For a few nights, Travel Weekly was privileged enough to stay in this stunning hotel, and experience it’s many perks, from the in-house cinema and spa to the world famous cocktail bar and room service. Allow us to divulge…

The first thing you notice when entering the Mondrian London is the music; upbeat, funky, and full of life.

The second is the smell; the hotel’s every floor, lounge and reception is pleasantly scented with their own signature smell (that you can scoop from your mini bar selection). It’s an intoxicating welcome to my first foray into this chic, boutique hotel.

The Mondrian London, part of the sbe hotels group, sits within the iconic Sea Containers building on London’s Southbank, and has primo views of the River Thames – something many rooms also boast.

As you’ll see from the following review, we kinda fell in love…

The Service: 10/10

We hate to be the people to give out a 5 star rating straight off the mark, but it was inevitable at Mondrian London.

From the attentive reception and concierge staff, to the twice-daily housekeeping and turn-down services in the room, there was nothing to complain about here.

Every staff member was genuinely jovial, and embodied the sense of fun the brand is known for, from the hostesses at breakfast to the room service attendants and staff you pass in the hallway. And that’s not to mention everyone magically knowing your name and addressing you personally during the stay.

The Location: 10/10

Southbank is one of the more happening neighbourhoods to call home during a stay in London, with attractions like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Tate Modern museum and Borough Markets within a 15-minute walking radius.

And because London is a great city to walk around, you can get to London Eye in 10 minutes, Westminster in 30 minutes, Tower Bridge and Tower of London in 30 minutes, and plenty of bus and tube stations in under 10 minutes.

The numerous rooms, restaurants and bars with views of the River Thames doesn’t hurt either!

The Room: 9/10

We stayed in the River View Deluxe room, which boasted some seriously unrivalled river views, not to mention the perfect Instagram-worthy shot of St Paul’s Cathedral from our window frame.

The decor was funky, with pops of colour and bespoke art on the walls, while the mini bar had everything from exclusive cocktails from the hotel’s award-winning mixologist, to packages of the more… intimate variety – and of course all your usual mini bar suspects.

The bathroom was modern and came with one heck of a rainfall shower head, not to mention luxe MALIN+GOETZ bath products. The only thing missing was a bathtub!

The provision of a personalised smart phone, complete with hotel and city guides and data allowance, was a bonus for international travellers looking to keep their phone bills at a minimum.

Bars, Spas and Cinemas: 9/10

Hoo boy, were Mondrian London’s various guest spaces fine! From the river-view Sea Containers restaurant, to the rooftop lounge bar, Rumpus Room, with British-American inspired cocktails and food, live music and seriously glam furnishings, this place has everything you’re looking for.

Mondrian offers a private dining room for up to 22 guests, while The Den doubles as a lounge and parlour space, perfect for chilling out in with a wine, cup of tea, or board game.

But it’s the cocktail bar, Dandelyan, that impresses guests the most.

Created by multi award-winning bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana A.K.A Mr. Lyan, it blends its neighbourhood influences with a 70s/80s-inspired glam disco vibe.

Mr Lyan was named World’s Best Bartender 2015, Most Influential Britons 2017, and Personality of the Decade 2017, by the way, while the bar itself was named the world’s best cocktail bar. Not too shabby, if you ask us. And yes, we spent a lot of time in the bar, so we know it was good.

Then, of course, Mondrian offers guests access to its own cinema, a well-equipped fitness centre, luxe spa and steam rooms, the latter of which is free for guests.

The Food & Drink: 9.5/10

The breakfast buffet at Sea Containers was a sophisticated spread of salmon, cheeses, muesli and more – all the good stuff you’d expect from a luxury hotel.

Dinners were equally impressive, and margaritas were a must-try, if you’re asking us, not to mention the focus on locally sourced produce. For those looking to ramp up the in-room dining experience, the room service selections even came with a hand-picked set menu with matching wines, if you wanted to stay in your bath robe for the night.

The drinks offering, whether it was the imaginative cocktail creations or the alcoholic take on afternoon tea with Wyld Tea, had plenty to offer and kept us extremely sated during our stay.

Overall: 9.5/10

The Mondrian London hotel exceeded our expectations as a hotel; it was fresh and funky, full of character, and held a high standard of service for its guests.

The staff, in particular, were a stand-out aspect, helping in any and every way they could to ensure our stay was top notch.

The facilities and location were equally impressive, and food and drink simply delicious, and frankly, we could hardly fault the place, making the Mondrian London well-deserving of our rating.

Whether your clients are families, business travellers, or luxury lovers, they’ll adore this hotel, with a fab experience on offer for guests both in and out of the room. Rooms start from AU$835 for a standard room, making it less suited to those travelling on a tight budget, but rest assured it’s well worth it if the budget does allow for a stay here.