August 18, 2026 |
London can oftentimes feel overwhelming. The bustle of the crowds, the sea of terrace houses and the hustle and bustle of the city can make it hard to unwind amid its concrete sprawl. However, The Marylebone, a contemporary five-star hotel under the umbrella of The Doyle Collection located on Welbeck Street, has concocted the perfect solution. Partnering with Château La Coste – a vineyard, arts centre and lush expanse that houses restaurants and a boutique hotel – The Marylebone has transported a slice of southern French serenity into central London.
My partner and I had the joy of staying at The Marylebone this past weekend. Shaped by a design first approach, the hotel feels stylish enough to warrant its W1 postcode, yet calm enough to make you forget that’s actually where you are. The rooms are colourful but not overwhelmingly so. Ours was peppered with shades of rich orange and its furniture was soft and inviting. Offbeat homeware – an oversized lamp with tousled fur spouting from its shade, anchored by duck legs cast in bronze greeted us upon entry – grounded the space, dispelling any stuffiness that can be associated with central London. The pièce de résistance however was the terrace. Overlooking the chimneys and glass windows spattered across the city, there were cosy sofas so guests could recline and enjoy the view. As the sun dipped, the surrounding brickwork recalled the tangerine tones of the interiors – reinforcing The Marylebone’s greatest trick: making an escape from London while celebrating the city itself.
It’s this same ethos which lies at the heart of the Château La Coste experience. Taking place at 108 Brasserie’s La Terrasse on the Lane – the hotel’s outdoor dining space overlooking the cobblestones and colourful shopfronts of Marylebone Lane. The cream walls, dressed with hanging vines, backdrop circular tables encircled by wicker chairs, transforming this otherwise unassuming space into an area to unwind. The Provençal influence is subtle but not stifling. Château La Coste magnums are poured into elegant glassware, the wine light and fruity on the palate, slowly disappearing as the chatter and hours plough on.
The menu takes familiar French ingredients and gives them a summer spin – creamy, spicy lobster heaped onto a buttery brioche roll and a seafood platter of crab, smoked salmon, rich mackerel and prawns. A cherry clafoutis comes paired with olive oil ice cream for dessert, made using Château La Coste’s own organic extra virgin olive oil.
The beauty of this collaboration is it never tries to disguise the elements of London and Provence that influence it. It blends both – seamlessly and proudly – creating a pocket of peacefulness where the delicacies of Château La Coste can be enjoyed whilst soaking up summer in the city.
Photography courtesy of The Marylebone.
