Mandarin Oriental Mayfair hotel confirms opening date and restaurant partnership

Mandarin Oriental Group is to open a new hotel in London this winter featuring the first UK restaurant from Korean-American chef Akira Back.

The Mandarin Oriental Mayfair will launch on Hanover Square and feature 50 bedrooms, 79 private residences and an urban spa.

The hotel will be a sister property to the five-red-AA-star Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, which launched in 2000.

It will house an Akira Back-branded restaurant, which the chef’s website describes as serving modern Japanese cuisine, and his ABar Lounge concept which typically offers cocktails, craft beers and wines alongside small bites from the Akira Back menu.

Back was born in Korea but raised in Aspen, Colorado, and started his career as a professional snowboarder before working in restaurants to supplement his income. He now runs a portfolio of over 20 restaurants and lounges worldwide in locations including Las Vegas, Paris and Dubai.

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair was originally due to open in 2021, but its launch has been delayed.

Susanne Hatje has been appointed general manager at the property. She was previously general manager at the Mandarin Oriental New York hotel and worked as the group’s director of residences.

Hatje said: "Mayfair has such a rich history and pedigree within luxury, fashion and art and is continually evolving. This is a wonderful parallel for our new property, which will introduce delightful touches for which Mandarin Oriental is loved, but in a more intimate and informal setting."

The hotel has been designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, the firm behind the London’s Lloyd’s building and the ‘Cheesegrater’ in the City of London.