First impressions

Charlotte Street is Soho's most salubrious address, the street crammed elbow-to-elbow with bars, brasseries and cafes, whose sophisticated clientele spill out onto the pavement all year round.

Allegiances to the various eateries come and go, but in the six years since its opening, the appeal of the Charlotte Street Hotel has endured. The hotel is a soft green, lined with elegant French windows and fronted by a sharp-suited doorman. On entering the spacious lobby guests are greeted by a striking bronze Botero sculpture and modern artwork by Roger Cecil.

Why it's special

The staff throughout the hotel are efficient and personable. This almost faultless service, combined with the modern art, slick clientele, good food, and sophisticated ambience make for a stylish urban retreat.

Hitting the sack

The 52 bedrooms, including eight suites, have just undergone a complete refurbishment. Each is individually-designed, with modern art, coffee table books, contemporary furniture and chic wallpaper and soft furnishings creating a modern feel. The rooms all have air conditioning, CD and DVD player, satellite television, safe, and minibars with fun items such as an Oscar and Dehn travel toiletries kit, Krug champagne and Pierre Marcolini chocolates - all very posh brands, I assume.

The granite bathrooms have anti-mist mirrors, walk-in showers and Miller Harris toiletries, which come in large bottles to take away. There's also CDs, DVDs, Playstation consoles and iPods to borrow for free from the reception. The full restaurant menu is available 11am-11pm from the room service menu (with a reduced menu outside of these hours) so you can bed-down and keep yourself amused for hours. There's certainly no feeling when staying here that you're not getting your money's worth.

Sampling the food

All meals are served in the bar/brasserie Oscar, which is painted on all sides with a bright mural and fitted with deckchair-striped banquette seating, which sounds horrible, but works. Residents at the hotel should book - even breakfast (7am-11am) is popular with non-residents at the weekend, thanks to the extensive buffet and a la carte menu.

It's pricey, at £24.50 for the full buffet including English breakfast, but worth it if you've got some time to relax with a newspaper and get a couple of platefuls (you'll need some time - it took 40 minutes for my dish to arrive). The buffet has fresh fruit, yoghurt, granola, freshly-baked pastries, breads, and cereals. Then there are smoothies and juices from the bar, the usual hot drinks and an extensive a la carte menu, from which I had a tasty plate of grilled figs with honey and yoghurt and a bowl of porridge.

The evening meal was also good. The bar was busy with an after-work crowd and the tables at the restaurant filled from 8pm. To start the tuna and salmon sashimi (£10.50), was fresh but small and followed by the more filling scallop risotto (£19.50). Together with a pre-dinner cocktail, wine and service, the bill topped £50 per person, and although the food was superb, there are plenty of cheaper dining options nearby.

Access all areas

Wheelchair users can access the hotel and restaurant up a ramp and there are larger rooms that allow wheelchair access, with some lowered fittings, although rooms are not fully adapted.

Added attractions

The lobby leads to two private drawing rooms, with open fires, an honesty bar, board games and sumptuous décor including artwork by local artists. Also, downstairs there is a small gym and a private screening room, which on Sundays has a film club that offers a three-course meal and a movie for £35 (excluding drinks and service).

What we think

A sophisticated hotel in an unbeatable location, but be prepared for a big bill.

Bottom line

Doubles start from £205, superior doubles from £230 and suites from £340, excluding VAT and breakfast.

Need to know

Charlotte Street Hotel, 15-17 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RJ, tel: 020 7806 2000, www.charlottestreethotel.com

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