"I treated myself to a long weekend at the NoMad London and can honestly say it exceeded my already high expectations.
The location is difficult to beat. You're literally steps from Covent Garden and directly across from the Royal Opera House, yet once you step through the doors, the city seems to disappear. The hotel feels quiet, refined and peaceful. It's elegant without ever becoming pretentious or stuffy, which is a balance many luxury properties attempt but few actually achieve.
My room was beautifully appointed, with excellent linens, plenty of space, and a genuinely comfortable bed. Housekeeping and turndown service were superb throughout my stay and never missed a detail. Every interaction felt thoughtful and professional. The staff were consistently warm and welcoming, and a special thank you to Anna in The Library, who helped make my stay particularly memorable.
The only thing preventing this from being a near-perfect review is the breakfast service, which felt surprisingly inconsistent. Regardless of the day or time, the team often seemed caught off guard by the arrival of guests. Service ranged from frenetic, with managers visibly jumping in to help, to extremely relaxed, with some servers moving at a pace that suggested time was more of a suggestion than a reality.
I appreciate the idea of encouraging guests to linger over breakfast, but not everyone is looking for a 40-plus-minute commitment before starting their day. There was some confusion around menu ingredients as well. Not all ingredients are listed, and when I asked questions about dishes, the answers were sometimes incomplete. If you have dietary restrictions or preferences, particularly around dairy or mayonnaise, it's worth asking very specific follow-up questions.
To be clear, none of this felt like a lack of effort or care. Quite the opposite. Every member of the team seemed genuinely committed to providing excellent service. The challenge appeared to be that different people had very different ideas about what excellent service looked like, and at what pace it should be delivered.
One practical note for solo travellers considering Side Hustle: arrive early if you want a seat at the bar, or be prepared that you may be seated at what is effectively a counter, with some seats facing the wall. The setup is a bit unusual, somewhere between a bar, diner and restaurant. If you're dining as a group of two or more, this is unlikely to be an issue. If you're alone, even with a reservation, your experience may vary.
That said, the hotel was more than happy to serve Side Hustle menu items in Twenty8, which allowed me to enjoy the food at a proper table.
Overall, NoMad London delivers something increasingly rare: a luxury hotel that feels genuinely welcoming. It is polished without being intimidating, luxurious without being flashy, and offers a sense of calm that is remarkable given its location in the heart of one of London's busiest neighbourhoods. I would return without hesitation."
