New York cool crosses the pond with the buzzy opening of NoMad London

What do you get when you combine New York City cool with Brit history? Find the answer at NoMad London, the American boutique hotel brand’s first international outpost — set to open in May, just steps away from the Royal Opera House.

Located in Covent Garden, the 19th-century building previously known as the Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station — where Oscar Wilde was once tried — has been completely transformed. New York interiors firm Roman and Williams, headed by former filmset designers who worked on the British Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Ace Hotel New York, put their modern-glam twist on heritage cues: Old-school materials, colours and architecture served as inspiration.

With features like lofty ceilings, floral upholstered club chairs and clawfoot bathtubs (in select suites), the NoMad’s 91 rooms (from $690) are incredibly chic. But perhaps even more eye-catching is the hotel’s 1,600-piece art program

The collection, which includes pieces in the rooms, spotlights works by British and international artists, including the first abstracts on display at any NoMad location. Paris-based design studio Be-poles, which was behind the curation, also teamed up with painters from the Royal Opera House to create grand scenic murals for the hotel’s lobby lounge.

This design-forward sensibility extends to one of the building’s most dramatic additions: an airy, glass-ceilinged three-storey atrium, which resembles an Edwardian greenhouse (lush plants included) and houses the NoMad Restaurant. The eclectic menu was created by chef Ashley Abodeely, formerly of NoMad New York. Expect local ingredients and decadent comfort food, including dishes made in the wood-burning grill that stands as the focal point in the main dining room.

Also on-site is Side Hustle, a charming spin on a classic British pub, which serves up Mexican-influenced fare in the building’s former police station. Buzz is already building for Common Decency, a late-night bar/lounge set to open in 2022 and destined to be one of the city’s hottest spots for a craft cocktail or two.

The Star understands the restrictions on travel during the coronavirus pandemic. But like you, we dream of travelling again, and we’re publishing this story with future trips in mind.