Clean lines, cool colours, & rich fabrics are hallmarks of this cosmopolitan hotel, which delivers the kind of sophisticated food that wins friends & animates the dining room. Med influences show up in the likes of linguine with crab, lemon, parsley, garlic & chilli, but there are also plenty of neat & impressive takes on the Euro classics – perhaps calf’s liver with ox tongue, leek fondue, Puy lentils, crisp pancetta & salsa verde or skate wing with brown shrimps, parsley butter, spinach & herb mash. The wine list ranks as one of the best in the land, & it is worth exploring what’s on offer at the hotel’s wine shop, where two dozen regularly changing bottles are available to taste. In summer, enjoy afternoon tea alfresco; in winter, bag a seat by the open fire in the bar – or commandeer one of the sofas in the lounge.