Review: The BoTree

Why book?

I like to think of Marylebone as the crossroads of central London, because wherever I want to be in that area is an easy walk away. With BoTree, travelers not only have the best location in town—they also get a more relaxed, yet no-less-professional, approach to hospitality.

Set the scene

On a prime corner just off central Oxford Street, BoTree could feel more like a place of congregation for well-heeled London fashionistas than travelers just passing through. Come-hither couches are visible in the lobby (noticeably absent: a conventional check-in desk) and sleekly dressed staff are at the ready to offer a seat, a water, a glass of champagne. However, it is not snobby; from playful bursts of color to clever mirror configurations, this hotel is lifestyle to a tee, without any of the stuffiness that some of the area’s comp set may suffer from. You can feel it calling in a young, cool crowd who have expectations when it comes to design, but none of the attitude that can stereotypically occupy the space. This hotel wants you to have fun.

The backstory

The BoTree is the first in a new portfolio of hotels from Place III, which focuses on boutique and lifestyle hotels in desirable areas of London. (Still to come are Holborn and Soho locations). Also a member of Preferred Hotels, its name is inspired by the namesake BoTree, derived from the Bodhi Tree, where Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. The tree is a symbol of nurturing, and the hotel hopes to provide a space that nurtures the neighborhood and all who pass through its doors.

The rooms

BoTree knows that a lifestyle hotel has to, by definition, cater to a range of lifestyles and not just budgets. There are 199 rooms and suites with so much personality amongst them. Rooms are bright thanks to a heavy hand of blond wood, white linens, and cheery artwork on the walls. Whether a cozy double or the dazzling BoTree Suite, all guest rooms channel the intimacy and good taste expected of a Marylebone pied-à-terre, with seating nooks and couches, comfy-as-a-cloud white beds (that helped this sleep-deprived traveler get the most restful shuteye, night after night), bursts of colorful art, and (possibly my favorite detail) the most divine hand-painted tea cups and saucers that actually makes you want to take a break to sip some tea on the lovely loungers and couches—very London. Talking tea, the rooms have exceptional mini bars, stacked to the gills with jars of local candies, boxes of tea, chips and other perfectly packaged snacks. Each of the 30 suites has a full bar, and the higher up the suite categories you go the flasher the amenities, until you reach BoTree Suite status, which has a full dining table and kitchen and is set up for special events and very comfortable long-term stays (fun details like a mannequin keep it feeling like a personalized hotel and not a stuffy long term stay option). I also loved that the flowers are all from a local, woman-owned florist, and delivered fresh each day.

Regardless of what room you have, each has its own host—a dedicated service member at the ready to fulfill any and all tasks. This includes my least favorite task of all: packing after a long stay. Oh, and something else I loved? Not just Dyson hair dryers, but also steamers, which immediately freshened up my week’s worth of work clothes. (This part I did myself, but definitely could have asked the host.)

Food and drink

Oh man. I loved Lavo, the spacious London outpost of the popular Italian restaurant in places like Los Angeles. It’s now a favorite of the neighborhood. The touches are so thoughtful—with your table water, a tray of garnishes with different citrus and cucumber is brought out. For an amuse bouche, I got a delightful plate of crudite with Italian olive oils (so much better than bread!). A huge mound of truffles topped my pasta. All around me, tables were filled with well dressed Londoners sharing wood-fired pizzas. The martinis were perfectly poured, and the my glass of dry white wine was expertly picked to pair with my tuna-and-avocado crudo starter. The dining room is big and there are a lot of tables, but it feels sceney and not excessive.

There’s a separate, late-night bar that has a DJ spinning on weekends. After work it gets busy with a local professionals crowd, but come Friday and Saturday a more-stylish crowd stops in for late night cocktails.

The spa

One is on the way. But for now, guests can use complimentary passes to a local gym supplied by request.

The neighborhood/area

For those unfamiliar with Marylebone, one of central London’s most iconic neighborhoods, think of it as a quaint village within a heaving city. The streets are more like lanes; petite storefronts are painted all sorts of colors; businesses range from high visibility Ottolenghi delis (delicious as ever) to boutiques dedicated entirely to ribbons. In other words, it is quintessentially London with absolutely none of the excess that can make a large city feel exhausting. And BoTree is in a prime spot, where Marylebone meets Mayfair, right on the cusp of Soho. Appropriately, during London Fashion Week the hotel also has a lot of collaboration partnerships with the fashion scene.

The service

As Hotel Manager Ben Bateman said to me, “If you want us to fill your bath with goat milk, we will fill your bath with goat milk. But we will also serve you 17 shots of tequila.” Even if I tried, I could not sum up the approach to hospitality better. They provide anything you need, but know how to make it all feel a bit like a party. And it’s all executed so well. That is definitely a reflection of a top-notch team pulled from places like Firmdale and the Savoy.

For families

There are rooms that can connect for families, but this hotel does not have a ton of family-first amenities. No playrooms, no pool.

Eco effort

There are small, eco-minded touches throughout. Leather in the rooms is recycled, and bedding is made from upcycled eucalyptus leaves

Anything left to mention?

This hotel is a lot of fun in an area that can feel too dominated by legacy properties. It’s welcoming and fresh and a joy to be in.