Celebrating 15 years, St Martins Lane, Morgans Hotel Group Co.’s first European hotel, has revealed a fresh new contemporary design and updated public spaces to mark the milestone anniversary. With renewed emphasis on comfort and simplicity across its 204 guestrooms, St Martins Lane’s recently completed renovation also includes a revitalization of its acclaimed in-house restaurant, Asia de Cuba, with a tantalizing new menu under Cuban-born executive chef Luis Pous, as well as the launch of London’s newest late night cocktail lounge, Blind Spot.
Situated in London’s theatre district at the heart of Covent Garden, Blind Spot is an intimate urban escape that has been beautifully conceived by renowned interior designer Tim Andreas of Banjo Ad Inc. Andreas has paid homage to Philippe Starck, St Martins Lane’s original designer, and his original ethos by blurring the lines between baroque and minimalist, extravagance and simplicity.
Guests can begin their journey in the Den, a modern gathering place situated just off the lobby. The décor is warm and sophisticated, with a tongue-in-cheek British flair. The art on the walls animates the space with larger-than-life portraits and visual puns. The Den is ideally suited to relaxing with a cup of tea or champagne before embarking into the heart of London, and serves a selection of hot and cold snacks throughout the day including toasted English crumpets, Cuban style sandwiches with BBQ pork and charcuterie and devilled eggs.
Asia de Cuba, a Chino-Latino fusion restaurant with an established reputation for delicious and unexpected cuisine, has been restyled to reflect an exciting new menu curated by Chef Luis Pous. Chic, sophisticated, and glamorous, Asia de Cuba lets the food do the talking with dishes that are intensely flavored, imaginatively prepared and ultimately celebratory – all served in a high-energy environment.
The new décor evokes the senses of Havana – home to one of Latin America’s oldest and largest Chinatown neighbourhoods. The new menu at Asia de Cuba represents Chef Pous’ interpretation of what Asian-influenced Cuban food would be today if Cubans had been able to innovate and evolve their cuisine over the past 50 years.
For an innovative cocktail experience, as the sun sets, guests can slip behind the lobby’s curious tea counter and through a hidden doorway, to find themselves in Blind Spot, a golden cocktail lounge inspired by the world’s finest exotic teas. Tea made its journey from Asia to Great Britain in the 1660s, forever linking the continents and inspiring culinary palates. The link is expressed in every aspect of Blind Spot, from the colour scheme to the tastes.
Cocktail consultant Andrew Loudon, whose experience includes managing of-the-moment cocktail bar Satan’s Whiskers and the distinguished 69 Colebrooke Row, has devised a series of signature drinks, some of which blend teas with refreshing market ingredients, such as Camellia; a black tea vodka with Chambord, Aperol, lemon and raspberries, and Ora Negra; a Palo Cortado sherry with orange blossom water and Perrier Jouet.
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