We’re big fans of the Mal brand having stayed at Malmaison hotels in Newcastle, Oxford and Manchester but we’d never stayed at the Mal London – until now. The Malmaison London is located in Farringdon, right next to Smithfield Meat Market, the trendy area of Clerkenwell and a short walk from Old Street and Liverpool Street. The Mal grabs your attention the moment you enter, the deep sensual décor, velvet materials and low lit lighting make the place feel attractive, inviting and extremely cosy. You could also say a tad provocative too, just check out the painting by the lift – oooo errr misses!
We checked into one of the first floor corner suites – a spacious room, even with its huge king sized bed, there was more than enough room to swing a cat in. The room has all of the amenities every modern hotel should have like a nespresso machine, super fast wi-fi and music player. The bathrooms must be the lightest aspect of the entire hotel, all bright white with free standing power-shower and deep bath tubs – at this point we should mention the toiletries which are some of our favourite hotel products, the grapefruit soap smells immense!
In a city like London you are pretty much guaranteed to be out and about all day so getting back here to the privacy of your own room, where it’s quiet, warm and comfy is bliss. Stick on the giant plasma, have a bath, sit and look out of the window…whatever your fancy the Malmaison is your retreat. And if you do want to leave your room you’ll find cracking cocktails and The Stack waiting for you downstairs.
Breakfast feels a little on the formal side, it’s nice to have uniformed waiters and waitress attentively pouring teas and fetching toast but the white tablecloths are a little full on. The food menu on the other hand is ACE, try the breakfast muffins with sausage, bacon or egg, or go nuts and ask for a combination. There is smoked salmon and eggs, eggs Benedict, the full shebang and a massive selection of cold goodies too. What’s more you might even be lucky enough to see next doors tabby cat creeping in to get his filthy paws on your cream.
The hotel is one of London’s best kept secrets and a great place to gently immerse yourself in the London madness given its hidden away location overlooking the pretty private Charterhouse Square. Rooms start from just £99 on weekends – what’s not to like?
Malmaison 18-21 Charterhouse Square EC1M
www.malmaison.com