A Gallic oasis created by four Parisians (Experimental group), this small hotel occupies a couple of red-brick Victorian town houses with a literary past as the offices of Victor Gollancz, off busy Covent Garden Piazza. Soft curves in the chic bedrooms soften strong colours and marble skirtings, while beds sport a signature multi-layered headboard; one room at the top has views across to the London Eye from a petite balcony. The long, quirkily designed restaurant and bar has a mezzanine floor for intimate dining. The bistro is run by chef Sylvain Roucayrol, whose south-west France and Basque dishes include Galician octopus with herb relish. (Underground: Covent Garden)