As one of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Prince Akatoki, London provides a superb location from where one can visit the iconic sights of the City. Converted from seven Grade 2 listed Georgian townhouses and two mews homes, The Prince Akatoki, London (formerly The Arch London) contains 82 guest rooms and suites, a small gym, meeting room, lounge and bar and the Japanese cuisine inspired Tokii Restaurant. The 5-Star boutique Hotel is situated a short walk from the majestic Marble Arch and verdant Hyde Park.
Despite having an 18th century exterior, internally there is a very modern minimalist feel, accentuated by neutral colours, light wood décor and a calm serene ambience. The minimalist décor is a continuous theme into the bedrooms. The hotel has a variety of rooms; Superior, Deluxe, Executive and Suites, to suit your needs. The rooms are large with impressively subtle no-fuss décor. To one end of our Superior room was a queen sized bed with elaborate headboard and intricate lighting. With the exception of the large flat screen tv and the ceramic tea cups, all other amenities are hidden away, including mini bar, safe and Nespresso machine. The wardrobe contained the usual slippers and ironing facilities, but also the not so common yoga mat and Japanese Yukata. The luxurious en-suite bathroom comprised of full sized bath with shower and a built-in television. There was a large anti-steam vanity mirror above the sink with complimentary Malin & Goetz toiletries.
In the evening, we adjourned to Tokii, the hotel’s main restaurant, located adjacent to the hotel’s reception. Made up of both booths and tables, the restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere with dark wood décor and subtle lighting. The menu, in keeping with the surroundings has a heavy Japanese influence; including hot and cold dishes, nigiri, sushi and ramen. Instead of having individual courses, we opted for a selection of dishes for the table to share. First to arrive was chicken wing skewers with miso caramel and teriyaki pork belly skewers, which were wonderfully sweet and sticky. Next to the table, was a selection of sushi, the fish was beautiful, and wagyu nigiri, one of the restaurants signature dishes. The final dishes we selected were buttermilk fried chicken, ox cheek croquettes with wasibi mayo and, the highlight of the meal for me, pork ramen with Burford brown egg. The meal was rounded off with a stunning Yuzu and raspberry crème brulee and an exquisite creamy buttermilk panna cotta – extremely comforting yet done with a sense of style. Each course was full of flavour and beautifully presented. After such a splendid meal, it was time to relax in our room which led to a very comfortable night’s sleep.
Following the previous night’s meal, we were eagerly looking forward to returning to Tokii for breakfast. We were not to be disappointed. There was a selection of free range eggs cooked to your liking, cereals, smoothies, porridge with a variety of toppings, pastries, and traditional cooked English breakfast to name but a few. All washed down with a selection of teas, coffees and fruit juices. In addition, there was a traditional Japanese breakfast option of tamago omelette, miso soup, steamed vegetables, grilled salmon and egg tofu.
Throughout our stay, the staff were extremely polite, professional and helpful – from the reception desk to the housekeeping and restaurant staff and all requests catered for without fuss.
Sophisticated design, eye-catching simple décor and tranquillity are personified in The Prince Akatoki, London. And together with additional touches over and above expectation, the Prince Akatoki provides a wonderful stay in the centre of London for singles, couples or families.
Anna Startin
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