Review of Megaro Hotel, by Chloe Govan

For any true Londoner, the gentle hum of passing traffic is more of a lullaby than a distraction. Indeed, discovering the city's gritty heart is what Megaro is all about. The sound hails from this boutique hotel's unbeatable location – directly opposite King's Cross station. The area, once known as a pick-up joint, has been regenerated as the life force of central London.

With five underground lines and a National Rail service visible from the doorstep, it couldn't be better placed and it's a mere walk from Eurostar for budget-conscious travellers wary of a London cabbie's hungry meter.
 
Step inside to find a truly welcoming service. It's aptly warm in a bitter winter – friendly and attentive, but never rushed and unfussy enough to seem genuine. Its Italian origins mean Megaro understands quality cuisine and true to form, delicious and inexpensive food fills the restaurant's mouthwatering menu. Breakfast is classically English, and guaranteed to induce swoons among foodies.

If the taste you long for is home, phone calls are a snip compared to other luxury abodes. One of Megaro's other best quirky boutique features is a mini guidebook hidden inside your TV screen. Plus, with so many generic luxury rooms, it is a real pleasure to walk into one that creatively inspires – and Megaro is guilty as charged. Its pale green walls inspire a zen-like serenity quite immune from the fast-paced hustle and bustle of the outside world. Rooms range from snug to spacious but all are welcoming.

Ideal for urbanites and unconventionally cosmopolitan crowds, Megaro will particularly appeal to fans of converted warehouse-style living. Views might not be the epitome of beauty, but bright city lights twinkle on the skyline, offering a raw unedited and authentic London – exactly what you came to see. Add to that panelled wooden flooring and a fashionable austerity and you'll fulfil fantasies of urban living in your own penthouse apartment – an inner sanctuary amid a crazy world.