Introduction

The St Martin’s Lane Hotel in London is centrally located in the triangle that has Covent Garden to the East, Leicester Square to the Northwest and Trafalgar Square to the Southwest. The actor’s chapel at Covent Garden is just two blocks away. What I find a bit strange about the hotel, is that it’s not at all signposted or branded on the outside. So, unless you know what you’re looking for, there a good chance you’ll actually miss it.

The Lobby

The lobby is an interesting mix of styles and furniture that is intended mainly to impress, rather than to be comfortable enough to be sat on.

However, off to the right and facing the reception desks is a large sitting room with wood paneling on the walls and some exceptionally comfortable armchairs.

I am checked in by an efficient but friendly young lady. She informs me that I’ve been upgraded from a standard room to a superior room on the fifth floor. She gives me a quick rundown of the hotel and wishes me a pleasant stay.

Superior Double Room

My room overlooks St. Martin’s lane. As I enter, the bedroom is straight ahead. I’m kind of digging the minimalist decor in white and the funky pot plant hanging on the wall.

The room has floor to ceiling windows. There’s a long desk up against one window, and a credenza up against the other. In the afternoons, the room is beautifully lit in the warm sunlight coming in through the windows.

Okay, the sham African woodwork is perhaps a bit strange…

The bed is a Queen double and faces the windows. The mattress is nice and firm and there are plenty of soft pillows that really entice you to have a nice afternoon snooze. What is a bit inconvenient, though, is that there is no bedside table, except for the shelf behind the bed.

All in all, the room is quite bare. I’m guessing that’s likely why they have installed a funky mood lighting system similar to the one at the CitizenM hotels.

The Bathroom

To the left of the entrance is a walk-in wardrobe with plenty of storage space. Off to the left is the rather spacious bathroom, which features a separate bath and shower. The Knight of Malta shower test is a complete success. In fact, I dare say the volume and pressure in the shower are nothing short of stupendous!

The cosmetics in the bathroom are by Malin + Goetz. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the same brand that they use at the Conservatorium in Amsterdam. In any case, the bath and shower gel are lovely. They smell very nice and lather into a nice, thick foam.

Amenities

In the wardrobe are bathrobes and very comfortable soft slippers. By the bed are two bottles of Harrogate water. Inside the credenza is a fully stocked minibar with a variety of drinks, including a Peroni from Italy and an Asahi Ichiban from Japan. On the desk there’s a kettle and a Lavazza coffee machine. I like that instead of that godawful creamer you get at many hotels, here they actually have a small bottle of real milk.

When I return to my room later in the evening, they’ve brought me a bottle of still and sparkling water as a gift, together with a welcome note. Perhaps it’s not the most imaginative gift, but still…

Dining

Breakfast is served in the bar on the ground floor. There is a buffet with a limited selection of hot and cold dishes. In addition, there is a menu with further items to choose from that are not included and for which you pay extra. Quite frankly, I find this a bit questionable. If breakfast is included for All Accor Diamond members, I think that should apply to the whole breakfast menu, and not just part of it. Similarly, I wave down a waiter for a second cappuccino, only for him to first tell me that I’ll need to pay extra for every additional cup, only to come back a few minutes later to tell me that, for a change, they’ll make an exception. I have no idea what’s going on.

Conclusion

I rather liked staying at the St Martin’s Lane Hotel. The location is great and the room was rather nice. There were a few things I found a bit odd about the hotel – especially the breakfast – nonetheless, I think I would still consider coming back here for a stay – although it likely wouldn’t be my first choice.