The BoTree is not your typical British hotel. From the moment you walk in, it’s all about bright color, cheerful personality, and playfulness, but not at the expense of comfort or good taste. We stayed in one of their suites, which to be honest, felt more like an artfully designed apartment than a hotel room. It was filled with windows, flooded with natural light, and featured so many thoughtful details that made it both beautiful and very liveable. We stayed during our house search and were sometimes wished we could just move in!
Fresh flowers and colourful macarons greeted us and even our son loved them, especially the dramatic purple allium that became a point of fascination. The space felt alive and connected to nature, which is rare for a central London hotel.
One night, we pulled out the oversized sofa and turned the room into a cozy movie den. We ordered in our favorite Neapolitan pizza, opened a bottle of wine, and watched a movie as a family.
The design details throughout the suite were a highlight. Shelves filled with books on flowers and interiors gave it a curated, personal feel. The minibar wasn’t a lineup of tiny bottles, but rather a proper bar setup with full-sized spirits, including Sipsmith gin. The shower was huge, the kind you want to linger in, and the lighting made everything feel warm and welcoming.
Downstairs, we tried the BoTree Bar before dinner. The vibe matched the hotel—colorful, modern, with ceiling lights that shift and glow. Their signature martini swaps the usual lemon twist for grapefruit, which gives it a slightly bitter edge that works well with the gin.
Dinner was at their Italian restaurant, LAVO. Downstairs, the space is anchored by olive trees and a vintage Vespa, which out son loved. It’s the kind of theatrical design that could easily feel forced—but here turned out to be elegant. We sat upstairs in the buzzy, energetic dining room. The menu is classic Italian-American: rich chicken Parmesan, silk handkerchief pasta with wild boar ragù, and cannoli piped tableside.
Seeing GB Burlotto on the wine list is always a good sign—so we ordered a bottle to go with dinner. They also had Romano Levi grappa, which is something you rarely see on a menu, and we couldn’t resist a pour to finish the meal.
The BoTree is playful but grown-up. It’s stylish but not stiff. And it’s well-located for exploring London, though if you check into one of the suites, you may not want to leave.
Note: The BoTree provided support for the reporting of this story.