A tree grows in London…in an unexpected place. Where a drab car park once stood, Central London’s most exciting new luxury hotel has recently sprouted. As the very first property from hospitality disrupters Place III Hotels, The BoTree planted its roots at the intersection of Soho, Marylebone, and Mayfair, and quickly became the lush neighborhood social center where well-heeled locals rub elbows with international clientele, and where a thoughtfully green ethos prevails.
And what a blooming special place it is. The 199-room property commands the block on three sides, welcoming guests through a large corner entrance anchored by artful architecture resembling (naturally) a towering tree. Filled with plants and flowers, the lobby and adjacent bar invites both peaceful respite and social interaction. There’s real life here. And imagination. And fearless style, sincere greetings, one of the hottest menus in town, and damn good cocktails. The room upstairs can wait. Check in then order a customizable Negroni from The BoTree Bar and settle into the irresistibly cool vibe.
Before taking your last cocktail sip, the local fashion buyers/gallery owners/auctioneers at the bar have convinced you to move to a table at The BoTree’s signature restaurant, LAVO, making its UK debut after thoroughly wow-ing Los Angeles and New York foodies with its show-stopping Italian cuisine. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a table under the huge, live olive tree that was imported from Italy and positioned as the unique centerpiece of the inviting indoor space. Culinary Director Stefano Lorenzini’s homemade pasta is a must (especially the Tagliatelle al Limone with Kaluga caviar) and the Wagyu meatball with whipped ricotta is begging to be shared with your new friends. The hotel’s impressive social spaces are no surprise when you learn that Tao Group Hospitality — international kingpins of restaurants, nightclubs, and lounges (Hakkasan, Omnia, Tao, Marquee, etc.) — oversees the hotel’s food and drink venues. Rumor has it that Tao is dreaming up a top-secret venue in a top-secret space, but you didn’t hear it from me.
When your last bite at LAVO threatens the structural integrity of your pant seams, it’s a good thing you’re just an elevator ride away from a generously-sized guestroom robe and a roomy bed. All rooms and suites are adorned with colorful natural fabrics, custom furnishings, and eclectic textures created exclusively for the hotel. Every inch of every compact standard room is creatively maximized with innovative touches such as a reception space, lounge area, private toilet room, and bathroom with sliding panels that open into the bedroom. Rooms feature luxurious furnishings, Jasper Conran Wedgwood tea sets, full-size JoLove amenities, vegan leather headboards, and eucalyptus (yes, another tree-themed detail) Tencel bedding, all of which have been chosen for their eco-friendly credentials. And instead of ringing the concierge for assistance, you’ll find that every floor has its own host on duty 24-7 to fulfill guest needs.
If “standard” isn’t in your vocabulary, never fear. The Botree’s 30 contemporary suites are multi-room destinations in their own right, providing apartment-like living and entertaining spaces with a lounge, balcony, personal bar, cocktail station, and lots of design surprises. The largest of the suites, The BoTree Suite, is a contemporary stunner on the seventh floor with floor-to-ceiling windows, blonde parquet flooring, outdoor terrace, private entrance, and commanding views across central London. Bringing along your entourage? No problem. This exclusive space can be combined with the adjoining suites to create a large wing for the ultimate private retreat.
It’s difficult to put your finger on it, but perhaps the most welcome difference at The BoTree is felt, if not fully understood. Named respectfully for the bodhi tree — the fig tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment — The BoTree fully commits to a philosophical ethos of truth, love and compassion. The Founder of Place III Hotels, Rishi Sachdev and The BoTree GM Eva Mount have created a unique space where mutual respect between guests and staff is a given, producing a natural balance and sense of unity too rarely felt at stuffier five-star hotels.
And though it’s not something that Sachdev boasts about, I think it’s important to note that every single day he and his hotel staff are genuinely behind-the-scenes heroes, trained to spearhead industry-transforming efforts to actively detect and prevent human trafficking. It’s an enlightened position, to be sure, going well beyond the norm. And it’s that something extra that guarantees that every guest is blessed with the luxury of sleeping well at night. No matter what the sheet thread-count might be.
