art'otel London Battersea Power Station - Review
Looking for a hotel stay with a difference? art’otel London Battersea Power Station may well just be the place! Located right next to the iconic Battersea Power Station, this hotel offers so much more than a place to lay your head. Walking in, you'll be wowed by the bold colours, stunning contemporary art, and exquisite furniture.
I was so busy gawking at the decor that I was barely listening to the lovely reception staff on check-in! The hotel’s design is courtesy of the award-winning Spanish artist and interior designer, Jaime Hayon.
art'otel is well equipped with a gym, sauna, team room and a dazzling rooftop pool where you can take a dip whilst overlooking the power stations impressive chimneys, perfect for a little self-care. You can even book treatments such as massages, facials, and mani/pedis.
The room
Our room was a super contemporary mix of vibrant and bold colour, clean curved lines, and playful touches such as funky spectacle-shaped mirrors above the bed. The floor-to-ceiling windows were great for sucking in all of that natural light, though we didn’t get the Power Station view, so definitely book a room with a view if that’s a must for you. The bed was massive and super comfy, ensuring a great night’s sleep.
Original artwork pieces by Jaime Hayon are dotted around the room to gaze at, and a Lavazza machine, teas and biscuits, and a well stocked mini bar provide the room with refreshments. Our room came with a wet room, which was beautiful, but I would have definitely wanted a room with a bathtub instead, to truly unwind with a long much-needed soak.
Food and Drink
The TOZI Grand Café is open all day, and just like the rest of the hotel, it is beautifully designed, feeling like a modern Italian cafe with quirky artwork and bold colors. For breakfast, pastries are laid out for guests to indulge whilst ordering from an actual breakfast menu. I personally love ordering a la carte rather than scooping up food from a buffet. The quality of food is often a lot more superior, my chosen eggs royal was a real treat.
JOIA, a Portuguese-themed restaurant curated by Michelin-star winning chef Henrique Sa Pessoa is located on the 15th floor. We enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tea here, surrounded by soft pastel tones, plush comfy seats and floor to ceiling windows offering you views of the Battersea Power Station.
The food was a real delight and you can read our review of our afternoon tea at JOIA here.
Guests can also enjoy cocktails from Joia Rooftop: a stylish bar and terrace located beside the totally instagrammable pool. We naturally took full advantage of evening drinks by the pool, and a morning dip and hot tub soak before check-out. The views over the power station are really quite special.
Make sure to check out what the hotel is offering during your stay. We just missed a morning yoga session on the rooftop, which we would have loved to have joined if we were more switched on. The programme of activities will be listed on their website.
What’s near the hotel
The renovated Battersea Power Station is just outside, where you will find shops, cafes, and restaurants, a great place to explore and grab a bite to eat. You will also find Lift 109, which takes visitors up the north-west chimney for a 360-degree view of the city. It is such a cool experience, and there aren’t many places where you can go up a chimney at a power station and be greeted with a spectacular city view.
The Battersea Power Station area is very well-connected to the rest of London, with the Northern line station just a few minutes walk away. You can easily hop over to Leicester Square, or the Southbank in less than 20 minutes.
Although we live here, it did feel like a mini vacation, with what the surroundings has to offer. Check out Arcade X, near the river Thames, which has recently opened for the summer period, treating guests to a variety of street food vendors, scrumptious cocktails and loungers.
To book a room visit - https://artotellondonbattersea.com
Address: 1 Electric Boulevard, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ, England
Words and photography by Nyla Sammons