Travel

BANKSIDE HOTEL: AN ARTY STAY IN THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL

By Fused · On July 24, 2024

Mid-century Modern Meets Contemporary Art: Discover the Bankside Hotel in London

BANKSIDE HOTEL: AN ARTY STAY IN THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL

Nestled in the heart of London’s Southbank, the Bankside Hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, perfectly marries mid-century modern design, vintage furnishings, and contemporary art. From the moment you step through the doors, you are greeted by a carefully curated series of artist commissions integrated into the very fabric of this cultural hotspot.

Cultural Immersion and Prime Location

Located just a two-minute walk from Blackfriars station and surrounded by towering glass skyscrapers, Bankside Hotel offers prime access to London’s cultural gems. A five-minute stroll leads to the iconic Tate Modern, while a slightly longer walk brings you to the dynamic Southbank Centre. This art-focused, family-friendly hotel sits in a prime location, offering visitors the ideal base to explore the city’s vibrant art and culture scene.

Opening its doors in 2018, the Bankside Hotel is nestled just steps away from the river and surrounded by London’s biggest creative hubs – Waterloo, London Bridge, and Borough Market. The hotel features numerous personalised art commissions reflecting its vibrant surroundings. The on-site Art Yard Maker’s Studio hosts an ever-changing roster of Artists in Residence, providing a space for them to develop and showcase their work.

The Bankside Hotel encourages cultural immersion, offering special discounts for guests with tickets to nearby galleries, theatres, or landmarks. Positioned perfectly to enjoy the best of London’s art and culture, guests can explore everything from modern street art in the Graffiti Tunnel at Leake Street to contemporary masterpieces at the Tate Modern.

Unique Design and Amenities

Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection but independently owned, the hotel’s interiors are the brainchild of L.A.-based designer Dayna Lee, a former film set designer. The design is vibrant and multi-textured, featuring Sixties-style wooden room dividers, angular teak carvings, geometric blue floor and wall tiles, and pixellated rugs.

The Bankside Hotel also features an artist-in-residence program, curated by Contemporary Collective, with workshops available for guests. Handpicked furniture and eclectic artwork are juxtaposed with hidden high-tech touches, creating a timeless yet modern design narrative.

Comfort and Convenience

The hotel has 161 beautifully designed guest rooms, including seven suites, spread over six floors. Rooms range from the 24sqm Modest King Guest Room, accommodating two people, to the 55sqm Biggest Guest Suite. Each room offers floor-to-ceiling windows with privacy and blackout blinds, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and incredibly comfortable king-sized beds.

The art and design experience continues in the rooms with a mix of contemporary pieces. Our sizeable bathroom in Suite 407 includes a piece by Helen Gørill (whose larger-scale work can also be seen close to the lifts through the lobby). Gørill describes her work as “vandalizing old masters and reviving art historical portraits through photobombing and combining elements from contemporary sub-cultures.”

Despite its central location, the Bankside bedrooms are remarkably quiet, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. Every room comes with a refillable water jug, and guests can choose from chilled, filtered, tepid, or sparkling water at the corridor water stations.

Quirky Luxuries

Adding to its unique charm, the hotel corridors feature a luxury vending machine on each floor dispensing items like Tom Ford Aviator sunglasses (£365) and emergency engagement rings (£125), offering a luxurious alternative to a tube of Pringles or a can of Fanta.

Dining at Bankside: The Art Yard Experience

The hotel’s chic restaurant, Art Yard, offers a stylish dining experience that seamlessly blends art with cuisine. The main dining room wraps around a standalone bar, both adorned with contemporary art pieces, creating an inspiring atmosphere. We particularly enjoyed the hand-painted tiles by Laura Carlin, whose mix of historical and modern illustrations bring the cultural narratives of South Bank to life.

Art Yard’s bright space features wooden furniture and patterned tiles, giving it a warm and welcoming feel. The restaurant serves guests from breakfast through dinner, offering a menu that caters to various tastes and preferences.

Breakfast to Dinner Delights

In the morning, Art Yard offers a fine breakfast buffet, providing a wide selection of fresh and delicious options. Later in the day, Executive Chef Sofiane Kaced’s summer menu embraces a root-to-fruit, nose-to-tail philosophy, emphasising food upcycling and local produce.

His innovative dishes, dubbed ‘Sustainability Heroes,’ feature upcycled ingredients like brisket offcuts and leftover red mullet. Highlights include cherry tomato arancini with dehydrated vines and confit globe artichoke with pesto. Sustainable desserts like tiramisu marc de café use repurposed coffee grounds (unfortunately, we were too full to try). This eco-friendly approach combines creativity with zero waste, showcasing refined gastronomy and local sourcing.

We ordered the heirloom tomato with burrata (which was delicious) and the Cornish crab salad (also delicious) for our starter. We followed up with the fillet of Scottish salmon, which came with a whip of bright green pea purée, two asparagus stems, and grilled lemon. On a fish theme, we also tried the pan-fried seam bream fillet with a sauce Antiboise (tomato, olives, capers, olive oil) and added tasty truffle fries with parmesan and rosemary to accompany the mains.

Like the gallery wall of art we sat next to, each dish is beautifully presented and perfect in portion size.

The Bar Experience

The bar at Art Yard is the perfect spot to unwind with a sophisticated cocktail. One of the highlights is the Old Fashioned, our personal favourite. For those who prefer something local, the bar also features on-draught taps from Bermondsey Brewery, offering a taste of the local craft beer scene.

Taking to the outdoors, a seating area allows locals and guests to mingle with cute vintage vans serving up cocktails. This summer, it’s a partnership with Jim & Tonic.