We Review Ellen Kensington: The Brand New Luxury Boutique Hotel With A Pan-Asian Restaurant

It's always fun to be a tourist in your own city, but what's less appealing is the long tube journey home after a day out in Central London. This is part of the reason I was so excited to stay at the newly opened Ellen Kensington, located right in the midst of some of the city's best museums, shopping areas and restaurants. Part of the Montigo Resorts group, this boutique hotel has only been around since August 2024, and I was intrigued to see what this luxury destination had in store.

For stylish rooms with a view, head to Ellen in Earl's Court.

DesignMyNight Review Of Ellen Kensington

Just a stone's throw from Earl's Court tube station, the grand building is set on a peaceful road just off of the high street. It overlooks a gorgeous green space opposite, and we were lucky enough to receive a room with a mini balcony that offered views of the tranquil garden. We felt immediately at home here as the attentive recpetion staff were incredibly welcoming, before they showed us up to our Coronation Suite (from £417 per night).

This was one of their most expensive rooms, and I could see why. It had beautiful bay windows that let in lots of natural light, with thick velvet curtains that matched the comfy sofa in front of them. The king size bed featured a regal-looking dark wooden bedframe and extravagantly thick, fluffy pillows, and the spacious room also came with a desk, flat-screen TV and a well-stocked minibar.

The real star of the show though was the bathroom, which was almost as big as the room itself. It came with both a free-standing bath that looked deep enough to swim in and a roomy shower, covered in elegant white marble from the floor to the walls.

We don't know what's more gorgeous, the rooms or the food.

You don't need to head far for great bars and restaurants when you're staying here, as they've got both on site. We began with a trip to their sophisticated bar, which was filled with comfy seats wooden panelling and, as we visited in late November, a glittering Christmas tree right behind our table.

They have a whole lot of classic cocktails to choose from, but I opted for their signature The Ellen (£17) - a colourful blend of blue curacao, vodka, grenadine, orange juice and lemonade. Despite the cold weather, this sugary sip made me feel like I as on holiday, and the presentation was eye-catching too. My partner chose the creamy pina colada (£17) for an equally tropical drink.

The bar led through to the Ellen Kensington hotel restaurant, The Lacquer Room, a dimly lit space flaunting chic black marble tables and pretty murals along the walls. The kitchen is led by a Singaporean chef who specialises in Japanese cuisine, making for a unique pan-Asian menu. We were able to try a selection of his signature dishes, in a five-course feast shared between the two of us - paired with a bottle of Australian Chardonnay (£38).

First was a truffle, courgette and asparagus soup that really impressed us both, with its rich autumnal flavour and creamy consistency. This was followed up with a hispi cabbage wedge dripping with mouthwateringly salty butter, with charred leaves and a simple but delicious flavour.

The Ellen Kensington hotel menu offers indulgent Asian eats.

Next up, we enjoyed a beautifully presented tofu dish, on a bed of thinly sliced courgette and enoki mushrooms. This was topped with pieces of asparagus and drizzled in a mushroom sauce, while the tofu itself had a smooth, silky texture that melted in the mouth. The last of our savoury dishes was definitely my favourite - a tender cut of aubergine coated in a honey miso dressing, which formed a sweet, crunchy glaze on top of the soft, flavourful vegetable.

We finished up with two balls of mochi each - one mango and one vanilla. While I enjoyed the squishy texture of the mango, the vanilla had a harder outside that I didn't like as much - though the inside of both was great.

After a peaceful sleep in one of the biggest beds I've ever seen, we headed down for breakfast - also found in the Lacquer Room. This was a classic buffet-style affair with fresh juices, home-cooked pastries and all the components of a full English, as well as Asian-inspired options like congee and miso mushrooms. I went for scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast, while my boyfriend sampled the croissants, and I was impressed at how quickly they were restocking each station as hungry guests devoured the food.

Ellen Kensington: Overall

Montigo Resorts London have outdone themselves with this new venue, as I honestly couldn't fault anything about our stay at Ellen Kensington. Despite a large number of rooms in the hotel, the service felt really personal at reception and in the restaurant - which provided a fantastic range of pan-Asian dishes that we both loved. Our room was truly stunning, and the destination as a whole provides a luxurious escape from the city while still being close to all the action.

For more getaway inspiration, check out the city's best hotels for sightseeing.