Booking

As usual, I made my reservation on the Marriott Bonvoy website a few days before my arrival. Despite this short notice due to my professional constraint, the availability and the rates were attractive, this hotel not attracting tourists given its location.

Two days before my arrival, I checked in online, specifying my arrival and departure times at the property.

The day before, my room was upgraded to a “Spacious Room”, the highest category before the suites.

Arrival

I arrived at the hotel by tube from London Heathrow, after my Lufthansa flight. I love the London tube, with its frequent and efficient service. Heathrow Express and TFL Rail services are inconvenient for me, arriving in the inconvenient Paddington area.

The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Blackfriars Station via the eponymous bridge.

When I arrived at the property, I was immediately taken care of by the reception staff and went through the arrival formalities (not yet perfected, the mobile check-in…). I am told that I have been upgraded to the best Suite in the hotel, still two levels above the first assigned upgrade, “so I can take better pictures and videos”, as the receptionist tells me. Very good!

I am accompanied to my room by the concierge, a Frenchman!

Room

The assigned suite, a Biggest Suite is located on the 3rd floor of the property.

Due to its location and low height, the hotel does not have excellent views.

The room is nevertheless very beautiful, the contemporary decor very successful.

After the entrance, we enter the lounge area, equipped with a very comfortable sofa and a contemporary wardrobe in Nordic style.

The desk spreads out on the left side of the room, and has local and USB outlets (we deplore the lack of multi-standard outlets in a hotel that is only 7 months old).

The bed is king size and very comfortable, although a little short (English standard).

Both sides of the bed are equipped with plenty of power and USB outlets. An Android tablet is available to interact with staff and stream content to both TVs.

The bathroom is spacious, but the format is quite strange, with two opposing basins, a designer bathtub in the middle, and the toilet and shower in the other two corners. Everything is decorated with great care.

The system of lights, temperature control and shutters is digitalized.

Finally, the video tour:

Restaurants

I only tested the restaurant during breakfast service, which is free for Platinum members (and above) of Marriott’s Bonvoy program.

When I arrived, the place was deserted. Like the rest of the property, the decoration is particularly well done.

The tables are spaced far enough apart so as not to interfere with the privacy of the customers.

The hot and cold buffet is included, but it is also possible to order à la carte for £5 per dish, except for the omelette which is free.

A double espresso is first served to me before I head to the buffet.

It is small but of excellent quality, with hot items based on eggs, bacon and potatoes on the one hand, and cold items: bread, cheese, cold cuts, pastries, fruits and yogurts.

I returned several times as it was so good!

Hotel facilities

Let’s not hide it: the hotel is brand new and that helps. But it is no longer in the soft opening phase, which means that the service is excellent now.

The decoration could not be more appropriate: modern but not cheap at all. Everything is well calculated and decorated.

The fitness room is located on level -2 and is quite well equipped for a hotel of this size.

Departure

The check-out process was simple, as I used the Mobile Check-out on the Marriott app. I received the invoice a few hours later on my email address.

Bottom line

Excellent stay in this recent property on South Bank. One will regret the absence of sight, the building being compressed between others and towers. But everything else is more than up to par.

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