SL Reviews: The Coral Room

The Coral Room is the latest addition to The Bloomsbury, a striking design-led hotel on Great Russell Street. Part of the Doyle Collection group of luxury hotels (which counts The Marylebone, The Kensington and Dublin’s The Westbury among its properties), when this particular space opened in November 2017, it didn’t fail to impress with its understated glamour and well-turned cocktails. Open from breakfast and weekend brunch through to late-night drinks, The Coral Room is a beautiful bar that hits the mark for any occasion.
 

Designed by interior architect Martin Brudnizki – the man behind such picture-perfect restaurants as Aquavit, The Ivy, Sexy Fish, Scarfes Bar and Smith & Wollensky, plus renowned private members’ club Annabel’s – The Coral Room features all the trademark glamour that the design studio is known for. Reminiscent of the Lutyens’ architecture and heritage of the Bloomsbury area, The Coral Room echoes the building's legacy and preserves original detailing (wood-panelled walls and tiled flooring), while blending together modern furniture with geometric motifs.

Perhaps most striking is the inspiration behind the venue’s name: the high walls have been painted in bold, high-gloss lacquer coral paint, contrasting starkly with 36 pieces of modern art by Luke Edward Hall that hang on them. Five Murano-glass chandeliers, antique mirrors and a huge marble-topped bar complete the look.
 

Anyone after a tasty yet healthy breakfast should head here for the ultimate start to the day: the menu spans a Rainbow Acai Bowl (seasonal berries, banana and assorted nuts) through to avocado and grilled plum tomato served on sourdough and topped with a poached egg and chilli. The weekend brunch menu offers more of the same, but with the addition of luxurious extras such as truffle and parmesan fries and lobster and crayfish mac ‘n’ cheese.

Lunch offers a selection of dishes that lean towards modern British – think classic prawn cocktail served with Guinness bread, Dorset crab on toast and superfood salad. Opulent afternoon teas come with a bee-themed twist: expect honey-tinged treats, such as honey-roasted ham sandwiches with English mustard mayonnaise, and morello cherry scones served with clotted cream, raw honey and homemade jam.

While there’s no formal dinner menu, guests can order a selection of small plates until 10:30pm, which take in many of the lunchtime hits and add short rib sliders with spiced slaw; and 28-day dry-aged Aberdeen beef carpaccio with rocket, parmesan and autumn truffle dressing. Tempting desserts include British classics such as Bakewell tart and meringue with lemon curd.
 

Being a bar first and foremost, the team can shake up a mean cocktail with ease. While the extensive list of sips offers all the classics, we’re partial to its more unusual offerings: the Wiltshire Warrior (Sipsmith vodka, lime juice, agave, melon balls and sparkling wine), City Slicker (Diplomático Reserva, Cherry Heering, agave, lemon juice, orange bitters and rosé sparkling wine) and Midtown Swizzle (Havana Club Especial, Lustau sherry, passionfruit purée, lime juice, pineapple syrup and sparkling wine).

If you notice a theme, that’s because the team prides itself on its commitment to supporting English wine growers, rotating six small vineyard sparkling wines, each served by the glass and handpicked by Master of Wine, Anne McHale. Elsewhere, the bar serves up an excellent Bloody Mary – a must-order if you’re heading in for brunch.
 

Now that summer’s here, the hotel has opened a secret outdoor space – The Coral Garden – which is accessed via a hidden lift in the bar. Within, groups can order English sparkling wine flights, handpicked by the sommelier and paired with sharing plates (including seared tuna with wasabi mayo, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes and truffle and parmesan fries). The Coral Room’s interiors might be an Instagrammer’s dream, but now this al fresco space is open, it’s fast become one of our favourite spots for a few drinks with the girls. We imagine it won’t stay so secret for long…

16-22 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3NN

Visit TheCoralRoom.co.uk