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 Hotel Reviews London | DesignMyNight

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. 

Reviews St Martins Lane London | DesignMyNight

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.

Hotels Covent Garden: St Martins Lane | DesignMyNight

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.

  💰 The damage: Around £550 for two for an overnight stay, dinner and breakfast for two.

  📍  The location: 45 St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4HX.

  👌 Perfect for: Sightseeing and post-theatre sleeps.

 ⭐ Need to know: The hotel has a secret speakeasy bar called The Blind Spot that's hard to find...

 

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