Luxe Food & Rooms With Private Gardens: What We Thought Of Covent Garden’s Stylish Five-Star Hotel

There’s nothing like catching a show in the West End, is there? Whether it’s the latest musical or an old classic back on the stage, a night in Theatreland always promises to be a bucketload of fun. However, if you're travelling from outside the capital, the experience can often be a little marred by the rush to catch the last train back home. Lucky for you, we’re giving the low-down on a stylish, five-star stay that means you don't have to leave in a hurry: St Martins Lane Hotel in London.

St Martins Lane in Covent Garden is ideal for post-show kips.

Among the bustling pubs, cool restaurants and theatres of Covent Garden, the hotel offered an inviting escape from the crowds. The foyer was modern with a slightly kitsch edge, boasting curious artwork alongside a mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings. Check-in was seamless and very speedy, so before we knew it, we were in the lift, zooming up to our Deluxe Garden Room (£376 for the night). 

Our home for the night was incredibly spacious, fronting a humungous, pristinely white bed, which had a plush, snuggly duvet and seriously fluffy pillows. And the ensuite bathroom? Nearly as big as the room itself, with a walk-in rain shower a a luxurious range of products to choose from. However, my favourite part was the room's adorable private garden, showcasing pink patio furniture and a luscious nursery of plants. 

Before catching 40 winks, however, we headed to The Restaurant (that's literally its name) for a spot of dinner. It flaunted laid-back, traditional-style furniture with mismatched seating and marble tables, positioned around a central column enveloped in vintage books. That, paired with intimate low lighting and the sound of smooth jazz playing in the background, gave it a very suave yet relaxing vibe. 

Discover a calm, relaxing escape with cosy interiors and fun cocktails at St Martins Lane Hotel's restaurant.

We decided to kick off the meal with a couple of cocktails. The Tiki (£16) blended pineapple-infused Lillet Blanc with Bacardi coconut, Bacardi Anejo Quatro, mango juice, lime juice, coconut cream, nutmeg and orgeat. Arriving in a groovy tiki glass with coconut shavings on top, it was a lip-smacking medley of flavours that made us feel like we were on holiday (which was needed on this incredibly wet day). My partner knocked back the Patagonia (£14), made up of Patron Silver, pineapple juice, lime, coconut cream, rosemary, grapefruit bitters and soda. It tasted a little like a chilli margarita, although the coconut added a nice, welcome creaminess that balanced the sip beautifully.

As for starters, we shared the citrus burrata (£14), accompanied by slices of grapefruit and cherry tomatoes, topped with yuzu caviar - an unusual yet elegant pairing that really paid off. The tempura soft shell crab (£16) was also divine, lined up on a rectangular plate with generous dollops of avocado puree and lotus root, not to mention the delicious, bittersweet pickled black radish, which brought the shellfish to life.

The food at St Martins Lane Hotel's restaurant was an absolute feast for the eyes and tastebuds.

I then delved into the beef fillet (£38), which was a perfect medium rare. Combined with tender confit carrots, mushroom ketchup and a pot of gravy, it felt like an elevated twist on classic British fare. Feeling a little bougie, by dinner date went for the thermidor-style Canadian lobster (£40) and, despite being slightly on the tougher side, the bisque foam and mango chilli caviar were a vibrant delight. To finish, we enjoyed the frozen mascarpone pannacotta (£10), delivered alongside rosemary, lychee granita, raspberry and rose tea, and went down an absolute treat.

After devouring such a feast, we decided it was time to hit the hay. Though our room felt quiet and peaceful for the most part, unfortunately when we were trying to sleep, I could hear loud music thumping from below - presumably from the hotel's speakeasy bar, The Blind Spot. However, as soon as I popped my earplugs in, I fell straight into the deepest sleep, which I owed to the incredibly comfortable cloud-like bed (honestly that duvet was something else). After rising from the dead, we ordered a little room service, both opting for two poached eggs on sourdough with smoked salmon and avocado (£15 each). Not only did the food arrive promptly, but boy was it good, and was even more of a treat as we gobbled it down while in bed watching the morning news. What a great way to start the weekend.

The DesignMyNight Digest

Whether you're a tourist who needs a central base for sightseeing or you're in town to catch a show, St Martins Lane Hotel offers everything you need for a plush overnight stay. Not only was our room modern and stylish, but we also thoroughly enjoyed our experience in The Restaurant - everything from the service to the food and cocktails was absolutely spot on.

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