Words by Stacey Levine
I always love flying in to London: with it’s architecture, culture and history, it is no doubt my favourite city in the World. However, finding the right hotel is always tough in this magical place and we were lucky enough to be offered a stay at Ten Manchester Street Hotel in Marylebone village.
Ten Manchester street hotel is a boutique 44-bedroom hotel located in a prime piece of real estate in the heart of Marylebone village, around 45 minutes (by taxi) from Heathrow and only 10 minutes from London’s Paddington station – it boasts to offer a taste of London luxury in it’s Edwardian townhouse, as well as also encompassing a Restaurant and a Cigar Lounge!
Arriving at 7pm, the first thought in our mind was to eat. The Dieci restaurant, located on the ground floor of the hotel offers authentic Italian food in a laid back but stylish setting. After a long flight and the perfect London summer evening, it was the perfect place to unwind. The modern Italian menu, features seasonal ingredients accompanied by a choice of fine wines and champagne.
To start I had Bruschetta with grilled vegetables and buffalo mozzarella (£5.50). Quickly brought out to the table beautifully, it was the perfect showcase of fresh seasonal ingredients. The simple combination of ripe tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese made a perfect beginning to the meal. To compliment, I delved in to a glass of red wine (forgot which one it was) which was recommended by the knowledgeable bar staff.
The chosen main was that of Irish rib eye (£28). A good steak is one of those dishes that can simply make or break any restaurant. I usually opt for Sirloin, as I prefer this cut better. However I’ve heard good things about Irish beef, due to the cows being pre-dominantly grass fed (it’s not called the Emerald Isle for nothing).
A good steak has just the right amount of fat and nice marbling, and the dish that came out was just this. A medium rare cut that melted in the mouth. Along with the red wine, it was a beautiful dish.
I thought I had no room left after my main, but then the Chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream (£10) caught my eye on the desert menu. It helped that Claudio recommended not to miss this one out, and as soon as I saw him bring it to the table, I knew I had made the right choice. Vanilla ice cream is brilliant with this pudding as it cuts through the richness nicely. This is by far a chocoholic’s idea of paradise, delicious!
Overall the food was of extremely good quality. The seasonal ingredients, flavours, textures and stunning preparation of the dishes we choose, was a testament to the restaurant. The service was just right, Claudio who served us was extremely polite and knowledgeable on both the food and wine he served, but let us soak up the ambiance in an unimposing way.
We were then offered the chance to pop next door in to the hotel’s cigar lounge and terrace. Once jet-lag had reared it’s ugly head at desert we decided to take a quick look in but not partake in using the room. The hotel’s walk-in humidor contains an unsurpassed range of meticulously maintained, hand-rolled Havana cigars, including Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas, Trinidad, Bolivar, Hoyo de Monterrey and Davidoff. All of which are available and can be enjoyed on the terrace.
Finally, we checked in and were led to our room. The quaint hotel features many unique and period features, particularly impressive was the furniture, which we later found out were bespoke Christian guy pieces.
Our room was small and cosy, with large bay windows overlooking the quiet street below. In-keeping with the hotel and building, the room combined London charm with contemporary cool, with excellent furnishings, a beautiful Edwardian style bed (with hypno mattress) and not one, but two tv’s, both with Sky television.
After a long and restful night’s sleep I arose to a beautiful London morning. Not wanting to go wandering around Baker St just yet, I decided to have breakfast at Dieci. Being in England, I of course opted for Tea (would be rude not to!) and also the Eggs Royale (£12.50), which appealed to me because of the fresh Norwegian Salmon on offer. Lightly toasted English muffins topped with smoked salmon, soft poached eggs, and a rich and creamy Hollandaise sauce – It was divine, and the perfect breakfast to get me ready for the day ahead.
Aside from the impressive food and excellent night sleep, Ten Manchester street is close to attractions like The Wallace Collection, Marylebone High Street, Baker Street and Oxford Circus. The hotel is location 10 minutes walk from Marylebone (Bakerloo Line) and 10 Minutes taxi from London Paddington train station. Room rates start from £220 per room, per night. For more information, or to book a room, visit tenmanchesterstreethotel.com or call +44 (0)20 7317 5900.
Update: We have recently been informed that Dieci is about to undergo an exciting re-design and the concept will be changing in early 2018.
Address: 10 Manchester St, Marylebone, London W1U 4DG
