Opening Shot is a column that peeks inside new hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops with dreamy interiors.
Designer: Roman and Williams
On Offer: Tucked inside a 19th-century former magistrate’s court and police station, across the street from Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, NoMad London marks the brand’s first international outpost. It’s also the first property without Parisian architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia at the helm. Instead, acclaimed New York–based studio Roman and Williams has taken the wheel this go-round. Known for their sumptuous interiors, seen in hotel projects like the Ace Hotel New Orleans and Chicago Athletic Association, principles Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch interpreted the NoMad aesthetic—rich textiles, antique furniture, and a collection of over 1,600 postwar American and European avant-garde works curated by longtime collaborator Be-Poles—while interweaving influences from the United Kingdom and New York, the brand’s provenance.
Standout features: The NoMad’s contemporary spin on opulence and glamour is always something to behold, but its loyal fanbase will tell you the culinary program shines the brightest. In London, a soaring three-story Edwardian atrium houses the beloved namesake restaurant where executive chef Ashley Abodeely focuses on regional ingredients spanning farm, field, and coast. A highlight is the Fireplace Room, whose moody aesthetic of flower blossom Zuber wallpaper and blue velvet banquettes sets an impeccable vibe for classic drinks courtesy of the brand’s tried-and-true cocktail duo Pietro Collina and Leo Robitschek. Coming soon: Common Decency, NoMad’s first-ever lounge with an East-meets-West theme.
