If money were no object, I think I’d quite like to live in a hotel. And I’d happily pick The Laslett as my residence of choice. What a joy to wake up in a super king bed, open the curtains to a view of gorgeous terraced houses, pop a pod into the Nespresso machine and slowly make my way down to breakfast. A joy, I tell you!
The Laslett’s restaurant review
Food is dished up at the hotel’s resident restaurant: The Henderson Bar & Kitchen, which was named after Russell ‘Russ’ Henderson, one of the founders of Notting Hill Carnival.
We kicked the evening off with drinks in The Library, which had a very relaxed vibe. It was almost as though I was being waited on in my own living room. We lounged on a sofa with some cocktails while others were working away on their laptops, occasionally reaching for a sip of wine.
Not to take away from the rest of our visit, but the cocktails were definitely a highlight. As I do before I visit anywhere, I made sure to memorise the menu and plan my order weeks in advance. It took me no longer than a second to decide that the Jalapeño Margarita had my name written all over it. I was right, it was good – but the Sofia Mendez was better. I don’t think I’ve thought about anything else since. Made with Quiquiriqui Mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse, lime juice and sugar syrup – it’s like nothing I’ve ever drank before. Three cocktails and a bucket’s worth of nocellara olives later, we were off to the restaurant for our dinner.
We started off with the Truffle Hummus, which was easily the best hummus I’ve had. Then we shared the Baked Aubergine with coconut yoghurt and harissa, and the Burrata with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, rocket and pine nuts. Both really great, with the Burrata just nabbing pole position in my eyes. We finished off with the Tiramisu and the Orange Polenta Cake, which were both absolutely massive and a great end to the meal.
My review of The Henderson Bar & Kitchen would not be complete without a shout out to our wonderful waitress, Tina. If you decide to make a reservation, I implore you to ring ahead and make sure Tina has a shift that day. Tina, if you’re reading this, it was an absolute joy to meet you. All my love, The Girl From The Magazine x
Breakfast at The Laslett
I won’t sugarcoat it: breakfast was disappointing. Service was slow, the food was uninspired, and the coffee was undrinkable. I’m not going to use up too many words complaining about it because it hasn’t altered my overall opinion of The Laslett. Please keep reading and know that I would return despite my experience at breakfast. And I’m sure their weekend brunch is better: the menu certainly suggests so. Let’s move on…
The rooms at The Laslett
We stayed in one of the hotel’s Master Bedroom Suites which, full transparency, is not exactly cheap. But there’s a reason for the price tag. I was in the room for ten whole minutes before I discovered an entire lounge space tucked away around a secret corner, featuring a sofa bed and a table set up perfectly for people watching on the street outside.
There’s art from local creatives decking the walls, quirky antiques dotted around the room, and a hidden bar stocked with everything from wine and kombucha, to phone chargers and candles. You’ll also find a selection of records in the room, which you’re welcome to play during your stay (or pay to take home)!
Wellness at The Laslett
As part of my visit, I was kindly offered to review The Laslett’s signature Ozone Sauna. I went into this totally blind, with absolutely no idea what to expect. Evidenced by the fact my swimming costume remained firmly in my bag as I was asked to strip down to nothing (which wasn’t nearly as terrifying as it sounds; you’re always alone in your nakedness).
I stepped into the egg-like capsule (which looked almost exactly like the Insta-famous toilet pods at sketch), let down my towel, and relished in the sitting still of it all. I wondered if I might feel claustrophobic—despite my head being out at all times—but it was honestly glorious to be trapped doing nothing at all, even just for 30 minutes. The Ozone Sauna is reminiscent of your typical sauna, except the steam is circulated periodically so as not to overheat you, and the ozone is actually seven times more effective at detoxifying the body.
To summarise if you’re as clueless as I was: your pores open as a result of the warm steam, and ozone enters the body to absolve it of toxins, boost immunity, and improve circulation. It also enhances organ functionality, including the production of hormones and enzymes. Basically, the list of benefits is almost endless; ranging from reducing stress, to helping with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Added bonus is that ozone was initially used to sterilise medical instruments, so we know it has the power to obliterate viruses, too.
When my time in the cure-all capsule was over, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. Tying my shoelaces in this dreamlike state was tricky, but the thought of cocktails got me through.
The Recharge Rooms at The Laslett also offer Vitamin IV infusions, rejuvenating skin procedures, facials, scalp treatments and so much more.
Overall, my stay at The Laslett was absolutely brilliant. The staff were friendly, our dinner was delicious, and I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages (thanks to the comfy bed and the Ozone Sauna, I presume). Not forgetting that it will always be the place where I discovered my favourite cocktail.