Sanderson Rating: 5.0 Pearls

Soho, London, England

The Funky Hotel Lobby

Philippe Starck's whimsical, extravagant design is present throughout the property, including in the restaurant and two bars, which have become a destination for locals and guests alike. Sheer curtains, a long teal and silver French chaise in the lobby, and an 80-foot bar are all memorable design elements. With the interesting design comes a hot scene, found in the Long Bar, the theatrical Purple Bar (where the bar resembles a meteorite), and the Suka Restaurant serving Malaysian street food. There is also a striking courtyard garden where DJs spin at night.

View on a Larger Map

The Sanderson Hotel is located on the north edge of Soho, a seven-minute walk from both the Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road tube stations. Soho is one of the most entertaining areas of London, home to the red light district, gay quarter, independent dining, record shops, and boutique shopping. The neighborhood is ideal for people watching at cafes and mingling with the hip, local crowd. Reasonably priced high street shopping is also near the hotel.

• 2-minute walk to Oxford Street shopping
• 7-minute walk to Carnaby Street
• 12-minute walk to Piccadilly Circus theaters
• 8-minute tube ride to Bond Street station and more West End shopping including Selfridge’s
• 10-minute tube ride to Green Park station and Buckingham Palace
• 10-minute tube ride to Charing Cross station and Trafalgar Square
• 11-minute tube ride to Embankment station and the South Bank
• 14-minute tube ride to Covent Garden
• 15-minute tube ride to Notting Hill Gate station and Portobello Market
• 17-minute tube ride to Westminster station including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, and scenic walks along the Thames
• 22-minute tube ride to to Knightsbridge station and Knightsbridge shopping district including designer shops and Harrods

The Loft Suite

Rooms at the Sanderson were designed with tranquility and urban escapism in mind. The lack of interior walls and presence of layers of movable sheer curtains results in a sensual, relaxed environment. Beds are often freestanding and bathrooms have transparent walls (not providing the most privacy). While the design is extravagant, the rooms also have great amenities including stocked minibars, flat-screen TVs, and big bathrooms. Some bathrooms have separate freestanding soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Carpets in the rooms feature the handwriting of Voltaire. A Wii gaming system is provided in every room, along with face towels and bottled mineral water for the ultimate Wii workout.

• Sleek bathrooms with Malin + Goetz bath products; some have separate showers and tubs.
• Flat-screen TVs
• Plush down bedding and pillows
• Standard Rooms have queen-size beds.
• Superior Rooms are slightly larger and have king-size beds.
• Deluxe Rooms focus more on Starck’s creative design, featuring a silver-leaf sleigh bed and swan arm chairs.
• Loft Rooms are generously sized and have large windows stretching the length of one wall, overlooking the courtyard.
• Loft Suites have a separate living area.

Courtyard Garden

The Sanderson is packed with features. The Agua Spa (called the hotel's "urban bathhouse") is a relaxing, all-white space with 14 treatment rooms and meditation beds. The contemporary fitness room has cardio machines with individual TVs, and the billiard room is a dramatic space with a two-story stained glass window.

• The billiard room has stained glass by modern British artist John Piper and an antique silver leaf billiard table.
• Agua Spa has silver rococo furniture and a full menu of treatments.

The Long Bar

The Sanderson is home to Suka's, a restaurant focused on Malaysian street food. The emphasis is equally on the design as it is the cuisine -- the hotel commissioned a high profile Paris architect for the interior.

The Long Bar features an 80-foot white onyx bar flanked by chairs decorated with eyeballs, while the Purple Bar is a darker, more theatrical space for cocktails.

• Suka's has a contemporary black-and-cream color scheme and tasty Malaysian street food (though don't expect street food prices).
• The Long Bar is the space to see and be seen at the Sanderson.
• Afternoon tea is served in the courtyard and is centered around an Alice in Wonderland theme.