travelog

Friendly, Cheerful & Discreet Boutique Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair, With Sensational Food from Chef Jihun Maxime Kim - London - November 2025

15/11/2025

A Mandarin Oriental Celebrity/ VIP Fan #imafan

For the last few weeks I have been living a Mandarin Oriental London dream. From a memorable Heston Blumenthal lunch (those smoked Scottish scallops) with the Acting GM of Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park Flavia, who I first met when she was GM of Mandarin Oriental, Miami; to Bonfire Night in the Hanover (rooftop) Bar at Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair trying their new cocktail list (The Shepherd's Mark spicy margarita is a must try) while looking at panoramic views & a Christmas party back at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park next week with Ruinart champagne, King's Fine Food caviar & live music.

Anyway, this post focuses on my special stay last week at 50 room/ suite Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair, which only opened in June 2024:-

Deceptive Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair

The non-distinct exterior of the hotel makes it a surprise when you come through the doors and see the glamorous staircase down to the vast restaurant atrium filled with light from the large skylight.

Excitement That I Had Arrived

There is no imposing lobby but lots of green marble & from the doorman, to the concierge desk, to reception, I was welcomed by name with big smiles and a genuine feeling of warmth & excitement that I had arrived.

A Welcome With Asian Touches

A cold towel & ginger welcome drink was a nice touch of Asia and Manager Helmut and Kate (Director of Marketing & Communications) both came separately to welcome me personally.

An Exquisite Suite with Hand-Painted Wallpaper

My suite was more compact than I experienced during my stays in the other new luxury hotels in London but was beautiful and quiet with a Toto (Japanese) toilet and a vast bed. There was also a large bath & shower.

37 Comments

Preparing for an 'Epic Trip' - Shrewsbury & London - September 2024

30/9/2024

20 Comments

It is now 10 years since this blog started at Four Seasons, Chiang Mai. To mark/ celebrate this a 6 week 'Epic Trip' to the Middle & Far East starts on Wednesday evening.

This trip now includes 5 countries and 14 luxury hotels (7 of which are Four Seasons).

Memorable Amman, Jordan

I will fly Business Class with Royal Jordanian and stay at Four Seasons, Amman for a second time to see its stunning refurbishment and meet with the Chairman of Arab Jordan Investment Bank at their Head Office. Still deciding whether to visit Petra again.

While staying at Four Seasons, Amman I shall eat food from Chef Toshikazu Kato from Four Seasons, Geneva.

Unbelievable Thailand

In Thailand I will stay at the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok; the So, Bangkok (formerly the Sofitel So) who created Christian Lacroix clad Greta; the new Four Seasons, Bangkok; the iconic Four Seasons, Chiang Mai where Sean is GM. We met at Four Seasons, Sayan in Bali 10 years ago; the 'dream come true' Four Seasons Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle; and the renowned Sukhothai Bangkok.

Even simple Thai food is extraordinary but I will eat Chef Gaggan Anand's food again, as well as Chef Alain Ducasse's cuisine in Icon Siam and Chef Mauro Colagreco's dishes at the Capella, Bangkok.

The 'First Customer' of Four Seasons, Bahrain Bay

I will fly Qatar Airways First Class to stay at Four Seasons, Bahrain Bay again and eat Chef Wolfgang Puck food at 'CUT'.

Thursday Evening Drinks at Four Seasons, Doha

On Thursday 31 October I will be part of 'After Work Drinks' at Four Seasons, Doha. I will be staying at The W Hotel Doha that evening.

Superlative Dubai

In Dubai I will stay at The Lana, Dorchester Collections new hotel in the UAE. While in Dubai I will have Saturday brunch at Chef Jason Atherton's 'City Social' with my best friend in Dubai.

While in Dubai I will visit Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, I was also the 'First Customer' of this Four Seasons and visit Atlantis The Royal, Dubai.

Unbeatable Doha

My trip will culminate with stays at flawless Mandarin Oriental, Doha, now Thomas is GM, and unparalleled Four Seasons, Doha.

On Friday 8 November I will be part of a brunch at Four Seasons, Doha with some of my closest friends in Qatar. I will then fly home to the UK in Qatar Airways QSuites.

A Mum I Love Too Much

Before I embark on this 'Epic Trip' I spent a long weekend in Shrewsbury, confirming everything was in place to ensure mum is well looked after while I am away.

All is in place for a '8 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) 'Epic 6 Week Trip'.

20 Comments

Cautiously Optimistic - London/ Shrewsbury - April 2021

9/5/2021

34 Comments

Celebrating 12 April 2021 on the roof of The Dorchester with their GM Robert. A live band & sunset views of Hyde Park to die for.

April 2021 was the month when England began opening up again. I was on the roof of The Dorchester to mark the first day in real style.

After being shown the pink marble bath that was specially installed for Elizabeth Taylor in their Harlequin Roof Suite, John (GM of 45 Park Lane) kept me company, Tom Booton's food was sublime & we were even offered hot water bottles, with knitted covers, on that cold evening.

My next outing was 45 Park Lane for a mouthwateringly fresh Wolfgang Puck lunch on their beautiful outside terrace. The welcome back from the staff almost made me emotional & I even got to meet chef Jamie Shears.

I managed to squeeze a week in Shrewsbury in before I rejoined the Bank of England in their International Banking area. During that week I had a drink in The Admiral Benbow pub with mum & celebrated my older brother's birthday.

Back in London I ate oysters & drank champagne in The Savoy's pop-up Solas, where cars usually drop off guests. It has been transformed into a breathtaking fantasy and, as with all the hotels I visited, service was impeccable.

The month ended with a visit to Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park for a Saturday lunch. GM Amanda came in on her day off to welcome me & lunch could not have been better. Heston Blumenthal's poor/ gimmicky Waitrose & Partners food is a millions miles from the delicacies that were served by Dinner by Heston on that terrace overlooking Hyde Park.

Hope the photos below do some justice to the monumental efforts all these iconic hotels went to to make me feel very special. From The Dorchester sending me home with Christian Lacroix Greta with a new headdress & Philip Hammond's exquisite flowers; to champagne from Amanda at the Mandarin Oriental & their Heston Blumenthal liquid nitrogen ice cream trolley, it was another month I will never forget.

34 Comments

Light at the End of the Tunnel or Another Train Coming? - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - Shropshire & London, UK - July 2020

3/8/2020

4 Comments

My first day wearing with Turnbull & Asser face mask, with a virus killing filter.

July 2020 was the month I restarted swimming, buying new Cayman Islands style Vilebrequin swim shorts to celebrate, and exercising with personal trainer Bart again. We did this outside with breathtaking views of Tower Bridge. I was even part of a photo shoot at Virgin Active in Mayfair, as I will feature on the new Virgin Active website.

It was also the month where I was part of the reopening of 45 Park Lane & Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park; obtained my Turnbull & Asser face mask, with VIROFORMULA virus killing filters; had my first pint for 121 days with dad in The Admiral Benbow in Shrewsbury, the landlady Claire there was ahead of London with her anti-COVID-19 bar screen; drank Shrewsbury wine with mum & dad at Hencote in Shropshire; had a haircut at Truefitt & Hill, following in the footsteps of Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill & Frank Sinatra; Philip Hammond at The Dorchester created a spectacular new headdress for my Christian Lacroix wearing teddy bear from Bangkok; I attended a sublime lunch at Scott's in Mayfair with my Qatar friends; & ate caviar and drank gin from Kyoto, Japan, for breakfast, outside at 45 Jermyn Street, behind Fortnum & Mason. The Head of UK Retail at Fortnum & Mason now wants to meet www.sifrew.com.

It has been another unbelievable month in my life & I just hope the move to the 'new normal' in the UK continues. Feel free to ask me about the photos below, when we next meet.

4 Comments

Sofitel So, Bangkok; Christian Lacroix & #travelblog www.sifrew.com - More Dreams Come True!!! - Bangkok, Thailand - November 2018

8/11/2018

0 Comments

Meet Greta, a Christian Lacroix dressed teddy bear specially created for #travelblog www.sifrew.com by Sofitel So, Bangkok.

Pinnpratch at Sofitel So, Bangkok created her and she is a spectacular piece of art.

I have named her Greta, after someone I adore in Puna del Este & she will be accompanying us to 'the wedding' of some of our best friends in Thailand tomorrow.

Feeling so blessed here in Bangkok.

0 Comments

the luxury travel blog

Friendly, Cheerful & Discreet Boutique Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair, With Sensational Food from Chef Jihun Maxime Kim - London - November 2025

Preparing for an 'Epic Trip' - Shrewsbury & London - September 2024

Cautiously Optimistic - London/ Shrewsbury - April 2021

Light at the End of the Tunnel or Another Train Coming? - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - Shropshire & London, UK - July 2020

Sofitel So, Bangkok; Christian Lacroix & #travelblog www.sifrew.com - More Dreams Come True!!! - Bangkok, Thailand - November 2018

The Authors

Archives

Categories