Blakes, London, United Kingdom

Blakes is not your average boutique hotel. The first of its kind in London, its demure location on a quiet street in South Ken belies the fact that it enjoys a rock star status. Since it opened in 1976, it's been a firm favourite with the affluent, the A-list and the aristocratic, as it has decadence and drama by the champagne bucket. Little wonder it counts Sharon Stone, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Martin Sheen as past guests.

Anouska Hempel took inspiration from myriad destinations when designing the hotel. In the main lobby, antiquated-looking YSL trunks are stacked up before delicate bamboo screens, whilst a pair of lovebirds look on from a wrought-iron cage. Precious trinkets from the Far East, India, Italy and Egypt jostle for space between bespoke furniture and sumptuous fabrics.

The facilities

Blakes Restaurant is an Orientalist paradise, serving up sophisticated Thai-Med fusion cuisine in a dimly-lit and incense-infused dining space. Black lacquered screens separate the main area from the Chinese Room, which is used for private functions. Portraits of Chinese concubines and warriors look over the chic red-and-black seating, whilst vases of orchids provide solitary splashes of brightness.

There is a petite terrace at the back of Blakes, which is clean-lined and leafy. Less well-known is the even tinier terrace that’s tucked away on the top floor. It benefits from being one of the tallest buildings in its immediate area, so a quiet hour enjoying afternoon tea up here is a real treat.

The rooms

The forty-five bedrooms are most important of all; this was the first hotel in London to have individually-designed rooms. They vary enormously, from the delicate muslins and distressed white furniture of the Corfu Suite to the opulent velvet finishes and imposing four-poster bed in the Cardinal. The lavish minibars are crammed with everything from fair-trade chocolate to Eucalyptus oxygen canisters. Staying here is the ultimate boutique hotel experience in London.