Expect The Unexpected at The Mayfair Townhouse

To tell the tale of The Mayfair Townhouse and do it justice, one must begin in the early 1890s.

The story starts in London on the corner of Half Moon Street and Piccadilly: a roaring public house, ‘The Half Moon’, is bustling with raucous young, single gentlemen. The tavern is a haunt of acclaimed Irish playwright Oscar Wilde. It is here that he meets many of his muses, lovers and friends, and it is Half Moon Street that is the setting of so many of the plays he is to write.

All of Wilde’s real-life experiences in and around Half Moon Street contributed to his most famous comedy play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.

Fast forward 130 years and the street is still bustling, the opulent properties hinting at the hedonism of its distant past.

The Mayfair Townhouse, a new addition to the illustrious street, opened in December 2020 and is a design favourite of ours. The arrival of the Townhouse in the upscale quarter heralds the second foray of Iconic Luxury Hotels into London territory. Its five-star sister properties, Cliveden House and Chewton Glen, are located in Berkshire and Hampshire respectively.

The Dandy Bar

The white Georgian stucco-fronted property stretches across 15 Townhouses and occupies 172 rooms on three floors. The soul of the Townhouse is without doubt the Dandy Bar, which comes to life at night, enticing guests in with its theatrical dim lighting and 1920s-style bar.

Bar Manager, Piero Monaco, is a cocktail artisan, hosting experiences that detail the art of mixology. He expertly makes cocktails, pairs them with one another and tells their story. The ‘Mr Bosie’ cocktail is the nickname Oscar Wilde gave his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, and is laced with Belvedere Heritage, Bombay Saffire gin, edible paint made in-house and topped with champagne cordial.

Fellow mixologist, Giorgio Trimboli, details the painstaking process of skeletonising bay leaves for presentation on the side of the glass of ‘The Dandy’. Cocktails are almost 3D and served with class and style.

Small details set the Townhouse apart; the cuffs of the crisp white shirts staff wear are monogrammed with a cavalier fox, the mascot of The Mayfair Townhouse, and echos their slogan, “Where style meets surprise.”

While the Townhouse does not officially have a restaurant, all day dining and lighter antipasto are on the menu. Head Chef, Adam Simmonds, is the brainchild behind the menu that features a light lobster curry, a truffle risotto and a classic burger with a truffle twist.

The lower ground floor is home to the breakfast rooms, meeting rooms and private dining spaces.

A Suite at the Townhouse

Winding the way up to each room, the Alice in Wonderland theme becomes more pronounced. Halls branch out higgledy-piggledy into dimly lit tributaries, while room doors feature the Townhouse’s little vulpine mascot who always seems to pop up unexpectedly.

Inside, a trove of delights await: the beds are soft white clouds between two moons set on a backdrop of vintage-looking mirrors and bathrooms are full marble-effect with large rolltop baths and ornate golden mirrors.

Again, small details at the Townhouse matter: bathroom walls are heated, monogrammed wireless chargers sit beside the bed, and a slick GHD hairdryer is tucked away in the cupboard.

Reception Manager, Mitchell Collier.

Staff at the Townhouse are professional and an extension of the class and character that runs throughout the property. Reception Manager, Mitchell Collier, is vivacious, full of delightful anecdotes, and has an unrivalled savoir-faire. Working with people is his calling: a visit to Half Moon Street to see him would be just dandy.

The Mayfair Townhouse leaves a mark on all who stay. It has an illustrious story to tell, one that moves from winding down the rabbit hole with Alice in Wonderland to hints of Oscar Wilde’s passionate, yet dangerous, liaisons.

It was Wilde’s libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry (the father of Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas) in 1895 that sparked the downfall of the famous playwright. The Marquess was disapproving of the affair between Wilde and his son, and planned to disrupt an early production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ but, after being tipped off, Wilde refused him entry. Enraged, he left a note in the Albemarle Club accusing Wilde of “scandalous activities”, which led to the court action Wilde took against the Marquess.

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After a string of accusations that landed Wilde in prison between 1895-1897, an exodus of Mayfair’s bohemian elite ensued, with many flamboyant figureheads fearful for their safety. Half Moon Street stood silent.

However, after a stay at The Mayfair Townhouse, the embers of Wilde’s era of high octane glamour are slowly being fanned once more.

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Discover The Mayfair Townhouse at 27-41 Half Moon St, London W1J 7BG

Rooms at the Townhouse start at £420

for a Classic Room with breakfast.

+44 20 8138 3400