.

Nick & Rick

27/10/2025 03:49:23 am

Simon,

What a joy to read. Only you could make lunch at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair sound like something out of a novel. Ruinart, lobster ravioli with ginger, and that lineup of hotel legends... Helmut, Hemal, and Marcel...perfection. It all feels so perfectly you.

Your upcoming stay at The Emory sounds incredible. We love that Issy’s getting his first Maybourne fitting, what a moment. We can already picture you both in Belgravia, Issy looking sharp, and you with an SF Martini in hand taking in the view over Hyde Park. What a way to start the season.

The Jean-Georges dinners and the “Too Many Cooks” night at 45 Park Lane sound amazing....truffle risotto, langoustines, beef cheek; London’s dining scene is lucky to have you as its most stylish chronicler. And of course, a Heston lunch to top it off. November really does sound like a teddy-scale record breaker.

You’re making us want to plan a trip to London right now. Your energy for the city always rubs off on us. We’ll raise a glass from afar, martinis in hand as always, and can’t wait to read every detail as it unfolds.

-Nick and Rick

27/10/2025 10:02:55 am

What a way to start the week, reading this beautiful & positive comment. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Johan

27/10/2025 05:35:00 am

Hello Si,
Looks like you will be busy! Another reason to have a coffee or drinks at the MO roof terrace next time in London, after you managed to convince me that it does, indeed, look very nice. And Hanover Square has certainly been transformer for the better (I’m quite sceptical about the 1990’s pizza though).
Johan (posting from Okinawa)

27/10/2025 10:10:21 am

Good to hear from you. I am a fan of Wagyu beef. Maybe you need to eat Chef Elliott Grover’s version.

The stuffed mushrooms at The Chicago Pizza Pie Factory are still talked about.

Hope the food on the rest of your trip is better.

Tala

27/10/2025 05:53:40 am

Sounds wonderful! Excited to read all about this in November!

27/10/2025 10:19:08 am

Kind of you to say that. We must meet again early next year. Hope Abu Dhabi is going well.

Barbara peers

28/10/2025 09:41:07 am

Well what a start Simon getting your Mandarin Oriental VIP card… lobster ravioli with ginger sounds just amazing Simon. Marcel GM having a chat with you ,would love to stay there, maybe someone will give to a surprise for my 70th next year ( fingers crossed). I bet you and Issy will be treated like royalty especially having new outfits for the occasion. Having martinis on the roof top is so fitting and so very special, the views over London will be so so amazing, and having your own Butler it’s what you deserve Simon, and to finish off October with a Heston Blumenthal lunch, roll on November can’t wait to read your next adventure. Lots of love Barbara

28/10/2025 10:34:26 am

Was feeling sad about Dicky Dawes but reading this really made me feel better. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Susan Stirling

29/10/2025 02:47:57 pm

Ahh. Simon, your write ups always lift my spirits and make me add to my bucket list. I've said before that you always inspire me. It was you who urged me to stay at the Mandarin in Hong Kong and (of course), I adored it. I was looking forward to another stop there on my way to Vietnam for 6 weeks but alas, the flooding is so bad there that I fear it won't be dried in time. I was disappointed but then decided to return to your blog and look for bucket list, city jurisdictions with established infrastructures. I'll let you know if a return to London is imminent. Love to enjoy a SiFrew martini with a VIP at the Mandarin Mayfair.

Selfishly, wish you would visit Lisbon. I am on my own for hotel recommendations for my November visit!!

Oh, and though your fabulous food photos are wonderful, I must say that your gallery of handsome men was equally lovely this month.😏I freely admit to being. 'woman of a certain age' but it's still fun to look😚

29/10/2025 08:57:42 pm

So kind of you make these comments, despite feeling sad about the flooding.

One of the regular readers of my blog wants to buy me a Four Seasons breakfast this weekend.

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A Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair VIP is Super Excited About November 2025

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