Walking into The Prince Akatoki London hotel doesn’t feel like being in the UK at all, never mind central London.
The five-star hotel from a Japanese firm has given an historic townhouse in upmarket Marylebone a touch of the Land of the Rising Sun.
And the tranquil vibes begin in the quiet lobby, where we were poured fruit-infused water while we checked in for one night.
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The area is packed with upscale hotels but with just 82 rooms this is a boutique option.
The rooms
Japanese touches are everywhere, from the traditional tea set for your in-room beverages (non-alcoholic drinks in the minibar are free) to provided yukata – casual kimonos.
The design is very feng shui – light and airy and clutter-free – with a bed that’s a little lower than you might be used to.
We are a little ashamed to say we didn’t take advantage of the provided yoga mat, however.
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The marble bathroom had a rainfall shower over a deep tub which even had a TV for soaking in front of.
But we have to talk about the toilet.
It was one of those Japanese ones which did all kinds of fancy things.
It bleeped happily to it’s self and lit up at random, which for the uninitiated Aussie was a little mind boggling. While it had a remote control with interesting picture guides, we were still completely mystified and opted only to touch the flush button…
The products were by upmarket brand Malin + Goetz (though we’d have liked to have seen refillable bottles.)
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Meanwhile, the hotel offers a turndown service compete with a ‘relaxing’ spray scent, which is a nice touch after a long day touring London.
Now, the name Akatoki comes from an ancient Japanese word for sunrise and despite being in the middle of London, we can confirm the hotel was so quiet we slept right through that.
The food
The hotel has a dark and atmospheric restaurant called TOKii, where breakfast and dinner are served.
It offers Japanese cuisine with a western twist.
The miso glazed black cod was melt-in-the mouth perfect, while Japanese favourites from Wagyu beef to sushi and sashimi are also on the menu.
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Leave room for the decadent dark chocolate fondant too, which didn’t disappoint.
The restaurant also serves a special Japanese spin on afternoon tea.
If you like whisky, head to the small bar, The Malt Lounge.
And while we opted for western favourites for breakfast, you can indulge in more traditional Japanese dishes like miso soup or tamagoyaki omelette.
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Things to do
Famous Oxford Street is a few minutes wander away, with everything from designer department store Selfridges to a giant branch of discount favourite Primark on offer.
Walk a little further and you’ve got Regent Street with shops including world renowned toy story Hamley’s as well as celeb fave, Liberty.
Beyond that and you’re in theatreland and Soho.
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Hyde Park is also strolling distance. Also be sure to a walk to the village-like Marylebone High Street.
It has plenty of boutiques, including reader’s favourite Daunt Books, cosmetics firm Space NK and snazzy clothes shop Rixo, as well as charity shops where you might just snag a posh bargain.
It’s also home to celeb-hangout Chiltern Firehouse. Plus, Marble Arch tube station isn’t far away either, if you want to see more of London.
The writer was a guest of The Prince Akatoki.