Suite spot: The Intercontinental London O2, Greenwich

In one of the Studio Suites with views of the O2 Arena (lit up at night and with people climbing it in the morning). Through floor-to-ceiling windows, you can gaze out to the Greenwich Mean Time Observatory too, either from the seriously comfy king-size bed or the stylish chaise lounge. The living room area is kitted-out with sofas and a dining table (ideal for an informal meeting or pre-briefing) and the fridge is stacked with the usual refreshments. The spacious bathroom features a large rainfall shower and a huge tub – we could soak in that bath with a glass of wine (or two) for hours. And it’s the cosiness of the hotel that surprised us. Despite the formal interiors and business-like identity, the comfort-focused details (nice bathroom, enormous robes, soft sheets, large chaise lounge) make you never want to leave.      

At the hotel’s Peninsula Restaurant, which features spectacular vistas over London’s skyscrapers through wrap-around windows. Eating a seasonally curated meal while watching the sun go down – and seeing Canary Wharf lit up was quite special. The Devon quail terrine we started with was crisp and flavoursome, but the lamb we had for mains was our favourite (pink, tender and accompanied with a smooth and smoky aubergine puree). If blindfolded, the After Eight-inspired dessert we tasted could have been exactly that – an After Eight chocolate. We were impressed. If this takes your fancy, there’s a private dining suite that seats 24 guests.

The Sky Bar on the 18th floor with lush views of both Canary Wharf and the rest of London’s skyline in the distance. Dangerously tasty cocktails and bar nibbles make this the place to take your clients for some post-dinner wooing. The meeting and events spaces at the hotel are also impressive; a dedicated riverside conference centre with a separate entrance away from the main hotel lobby allows for complete privatisation of bespoke events for exclusive use hire. The 7.5m high, 3,100sqm luxury pillar-free ballroom is the main draw though, and can accommodate up to 3,000 for a reception or as many as 2,400 for dinner.

The Studio Suites start at £230.40 based on two people staying.