Some hotels offer luxury, others serve up personality. And then there are the rare gems that exist in a space entirely their own—enigmatic, immersive, otherworldly. The Mandrake Hotel in Fitzrovia is one such place. If the HBO series White Lotus ever needed a moody, theatrical London sequel, this would be its set. Eccentric, eclectic, and everything in between, The Mandrake isn’t merely a hotel—it’s a full-blown experience, a surrealist sanctuary nestled within the city’s grid.

Behind an unassuming entrance on Newman Street, through a dim, tunnel-like corridor that deliberately distances you from the hustle of London, The Mandrake unfurls into a visual feast. My advice to future guests? Do as little research as possible. Avoid the Instagram scroll, resist the urge to read too many reviews. Entering the Mandrake without preconceptions is the only way to experience the full enchantment of its curated chaos.

The interiors are a masterclass in design maximalism—lush foliage cascading from mezzanine balconies, deep jewel tones punctuated with flickers of gold, abstract sculptures, tribal artefacts, and just enough shadows to make you wonder if you’ve stepped into a dream or a cult film set. The aesthetic leans hard into theatrical, yet never tips into parody. It’s the kind of space where every hallway could be a runway, every corner a clandestine lounge.

Damu: Serenity in a World Within a World

Entering The Mandrake already feels like stepping through a portal—a deliberate departure from the London just outside its doors. The energy of the city fades the moment you enter the shadowed, ceremonial corridor that leads inward. It’s a hotel that cocoons you, wraps you in sensuality and surrealism, and invites you to forget where you are entirely.

But just as you think you’ve fully escaped the outside world, you descend even further— into Damu. While The Mandrake dazzles with visual bravado, its spa—Damu—o+ers a completely different sort of magic: one of stillness, serenity, and sensory transport. The phrase “a world within a world within a world” feels especially apt here. The design is a blend of ancient ritual and futuristic wellness—a juxtaposition most clearly felt in its two standout experiences: the Mud Caves and the Origin Pool.

The Mud Caves, with their warm, earthy palette, serve not just as a beauty treatment but as a grounding experience. The ritual is meditative and holistic, designed to detoxify the body, deeply cleanse the skin, and restore hydration.

In contrast, the world’s first Origin Pool combines Epsom salt-infused water with an immersive blend of light, sound, and vibration via a multi-sensory floatation tank. Relaxing into a jacuzzi-style pool, only 30cm deep, bathed in chromotherapy-inspired light, the experience aims to rebalance your energy and promote healing. Partway through the experience, the lights dim to darkness, and what follows is something akin to a sensory blackout. Without visual input, the body is suspended in total weightlessness. This is where I felt myself truly let go. The gentle pulses of the water, the customised soundscape, the absence of gravity—all conspiring to dissolve the boundary between body and dream.

Damu’s attention to detail extends beyond the treatment rooms. Each guest is assigned an individual changing suite: a perfectly proportioned private space equipped with a shower, locker, and dressing area. The amenities offered are generous and thoughtful— from plush towels and natural deodorant to disposable underwear and hairspray. Every imaginable comfort, anticipated before you realise you need it. Even post-treatment, the tranquillity area continues the hotel’s theme of hyper-curation. Despite being in the middle of a major capital city, not once did I encounter another spa guest. The experience is staggered and seamless, treatment times meticulously organised to ensure complete privacy and a feeling of individuality, with spa therapists attentive to your every need and to answer your every question.

Yopo Bar & Restaurant: A Journey Through South America

Food and drink at The Mandrake are just as transportive as its décor. Yopo, the hotel’s bar and restaurant, draws heavy inspiration from South America—both in its menu and its immersive design.

Let’s start with Yopo Bar: a vivid celebration of colour and culture. The walls and ceilings are bathed in bright pink, offset by an eclectic collection of tribal masks, artwork, and upcycled furniture featuring tropical motifs. Sunlight pours through the expansive windows, catching the glint of glassware and the metallic accents of the bar. We began with cocktails—my personal favourite, a Jukai, served as a perfect pre-dinner palate cleanser: a goji berry-infused Bombay Sapphire gin-based drink that was both sweet and refreshing.

We paired our drinks with small plates: Choriqueso empanadas with a vibrant Salsa Pebre, and Jamón Ibérico delicately layered on grilled focaccia. The flavours were bold and satisfying, a sensory escape that, for a moment, transported us from London to a sunlit street-side café in Peru.

As you progress from the bar into Yopo Restaurant, the energy subtly shifts. The space becomes darker, moodier—think velvet-lined chairs, shadowy lighting, and high-concept artwork, including the room’s centrepiece: a tall, fantastical ostrich sculpture dubbed Showgirl. It looms like a silent sentinel, adding to the room’s surrealist charm. The jungle fauna theme continues here, but with a darker, more sophisticated edge. Dining at Yopo feels like being part of a slow, seductive performance—every course a revelation, every moment an act of seduction.

Waeska Bar: A Cocktail Lover’s Wonderland

For night owls and cocktail connoisseurs, Waeska Bar is an unmissable part of the experience. Located in the heart of the hotel, the space offers multiple seating styles— from lush private booths to an internal terrace filled with foliage cascading from the Jurema Terrace above. The bar itself is sultry and low-lit, encouraging relaxed conversations and a lingering sense of mystery.

On our return from an evening out, we found ourselves in Waeska expecting a quiet drink, but instead were quickly immersed in a mellow yet lively atmosphere. A DJ was spinning a seamless blend of house and deep tech, the music floating through the bar and reception areas, tying the hotel’s energy together in a cohesive hum. It was the perfect nightcap—chic, chilled, and effortlessly cool.

A Departure from the Ordinary

The Mandrake doesn’t feel like a place designed for everyone, and that’s precisely the point. Its exclusivity isn’t rooted in pretension, but rather in its ability to filter reality into something more stylised, more thoughtful, more peculiar. You won’t find traditional turndown service or a pastel-toned aesthetic. What you will find is an all-encompassing world that values surprise, indulgence, and individuality.

There is a deeply intentional layering to every part of the hotel, from curated art pieces tucked into alcoves to the texture-rich walls to the subtle shifts in lighting and sound that shape the mood in every space. The Mandrake doesn’t just want to house you. It wants to enchant you, puzzle you, even disorient you a little—only to reward you with moments of deep relaxation and sensory joy.

In a city known for five-star polish and historical grandeur, The Mandrake is a welcome oddity—a hotel that dares to be weird, sensual, and wildly beautiful. Whether you’re there for a night of drinks, a transcendent spa treatment, or a full weekend of decadent escape, it delivers an experience that’s unforgettable not because of what it copies, but because of what it creates.

Final Thoughts

Would I return? In a heartbeat. But not before recommending it to those who love design, who crave surprise, and who understand that travel is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. The Mandrake isn’t for the beige-hearted. It’s for the curious, the dreamers, the aesthetes.

A: The Mandrake, 20-21 Newman Street, London, W1T 1PG, United Kingdom T: 0203 146 7770
W: The Mandrake

Written by Luxuria Lifestyle’s Sam Mead