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The French Connection continues with their go-to designer Dorothée Meillichzon, renowned as an award-winning French hospitality designer and the founder of the vibrant global design agency, CHZON. With a knack for crafting distinctive, context-rich interiors, she brings hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs to life around the globe. Her celebrated projects include the chic Henrietta Hotel in London and an array of intriguing venues for the Experimental Group, each infused with her unique flair and attention to detail. The hotel's name serendipitously has a French connection - Henrietta Street is named in honour of Henrietta Maria, the youngest daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici, who became the Queen of England when she married Charles I in 1625. A witty 17th-century fashion icon, with a flair for the fabulous, Queen Henrietta's spirit waltzes through Meilichzon's interiors, wrapping each corner in a delightful embrace of elegant sophistication and a lot of “je ne sais quoi”!
The Henrietta spreads its magic over two charming 19th-century townhouses, steps from the piazza. One of which (No. 14) during the Roaring Twenties, was the former office of the left-wing publisher, and humanitarian Victor Gollancz, and where literary giants Daphne du Maurier, Kingsley Amis, and George Orwell, crossed the threshold. Tucked among the inviting terraces and delightful restaurants of Henrietta Street is discreet, and easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled for one of the small Henrietta flags pinpointing their location, or more visibly, the magnificently oversized blue awning topping a charming Parisian-style terrace, perfectly poised on the cobblestone street. You can almost hear the nostalgic clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages trotting gracefully by. As you step inside, you’re greeted by the HENRI Bar that’s just itching to tempt you with its magical libations. An unassuming reception area to the left awaits to whisk you away to your room.
The Rooms and Suites
A delightful pineapple doorknob, nods to their long hospitality history that dates back to the 17th century, while offering a playful nod to the fruit's more contemporary interpretations in certain circles. If you catch my drift! No? Well, a pineapple can often signify that someone is on the lookout for a 'swinging time!' It’s a whimsical detail that invites curiosity and a smile as you enter.
Welcome to your whimsical retreat, where style and comfort perfectly align. The rooms are both playful and sophisticated but it’s the headboards that truly steal the show! Not merely backdrops to rest your head, they are bold statements showcasing a playful dance of geometric shapes and architectural elements, in a harmonious blend of circles, triangle, and architectural mouldings in a modern take on Bas-relief. The circular mirror at the centre adds softness, elegance, and depth, making it feel like you’re sleeping in an artwork, while the sleek lines exude a modern aesthetic and pop against Meilichzon's bold yet warm contemporary colour palette - a chic fusion of sophisticated hues that remain muted, matte, and chalky - creating a moody, atmospheric vibe. *Meillichzon designed four distinct colour schemes to add to the a unique atmosphere in each of the spaces.
The mid-century modern nightstands, adorned with fixed brass lamps flanking the bed, bring a timeless quality that keeps the space fresh and stylish, are ready to light up your late-night musings or set the mood for a cosy chat. The beds, swathed in crisp white linens, practically whisper, 'Dive in, you deserve it!' And let’s not overlook the sofas - they are perfect for lazy afternoons spent catching up with a good book while enjoying a cuppa, or perhaps, and much more likely! indulging in a cocktail, or two, mixed from your in-room Experimental Cocktail Book, supplies are located in a hidden mini bar, within a floating wooden closet.
Natural light floods through the windows, creating a bright, airy feeling. Sunshine spills in like warm hugs from the outside world. Charming details abound, such as the half-round glazing panels above the cupboard-style bathroom doors, featuring quirky hand-painted lettering that adds a whimsical touch, reminding you to savour the little things - it’s those charming details that infuse personality into the space, creating a truly inviting retreat - but it's the stunning millennial pink glam bathrooms that truly shine! The rooms are decidedly grown up, exuding a retro inspiration, a comforting nostalgia, and modern urbanism, ideal for relaxing and recharging. The carpets take inspiration from "Mosaïque Casson," a classic mosaic pattern in historical buildings and grand palaces.
Henrietta is like your pied-à-terre in the city, it has a homely ambience. It's so easy and the location is just perfect. (tip *Book into number 18 for the floor-to-ceiling windows and a small terrace with views south across Victorian chimney tops to the London Eye. Behind cupboard-like doors with 'bath' written in hand-painted gold there is a clawfoot tub on black-and-white octagonal tiles and a huge moon-shaped mirror)
HENRI
HENRI is more than a hotel restaurant, it's a destination restaurant with chef Jackson Boxer. Boxer is a chef and prolific London-based restauranteur who comes from a family that’s serious about food: his grandmother was the esteemed food writer Arabella Boxer and his dad runs the much-loved Vauxhall deli Italo. His brother too is in the business. Boxer was always going to end up in hospitality and is currently the creative mastermind behind the much-loved restaurants Brunswick House, the opulent antique filled Georgian mansion dining room in Vauxhall that serves eclectic, delicious dishes, and Notting Hill’s, Dove in Notting Hill, as well as Below Stone Nest, a highly hip, underground dive bar he recently opened with his brother Frank (of Frank’s Café in Peckham), a Rooftop bar that was once an outlier and is now an institution. The launch of Henri follows the success of the Experimental's recent collaboration with Boxer at Cowley Manor Experimental in the Cotswolds.
For HENRI, Boxer is staying true to his style, and each dish celebrates seasonal British food with a nod to French cooking, with French bistro classics, emphasising high-quality British produce. The restaurant's main dining room is located directly adjacent to the bar and features a gleaming, open kitchen at the rear, with a big chef’s table. Henri serves all-day French cuisine with Gallic flavours, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails.
It's a gorgeous space, featuring dark wall panelling, leather, and velvet and a palette forest green, burgundy, and duck-egg blue in the banquettes booths, and Thonet chairs, complemented by dark timber, frescoed ceilings, grey marble tables with charming pleated dust ruffles, frosted glass globes, and candlelight. It's lovely for breakfast and wonderfully intimate at night, glowing in candlelight. The food is delicious, and the service is excellent. Our waiter was delightful, friendly, helpful, and, importantly, knowledgeable about the food. He made our night a better experience. Henri is perfect for a cosy candlelit dinner à deux, a girls' night out, or a gathering with friends. If the sun is shining and you are here for lunch, you can dine al fresco out on a terrace at the front of the hotel for some serious Parisian pavement café culture vibes.
Don't forget the Experimental Bar (as if you could!) where you will love the inspired cocktail list created by husband and wife team Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller, known as the detectives of the drinks world. The bar is designed to be as theatrical as the musicals playing in the nearby theatres. Highlighting cognac, the full bar list of cognac-based drinks has a focus on brandy named after "French icons" like the Gaston, which is made with cognac, Rittenhouse rye, Byrrh, Aperol, green Chartreuse, maple syrup and bitters. Signature cocktails like the Antoine, made with gin, elderflower, lime, cucumber, and a spicy tincture, and the Auguste, featuring Buffalo Trace Bourbon and blueberry jam.. ‘Annette’ (Hine VSOP Cognac, cherry liqueur, gin, lemon, strawberry and raspberry).Antoine: A punchy combination of gin, elderflower, lime, cucumber, and a spicy tincture. Auguste: A bourbon-based cocktail with Buffalo Trace Bourbon and blueberry jam. Jules: A rich cocktail featuring Hine VSOP Cognac and absinthe. The mixologist can also rustle up great classics. This is where the group shines after all.
The Henrietta Experimental Hotel & Henri Restaurant
4-15 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E