3 weeks Ago
As I sipped a boozy peach iced tea at the Andaz hotel’s Rakes bar, it was hard to believe that centuries ago on this spot, unfortunate souls were “treated” at the original Bedlam hospital. The décor, for one: no fingernail-gouged brick walls or cell bars to be seen, instead hot pink walls with mirrors whimsically stuck on mirrors and vaulted ceilings with marble columns. The site is filled with a lot of history.
Before being turned into the hospital in the late 14th Century it was a Roman burial ground, and by 1884 it was the building we see today – having been designed by the minds behind the Houses of Parliament. Rakes bar and its quirky decor (Image: NQ) Amid waxing and waning success, closing in 1996 before being restored and reopened in 2000, the hotel had another rebirth as the first Andaz hotel – Andaz meaning “personal style”. The five-star joint certainly walks the walk from the moment you enter, being greeted by artwork by local collective Le Gun and a rhino by famous local graffiti artist Otto Schade and said hot pink décor in Rakes.
But is it a case of “personal style” over substance? That was what my fellow hotel reviewer and I were determined to find out, having been invited for an overnight stay. In terms of connectivity, it was very convenient to get to, being located directly opposite Liverpool Street station and a stone’s throw from Spitalfields Market. READ MORE: A weekend away with a friend in a country cottage was a cure for the rat run A new restaurant in a beautiful village that's already full of community spirit The check-in process was straightforward, and the staff made us feel like VIPs moments after stepping over the threshold.
Blink, and we each had a glass of Prosecco and a keycard in hand, on our way to our room. None of the 267 guest rooms are exactly the same; ours was spacious and modern with monochromatic features, but also cozy and full of character, with a framed picture of an East London pensioner and a book filled with his witticisms. Having gleaned his thoughts about topics ranging from Jennifer Lopez to ethnic diversity, we put our feet up and treated ourselves to a drink from the complimentary (non-alcoholic) mini bar.
A bit of Jane in the hotel room (Image: NQ) Also included with the price is a wine happy hour in the Andaz Lounge, but we were so cozy in our room, watching a bit of Cruising with Jane McDonald, that we forewent the free bubbles ahead of our dinner reservation at Miyako. The hotel’s Japanese restaurant has been run for 20 years by head chef Kosei Sakamoto, who comes from Kyushu in the south of the country and specialises in sushi. It would have been rude not to try the signature dish, so we opted for a selection of nigiri topped with different fish.
What I didn’t realise at this juncture was that my fellow diner was not overly partial to raw seafood – so it was down to me to polish off the majority, including squid, octopus, sea bass, tuna and the more familiar salmon. Sushi was plentiful (Image: NQ) The freshness was top notch, but I would swerve the squid in future (chewy as you’d expect it to be) for a softer fish. Other highlights of our meal included the moreish teriyaki salmon, a juicy pork belly bowl, and crispy gyoza dipped in a vinegary sauce, all of which pushed our chopsticks skills to the limit.
Given the sheer quantity of rice I consumed, the tantalisingly firm bed waiting for me upstairs was calling my name. But we resisted and paid Rakes a visit for a nightcap or two. The bar draws inspiration from the 1733 fictional tale of Tom Rakewell, famously depicted in William Hogarth's eight-part painting series, A Rake’s Progress.
The narrative follows Tom’s journey from inherited fortune to eventual downfall, with the final scene set, fittingly, in Bedlam. The Levee and Orgy at Rakes (Image: NQ) A cocktail menu has even been themed around this, each drink representing a different painting. My favourites? The Levee for taste - Earl Grey tea, peach and gin, easily drinkable – and The Orgy for drama, served with a bubble blown on top by the bartender which pops to disperse vapours over the tequila-based cocktail.
To be a rake is to pursue pleasure at any cost, which felt like a fitting way to view the evening as we finally succumbed to the siren song of sleep. After a lazy morning, we were ready to inspect the buffet breakfast. It had all the classics as well as some unexpected highlights, including salt beef bagels from the legendary Beigel Bake in Brick Lane and honey harvested from bees in South London’s city parks.
My litmus test for a good breakfast is the bacon, sausage and hash brown: they all need to be well coloured and crisp – and I’m pleased to report that they passed the test with flying colours. The breakfast passed the test (Image: NQ) Complete with a coffee decorated with some charming art telling me to “make a wish”, my only desire was to find enough room to keep eating. Sadly, time ran away from us and we only had an hour until checkout.
But, always living slightly on the edge, I had only just clocked that the hotel had a 24/7 gym. So with the clock ticking, I squeezed in a 20 minute workout – it had everything you’d need, from weight machines to dumbbells and cardio equipment – with enough time to spare to have a five minute poach in the steam room. Thankfully, I didn’t do any cardio.
Because I got my daily quota with the mad dash back to the room and a frantic pack before departing, only a couple of minutes over schedule. Walking around Spitalfields Market, it dawned on me that this was the first time we’d properly left the hotel during our mini city break. But when everything’s all under one roof, why leave?.
