This could get out of control, I was thinking, as I surveyed the contents of the mini-bar in front of me. I was staying at the recently launched, super-chic Levin Hotel in Knightsbridge. Instead of your regular hotel mini-bar, with its diddy bottles of spirits and rather sad single-serve, screw-capped wines, it offers a champagne bar in every one of its 12 rooms, with all the kit necessary to make your own cocktails.

My eyes watered as I checked out the seven half bottles of bubbly. It’s a hit-list of my favourites: Gosset, Ruinart, Henriot and Laurent-Perrier – even a bottle of Krug. And there, stashed in the door, is the final part of my journey to Champagne Cocktail Nirvana: mini-bottles of Merlet fruit liqueurs, Martell Cognac, Grand Marnier and Snow Queen vodka.

In the cupboard alongside is a sleek, silver atomiser filled with Angostura bitters; in a small bowl are sugar cubes in which to saturate said bitters – both the foundation of a classic champagne cocktail. There are also silver stirrers, differently shaped glasses, various juices, and a stash of Valrhona chocolate bars. OK, so that’s not in any of the recipes, but for Champagne Cocktail Nirvana, a girl’s got to have chocolate.

Now I know what you’re thinking – this is going to cost a bit, right? Hell, yes. We’re in a posh boutique hotel within spitting distance of Harrods (the half-bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée is £115; the Henriot Brut Souverain, £45). But the point of mini-bars is to drain the contents, surely? And how much fun will this be, sipping your own creation, sprawled on your hotel bed, watching trash TV, in your little black dress?

Actually, it was supposed to be just one cocktail each. OK, two. One for the bath, one before dinner – but two became three, became four.

There are recipes included. The Levin is owned by the same folks who own The Capital next door. And The Capital has an ace barman in Cesar da Silva. You can blame – or congratulate (hic) Cesar for the nine recipes. So, a bellini for the bath, I figured. Following Cesar’s instructions I mixed a quarter-bottle of crème de pêche with a quarter-bottle of peach juice, then topped it up with champagne (Gosset). It tasted delicious.

Next, the Classic. Feeling for one brief moment like a character in Trainspotting, I placed the sugar lump on a spoon and sprayed it with Angostura bitters, before dropping it into a flute and adding half a (diddy) bottle of Martell Cognac, and topping it up with champagne (the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs). It packed a punch. I turned up the Bose MP3 player (Kings of Leon) and flicked off my shoes – a bit too enthusiastically, one hit the table decoration, sending it flying. Rock’n’roll.

Or maybe not. To soak up the alcohol we adjourned downstairs to the hotel’s bistro, Le Metro, for steak and chips, planning to hit a club later. But we haven’t tried The Levin Imperial yet, pleaded my mate. Stopping by the Ralph Lauren-designed honesty bar in the lobby to grab some more mineral water (see, we were being sensible), where you’ll find all the normal mini-bar contents, we nipped back up to our room to try the house special – a third of a bottle of crème de mure topped up with more bubbly.

“Shall we open the Krug?” giggles the mate, recklessly. Johann-Joseph Krug surely turned in his grave as we drowned the contents of the most expensive bottle in the bar with thick, sweet blackberry liqueur. And it tasted great, I think. Don’t remember. I also chose not to remember the size of the bill the next day. You only live once, right?

The Levin
28 Basil Street, London SW3 1AS
020-7589 6286
www.thelevinhotel.co.uk

Double rooms from £230, including breakfast. The bar bill for the room, for two, was £225.

Hotels with more than a mini-bar

Firmdale Hotels, London
Not one to overlook any detail, owner Kit Kemp has provided knickers from Coco Ribbon, including its coveted Double Trouble Brief Set, a Soho Hotel CD box set, and Millers Harris scented candles in this group of boutique hotels in London. www.firmdale.com.

K West, London
There’s no saving your blushes at West London hotel K West: in its K Suites is the Paradise Drawer. “Please note these items are of a sexually explicit nature. If you feel you may be offended please do not view this list,” read the menu card, with the note: “If a collection is opened it will be charged to your account.” I should hope so. I wouldn’t want to share my Pert Peppermint Nipples or Lust Dust with just anyone. www.k-west.co.uk.

Bryant Park Hotel, New York
Manhattan’s Bryant Park Hotel was voted Citysearch.com’s number one Most Romantic Hotel two years in a row. Cue The Pleasure Chest, named after – and supplied by – an upmarket “adult boutique” in New York’s West Village. Products include the Pleasure Chest Bedside Lockbox, containing sexy eye mask, massage oil, and more. www.bryantparkhotel.com.

The Westin, New York
Westin Hotels & Resorts is trialling a new mini-bar concept designed to enhance body, mind and soul. Welcome to the Purification Station in the Renewal Suite, offering products such as energy patches, lavender towels and antistress sprays. But best is the oxygen dispenser, containing six gallons to inhale – apparently marvellous for jet lag. www.starwoodhotels.com.

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