First impressions

The May Fair Hotel is fresh from a costly refurbishment, and the smooth floors, spanking trendy furniture and smartly dressed staff are still gleaming. Completed in November 2006, following acquisition of the hotel by Radisson Edwardian Group from the InterContinental Hotels Group, the refurbishment saw the décor leap a few decades from inter-war elegance to glossy contemporary.

The lobby is attractive, with sleek marble and soft leather in greys and black punctuated by bold pieces of red furniture, and vast red and clear crystal Baccarat chandeliers. This style continues throughout, and the night I visited, the bar, which adjoins the lobby, was bustling with well-dressed patrons, proving that natty décor, imaginative cocktails and mood lighting is a winner with the Mayfair crowd, as well as hotel guests.

Why it's special

Location sets this hotel apart from other style-conscious properties. Tucked behind Green Park station, it's a stone's throw from Berkeley Square and Old and New Bond streets, making it great for up-scale shopping trips or business travellers visiting colleagues in the area. Other winning features include unusual pieces of art throughout the hotel, Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems in every room and ten luxurious suites. Features of the individually designed suites include a circular bed in one, a hot pink colour scheme in another and a chauffer-driven Bentley for all suite guests.

Hitting the sack

The 406 bedrooms, including the ten suites, are modern and sleek, although in my Studio, ostensibly a junior suite, the beige/toffee colour scheme teetered on the dull, saved only by the striking leather Fendi bed head.

The room had all the normal extras, such as tea and coffee making facilities, iron and ironing board, safe and bathrobes, plus a few welcome extras such as free wireless internet access, striking art, including an antique kimono in a case, and a clear Perspex armchair in the smooth grey marble bathroom.

The hotel may be part of a chain and have over 400 rooms, but that doesn't mean it lacks individuality. The room count includes eight Studios, with separate living area, and 11 Al Fresco rooms, which have external decking and ornamental gardens with outdoor television and private dining.

Sampling the food

Amba Bar and Grill is contemporary again, with comfortable black leather seating, open kitchen and stark white linen. The menu has seasonal dishes and local ingredients are emphasised, which included London cured salmon on my visit, and pork from Yorkshire. The scallop and pate starters, and guinea fowl and lemon sole mains and were all excellent - cooked perfectly and fresh (around £33 for three courses without wine). We were also impressed when the waiter brought hot lemon and honey for my croaking boyfriend to sooth his sore throat.

We were less impressed with breakfast, which costs £19.50 for a full English and £15.50 for a continental (there's also an express breakfast of pastries, toast, tea, coffee and juice for £10). The restaurant was full and service suffered. My dry, lukewarm scrambled egg was served on a plate that was splattered with a brown liquid on the underside. The orange juice was not freshly squeezed and we had to order tea twice. Other guests were also complaining and it was clear the staff were overwhelmed. Hopefully this is nothing more than teething troubles as the hotel is still in the first month of operation.

The May Fair Bar is open for coffee and a light breakfast, but comes into its own in the evening when the back-lit glass bar, elegant bar stools, lustrous low-level purple sofas and open fires create a fun atmosphere and attract a buzzing crowd. It offers over 40 cocktails and a seasonal British menu served tapas-style.

Access all areas

The hotel has wheelchair access and a number of specifically adapted disabled rooms on each floor. For deaf guests there are vibrating alarms to alert them in case of fire.

Added attractions

The hotel has a 201-seat private cinema, which has advanced audio and visual technology for corporate use and can be booked for private screenings. There is also a spa, which has ten treatment rooms and offers massages, scrubs and facials, including the popular micro-dermabrasion facials and non-surgical facelifts. The spa also has a mud bath in a private steam chamber, a scented sauna, steam room, relaxation room and a gym.

What we think

A good-looking hotel in a salubrious Mayfair location… shame about the scrambled egg.

Bottom line

A Standard room starts from £295 per night (excluding tax and breakfast). The one-bedroom signature suites cost £3,000 per night and the two-bedroom signature suites cost £5,000 per night.

Need to know

The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street , London W1J 8LT , tel. 020 7629 7777; www.radissonedwardian.com/londonuk_mayfair; email: resmayf@radisson.com

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