Moorgate is typically an area I tend to walk through at a fast pace on my way to obtain bao buns from Spitalfields Market. Yet one Saturday afternoon, I found myself navigating towering office blocks (AKA WeWork's world domination) to visit the luxurious five-star South Place Hotel for an overnight stay in the City.

The first of its kind from restauranteurs D&D London, it's a dimly lit, towering block of seven floors, boasting 80 bedrooms and five bars, as well as dark, moody interiors designed by Conran. Upon entrance, my mini-vacation companion and I were met with a neon pink installation called The Love Bomb by Real Hackney Dave, representing a light-hearted depiction of romance in war. As well as incredibly striking, we notice that it’s also for sale at an eyewatering price we acknowledge is out of our budget, as opposed to presumably some of the business clientele here.

After gawping at the back-lit wire shoe installation by Cathy Miles down the corridor by the lift, we ventured to the junior suite (£561 for one night), where we would be resting our weary heads.

Shower power: the bathroom was a highlight. 

Our den for the evening was, quite frankly, stunning. I immediately catapulted towards the super kingsized bed sporting a cashmere-wrapped mattress and dissolved into it. To my left was a deep bathtub and rain shower, sectioned off by a slim, glass panel leaving no room for modesty, which resulted in us having to choose whether to bare all or take turns going for a short walk in the morning. Marbled, grey stone flanked the bathing area and adjacent were dual sinks, crowned by large vanity mirrors and golden spotlights. This might have been my favourite part if I were to rule out using the Dyson hairdryer and the electric blackout blinds.

Before settling down, we took a trip to The Secret Garden, a hidden cocktail den on the first floor, for a couple of tipples. The area had been transformed into a tranquil island, with trickling waterfalls, velvet green seats and leafy plants to celebrate its spring partnership with Jura Whisky. We mentally transported ourselves to an island retreat as my date sipped on a 212 (£14.50), which he found to be incredibly potent, with sweet and sour notes of cherry and a tang of orange oil. I got my lips around the Jura Sunset (£14.50) - essentially an elevated Aperol spritz, that had the deceptive appearance of one, but fooled me once the smokiness of the spirit cut through.

A secluded hideaway: The Secret Garden provides a tranquil oasis to sip in.

Our dinner reservation at the South Place restaurant 3SP crept up on us, so we scampered back downstairs to the dining area which was uncharacteristically quiet for a Saturday night. At its core was a communal table, crowned with halos of warm lights, and fixed to the walls were two-minute pop-art illustrations from Damien Florébert Cuyper. We began with a cocktail before tucking into some modern, British cuisine. The Peach and Spice (£15) was served in a rose gold mug, filled to the brim with crushed ice and boasting strong notes of Havana 7yo, complemented by the sharp edge of ginger beer - it made a refreshing start to the meal, which consisted of the sweet potato and coconut curry (£16) for me and the 3SP cheeseburger (£22) for my partner.

I adored how mine arrived with two small containers of crisp popadoms and fluffy basmati rice for me to scoop up and mix into the fragrant, creamy sauce; I had a satisfied companion sat opposite too, who made the strong claim it was the best burger he’d ever had. The glossy, brioche bun was demolished in seconds, with not an inch of gooey applewood cheddar or spicy firecracker mayo remaining.

We finished with Valrhona chocolate profiteroles (£8.50), which entailed one giant choux bun on a bed of tonka cream, drizzled in hot chocolate sauce, and a Yorkshire rhubarb and yoghurt (£8.50) affair, that contained crumbly brittle and swirls of white chocolate mousse. We’d gone for essentially the yin and yang of desserts as the heavy, indulgence of the former was counteracted by the tart notes of the rhubarb and incredibly sweet bursts of chocolate.

3SP South Place Hotel is a modern dining experience serving up moreish British eats. 

With full bellies, we decided to turn in for the night - shortly after I tested out the bath and cocooned myself in heaps of fresh towels. If you factor out my guest's low-key insomnia, I would attest that we both slept like logs in a bed that almost engulfed our bodies. It was fairly peaceful too, with only the occasional clamour of hen dos from the halfway stirring me.

Before setting off for the day, we ordered room service which arrived ridiculously quickly and was scooted on a trolly into our room. We switched on the TV as I pondered bizarre dreams over a black Americano (£5), shortly followed by gulping down - in a bid for health - a gleaming orange elixir shot (£4) which contained ginger, turmeric, lemon and cayenne. I scooped up thick whisps of organic Greek-style yoghurt (£9) with banana, nut granola and honey, while my partner pulled apart flakes of pain au chocolat (£4). He then devoured a signature breakfast roll (£11.50), that contained a velvety hollandaise running down slices of Cumberland sausage and streaky bacon, topped with a fried egg. And with that, we were ready to start the day in the big city.

The DesignMyNight Digest

Whether you’re in the city on business or coming from Essex for a big night out, the South Place Hotel in Moorgate makes a fabulous stopover choice. Not only is it conveniently sandwiched between two Elizabeth line stations, but it also offers everything you need for a peaceful stay. From contemporary cocktails to captivating art installations, this snazzy spot entices you and woos you with its prompt service. 

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