From Milan to Madrid, NYX Hotel offers stylish stays in the heart of the most bustling cities. Despite being part of a chain, the first word that came to mind when I stepped into NYX Hotel London Holborn was “unique”. Pronounced ‘nicks’, this hotel offers an eclectic style from basement to bedrooms. With black panthers in the lobby entrance to a regal chair adorned with a King Charles graffiti-style mural by the lift, the hotel is unapologetically bold.
NYX Hotel London Holborn is nestled between the West End and Farringdon; it’s just a few minutes walk from Holborn station and a street back from High Holborn’s busy main street. It’s a pretty great location whether you’re staying in the capital for shopping, nightlife, theatre, or simply a weekend of “treat yourself” luxury away from daily life.
The hotel
Despite leading this article with the interiors, NYX Hotel London Holborn’s style is actually distinctive before you even step foot in the building. If you approach the hotel from Holborn or Bloomsbury Square Gardens side, you’ll be presented with a ten-storey-high mural depicting a colourful London nightscape: black cabs, and London buses.
After you’ve ventured through the lobby – speaking with the dedicated and friendly staff – you’ll hop in the lift to one of the hotel’s rooms. The hallways that lead to the guest rooms are just as unique in style as the rest of the hotel, but play with light and dark a bit more. Humongous portraits fill the spaces between the guest room doors, some almost black, while others offer splashes of colour.
As expected from the central London location, the rooms are compact; however, they feel more spacious, thanks to quirks like floor-to-ceiling windows that allow natural light to flood in. I stayed on the ninth floor, and enjoyed the street views of a location I had often marched along at street level.
The restaurant and rooftop bar
NYX? More like NYC! When it comes to food, NYX Hotel London Holborn serves up a menu, inspired by both American and Middle Eastern cuisine. While the sharing plates at Midtown Bar and Dining err on the Middle Eastern side, the mains are predominantly a bountiful list of burgers, with intriguing flavour combos and patties.
I tried the Slim On The Beach, a prawn patty with Bloody Mary ketchup, and pickled cucumber; while my guest dived into The Mexican: a beef burger, with guac, pico de Gallo, chipotle, and tequila mayo. Beware: the burgers are pretty large. I barely ate half, but that could be down to the deliciously crispy lattice chips I devoured with that lightly spiced Bloody Mary ketchup… I still attempted dessert though (different stomach, right?) and was impressed with HUGE sundaes, again with unique flavour combos. In the end, I played it safe with the Choc on Choc sundae, but the Sweet Satay option, with peanut ice cream, sesame biscuit, and soy caramel, almost swung it for me.
As for drinks, I could not fault them one bit. My absolute favourite was the spicy watermelon quila tini, a watermelon riff on the spicy margarita. The sweetness of the watermelon cooled the spiciness just the right amount, so it wasn’t overpowering – unless you specifically drunk from the chilli salt side of the glass, that is.
Another contender for NYX Hotel London Holborn’s best drink is The King of Oaxaca, brainchild of bartender Adam. This was a savoury drink like I’d never tasted before; the creativity and skill to create the complex flavour was evident. Essentially, this drink was a mezcal-based margarita, but the twist? It was sesame infused. Adam explained that he uses a process called fat washing, where the alcohol and the chosen flavour is combined at room temperature, chilled, then separated as the oil (or fat) will have solidified at the top.
If you fancy continuing your night at the hotel post dinner, skip over to the lift and head up to the 10th floor (well, the ninth floor, then you’ll get the stairs for the last bit). Here, you’ll find the hotel’s rooftop bar, Glasshouse On The Roof At NYX. With views as far as the Crystal Palace towers and Battersea Power Station, it’s safe to say it’s a great spot to spend the evening. For a more classic drink, opt for the NYX Lady Gaga; it was nostalgically sweet, and tasted like a refresher.
The spa
If NYX Hotel London Holborn’s unique approach to style and flavour wasn’t enough, the hotel also boasts a spa in their basement. Regrettably, I didn’t take a visit myself, but I’ll be righting that wrong on my next stay for sure. Rena Spa offers a 13-metre pool, sauna, steam room, and tranquil list of Isha specialist treatments. Oh, and if you fancy a workout during your stay, there’s even a gym!
All in all, if you’re looking for a hotel stay in the city where you can just as easily hang out at the hotel, as you can use it as a base for exploring the city, NYX Hotel London Holborn is a fab choice. With a zone 1 postcode comes zone 1 prices, but also comes friendly staff, a rooftop bar, and even a spa just moments from your hotel room.