The Capital Hotel

By my estimation, if I stood in a certain position and stretched out my arms diagonally, I could simultaneously touch the dark wood concierge's desk that sits to the left of the doorway of this Georgian town house and the white, dark wood-topped curvy reception desk a little way in on the right side of the small lobby.

Doing so, of course, would have seemed unseemly in a place as formal and elegant as this, but I couldn't help be impressed by the clever design that had no truck with stuffiness yet managed to pull off a grandiose gentleman's club vibe in such a small area.

There was a Persian carpet on varnished wood, white ceilings with spots - no chandelier to take up space - the warm glow of traditional side lamps and candle wall lights setting off the two traditional paintings that hung on golden hued walls. A red armchair offered a splash of vibrant colour.

Straight ahead was a lift or staircase to rooms. Turn right and there's a T-junction (sort of) where to one side there is a small, cosy bar, and the other there is a Michelin-starred restaurant called Outlaws. The food and service was everything you would expect from fine dining; seamless service served in the romantic glow of an eye-poppingly chic chandelier, tall windows that let in lashings of light during breakfast (cooked or buffet available) and lots of muted autumnal colours. And, bizarrely, the odd image of a silver seahorse.