Set on London’s iconic Drury Lane in the heart of the city’s main throng, the new Hotel AMANO Covent Garden has been making waves in the capital since opening its doors back in May, and is fast becoming known as one of the trendiest places to check in for a stay in Zone One.
The first international hotel from Berlin-based hotelier AMANO Group – which owns ten hotels across Germany – this exciting new offering is located just a stone’s throw from some of London’s best theatres, shops, restaurants and pubs and focuses on high-quality, ultra-modern design, a welcoming atmosphere and great food and drink.
I was recently invited along to check it out for myself, and suffice it to say that this ultra-modern and trendy new property couldn’t help but win me over. Offering excellent service, a fresh design aesthetic and a great food and drink scene, it was almost impossible for it not to.
The hotel
The newest incarnation of a 1980s office building that was previously known as Drury House, Hotel AMANO Covent Garden was born of a partnership between the hotel group and global architecture and interiors design company, Woods and Bagot, and is characterised by clean lines, earthy tones and dark accents, with sophisticated golden design elements injecting a sense of luxury throughout.
Although its ‘AMANO look’ makes it instantly recognisable as one of the brand’s properties, the building has been sensitively restored and refurbished to reflect the buzz of one of London’s most iconic neighbourhoods, giving it a unique identity all of its own.
There’s a focus on edgy modern art, with an impressive flying light installation hanging in the lobby and some conversation-starting framed canvases adorning the walls of communal areas, rooms and suites. Fabrics have been sourced from Scandinavian and German design textile companies such as Kvadrat and JAB Anstoetz, wallpapers have been selected from Elitis and House of Hackney, while the majority of the furniture is bespoke made by PARLA Design.
Inspired by the surrounding theatre district, light and reflections have been utilised strategically throughout the property to create a subtly delivered dramatic impression, with gold-mirror dropped ceilings and expansive glass voids creating a subtle sense of opulence with a decidedly modern twist.
Outside of the dark and moody corridors, where grey is the prominent colour, timber veneers and flooring, and natural materials like aged bronze, polished brass and marble finish off the look, and the result is something quite special indeed.
Rooms and suites
Hotel AMANO Covent Garden comprises 141 rooms and suites in total, which fall into five different categories: cosy, comfy, goldy, roomy and roomy plus. Although the ‘cosy’ room is the hotel’s entry-level offering, it still offers suitably relaxing and comfortable surroundings and a sprawling king-size bed, with a flatscreen TV, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a tablet with phone function that’s available for use for the duration of your stay.
At the other end of the spectrum, I personally stayed in the ‘roomy plus’ room category, which offers extra space and some additional bells and whistles like a Nespresso machine for your morning caffeine fix and the option to request an additional bed. It was relaxing, comfortable, and just the quiet, yet sophisticated, space I needed to unwind after a long day out and about in the city.
All rooms enjoy either a scenic garden or city view, and are kitted out with some decadent Daluma skincare products so that you can give yourself a pamper in the walk-in shower. Just like throughout the rest of the hotel, clean lines meet modern colour palettes and classic contemporary design elements are the order of the day.
If you’re looking for an additional touch of glamour, then opt for a ‘goldy’ room, where you’ll find a free-standing golden bath tub set beside a window overlooking the city. There’s a stylish row of colourful banquettes and another of high stools and small round tables, which add character to the space. Plus, you’ll get a free cocktail or equivalent when you check in, and trust me, that’s an offer you won’t want to miss, because the cocktails on offer here are spectacular.
Food and drink
The brand new AMANO Rooftop Bar is undoubtedly one of the hotel’s highlights of the entire hotel. Located on the seventh floor, it enjoys spectacular views down over the city below, with an eclectic line-up of DJs spinning tunes in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday and enjoys access to an adjoining roof terrace that makes for the perfect spot to enjoy a sunset drink or small bite to eat during the spring and summer. But even when the sun isn’t shining, you can soak up all of the same good vibes indoors, and you can still spot the West End, the London Eye and the Shard from above.
AMANO Group’s hotels are known for offering excellent culinary and drinks experiences, and the Rooftop Bar does not disappoint. There’s an impressive international menu of wines, Champagnes, signature cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks to whet your whistle, with signature cocktails including the Fume’ (Tanqueray gin, sherry and smoked pineapple syrup), The Rooftop (elderflower-infused Grey Goose vodka, Chambord and champagne), and spins on classics such as the Ristretto Negroni (coffee-infused gin, Antica Formula, Campari and crème de banana).
I couldn’t resist trying a couple while I was there, but feeling peckish, I was also keen to know what was on the snack menu. Tasty sharing plates like the Israeli-style hummus, seabass ceviche and spicy tuna were the perfect accompaniments and just the kind of light bites I was craving.
If you’re keen to take the night up a notch once you’ve finished indulging at the Rooftop Bar, then it doesn’t have to end there – although mine did. Head down to the basement, where you’ll find the hotel’s lively AMANO Bar, at which the music, drinks and party invariably carry on until late. A continental breakfast is also served down here in the mornings.
On the culinary front, the light snacks available back upstairs aren’t the only opportunities to sample some delicious fare. This winter, top Israeli chef Ronen Dovrat Bloch is set to head up the opening of AMANO’s new fusion restaurant and signature food and beverage concept, Penelope’s, which will serve up a decadent menu of tapas-style delights that will draw inspiration from Israeli and Spanish cuisine, effortlessly combining elements of the two to create a mouth-watering dining experience that’s sure to become the talk of the town.
While the fusion concept is the brainchild of AMANO’s co-founder Ariel Schiff, who spent his formative years growing up between Tel Aviv and Southern Spain, the food offering has been expertly devised by the hotel group’s creative director, Shimon Peretz, along with Fezile Ozalgan, head chef at AMANO’s prestigious Mani restaurant in Berlin.
Menu highlights will include Israeli-style paella with whole lobster. Frekkeh and a tangy gin-tomato sauce, and Iberico ham carpaccio with raw tahini and pomegranate syrup, to give you just a taster of what’s to come.
To do
Thanks to AMANO Covent Garden’s unbeatable location, you’ll have no trouble finding things to do in the vicinity. Hit the area’s designer boutiques for a luxury shopping spree, head to SoHo for an evening beverage, or book yourself some VIP seats for a show in the West End, which is just a stone’s throw away.
If you’re eager to explore London’s many art galleries and museums or see iconic sights like Buckingham Palace or the Houses of Parliament, then you’ll never have to walk far to find a well-connected underground station. Covent Garden has its own, where you can take the Piccadilly line to 53 different stations across Zone One.
In a nutshell
A sophisticated urban space right in the heart of central London, here you can expect modern and stylish rooms and suites, an up-and-coming culinary scene, and one of the best rooftop bars in the city. With a distinctly international vibe, it’s a property that exudes quiet confidence from the off, and is certain to be a favourite amongst fans of contemporary design.
Factbox
Prices at Hotel AMANO Covent Garden start from approximately £139 per night.
Address: Drury House, 34-43 Russell St, London WC2B 5HA
Phone: +49 30 347472690
Website: amanogroup.de/en/hotels/amano-covent-garden/
