Henrietta Experimental hotel review: immaculately designed rooms in the heart of London's Covent Garden

• Rating: 9/10
• Rooms at Henrietta Experimental start from $520 (£386) a night

Part of the Experimental Group—who opened Menorca Experimental (one of my favorite hotels in the world)—and just moments away from Covent Garden’s famous cobbled piazza, you’ll hardly notice The Henrietta Experimental as you pass. Housed in two gorgeous Victorian townhouses, the art deco-inspired hotel is right in the centre of London, yet provides a tranquil base for a city sleepover. From the outside, you can’t really tell it’s a hotel, the glass front revealing only the bar inside with gold signage reading: ‘Bar & restaurant’, so rest assured, a room here ensures a secretive stay in the heart of town. 

Peach hues and fluffy robes at The Henrietta Experimental

What’s the vibe at the Henrietta Experimental Hotel?

Upon entering, the hotel feels charming and discreet with a bar and restaurant to your immediate right and a small check-in desk set back to the left. A small lift takes guests up to rooms, which are elegant and beautifully decorated. The bar usually has a bit of a buzz about it most nights and serves amazing cocktails, while the restaurant, at the back of the space, is intimate and charming. There’s a separate mezzanine dining room which is perfect for group dinners or small events, and the location of the hotel is hard to beat with a selection of luxury London breakfast spots, great coffee (Monmouth), steak (Hawsmoor), and ballet (The Royal Opera House), all nearby.

My 'Covent Garden' room at The Henrietta Experimental

How are the rooms at the Henrietta Experimental?

The 18 unique bedrooms come in four sizes, ranging from ‘Covent Garden’ rooms to the larger and more luxurious ‘Grand Henrietta’ with private balconies and claw-foot baths. My room had no private balcony but old-style sash windows overlooking Henrietta Street and Covent Garden below, yet the noise was minimal at night. My bed was super comfy with a headboard design giving off an art deco vibe—a perfectly symmetrical mix of dark blue, white, and terracotta accents, with two brass lamps on either side. At the foot of my bed was a pale blue sofa (kind of like my room at The Mandrake), and a low wooden 70s coffee table, while underfoot was marble detailing and a highly patterned soft carpet. The bathroom featured a big bath (not roll top unfortunately), his and hers sinks, rainfall shower, walls painted in the prettiest peach hue, black and white tile flooring, marble finishes, and big fluffy robes embroidered with the hotel's name. There wasn’t much to dislike, and I’m a big fan of Dorothée Meilichzon, the designer at the helm of Henrietta’s aesthetic.

The immaculate bathroom

What is there to eat and drink?

As far as hotel restaurants go, Henrietta Experimental’s is pretty intimate, and the food is good. For dinner, I tried burrata, grilled hispi cabbage, and mangalica pork with smoked paprika cream and a cheese plate—all were delicious, and the service was attentive. Breakfast is a pretty simple affair with a buffet of fruits, pastries, and delicious homemade granola, while the coffee is pretty decent. Each hotel room has a minibar filled with every drink you can imagine, from Kombucha to Angostura Bitters, perfect for mixing up cocktails to rival London's best. Yet if you prefer someone to mix your drink for you, simply call down to the bar below to have your drinks brought up. The Covent Garden area is full of top restaurants and cafés, so you’ll never be short on dining options if you want a change from the hotel’s offerings.

Cool Cole & Son wallpaper adorns the loos

Any highlights?

The interior design of the hotel is the main highlight for me, with gorgeous tiling, furnishings, light fittings, and wallpaper throughout. I especially love the Cole & Sons leopard wallpaper in the downstairs bathrooms. Part of the Experimental Group, with a further eleven properties across the globe, I'm planning which dreamy hotel to visit next.

Anything they could improve on?

Amazingly, not a thing.

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