One Aldwych, Covent Garden, London

Had dinner at the Axis restaurant preceded by drinks in the Lobby Bar (didn't stay in the hotel).

Lobby Bar has a good atmostphere and there was some live music on whilst we were there (Friday evening). Good service. The tables and seats tend to be reserved so this is not so good as a drop in place.

I'm probably out of touch/step with London hotel drinks prices, but found the £7.50 gin and tonic a shocker. That plus an alcohol free cocktail came to over £17 including a mandatory service charge (despite going to the bar to order). Sadly that's enough to put me off returning - I still have a small surfeit of sense over money.

Axis restaurant was very good. For me it had just the right level of buzz and noise without this ever intruding (I'm not sure the other diners will have felt quite the same as we were a quite high-spirited table - ahem). Food is what I suppose is called modern British. I had a seafood cocktail which had lots of crab, some good firm prawns and apparently some clams (which I couldn't see). But it was good stuff and not drowned in any overbearing dressng. Served with panache on top of a vase of crushed ice.

My shepherd's pie main was also very good with tasty and tender slow-roasted shoulder of lamb and a flagelot bean accompaniment (also good). Sides of spinach and chips were competent but nothing of note. We had some Gigondas with the meal which was pretty good.

Price-wise the restaurant seemed fair value (although sides bump things up of course) - certainly compared to the bar drinks and you can judge for yourself by looking at the sample a la carte menus on their web-site. I didn't see the wine list prices as we were being treated. I noted for a future occasion that the set menus for lunch and dinner seemed like excellent value.

Service was splendid. Ultra-effiicent and pleasant without any intrusiveness and with just enough warmth to make it feel like an outing.

3.5 stars for food, 4 for service. 3 for the bar.

One address is all you need for your luxury needs.

ONE ALDWYCH. These guys are great!

The One Aldwych is a modern hotel, although not as vast or pretentious as others in the capital. The lobby bar is quirky, with its oversized chairs and distinctive sculptures. The flower arrangements are always imaginitive and spectacular.
The bar can get busy in early evening, but is a great place to visit at anytime. They have a great cocktail menu, and some very alluring martinis! I especially like the passionfruit one!

Overlooking the bar is the Indigo restaurant, which is a great place to take brunch at the weekend, also offering 'hair of the dog’ cocktails to help cure any hangovers. The brunch menu offers classics such as eggs benedict, and has a fair selection, and portions are enough to keep you going through the day.

The staff are always attentive and friendly. The place is a bit pricey - as one would expect for this calibre of hotel.

I was only lucky enough to visit the lobby bar of One Aldwych. It was pretty spectacular in a modern posh sort of way, and if you like open, buzzy areas with fancy cocktails and ladies in nice dresses in highback chairs, then this is your place. High-end vodka and gin, uber-modern decorations (a Xmas tree made from potted roses, anyone?), low tables, and lots of big marble slabs dominate the room.

I recognise the top quality of this swish bar, it's just not for me.

I just added this one to my Best Hotel Bars in London guide. Wow. Gorgeous spot.

My first (but certainly not my last) visit to One Aldwych was earlier this week for a bloggers' night out with the creator of Whitley Neill gin. I loved the cocktails and thought the bartenders were brilliant. I'm simply dying to come up with a reason to show this place off to someone who's yet to experience One Aldwych. I'll need to concoct my reason soon as well - the festive season decorations are absolutely lovely.

One Aldwych

Enter through the breathtaking Lobby Bar and you know you’re in for a treat. Despite weighty history – the 1907 building was designed by the architects behind the Ritz – One Aldwych is thoroughly modern. Upstairs, everything, from Frette linen through bathroom mini-TVs to the environmentally friendly loo-flushing system and chemical-free REN toiletries, has been chosen with care. Flowers and fruit are replenished daily and a card with the next day’s weather forecast appears at turndown. The location is perfect for Theatreland, but you’ll be looking for excuses to avoid setting foot outside: the hotel’s cosy little screening room has good-value brunch- or dinner-and-movie packages; Axis restaurant serves upmarket modern European fare (you can peer down on diners from the balcony bar); and Indigo covers breakfast and lighter meals. There are treatments, a gym and a steam room, and a swimming pool where classical music accompanies your laps. If you can, book one of the three round corner suites that are stacked in the corner tower – they’re very romantic.
Services

Coffeeshop Concierge Smoking rooms Bars (2) Restaurants (2) Internet (dataport, £15.50/day; wireless, free) TV (pay movies/DVD) Gym Spa Pool (1, indoor) Business services Room service. Parking (£35/day) Disabled-adapted rooms

Last night my partner and I went an early dinner at what I believe to be called the Axis restaurant. We hadn’t made a reservation but had no problem getting a table as they were, slightly disturbingly, quiet for a Saturday night. We were celebrating a new job for him so had decided to have an early, but good, meal before going onto Somerset House to see Uncle. (Who were truly brilliant).

The restaurant is in the basement meaning you lose touch with the street buzz and move into a quiet, sedate if slightly uninspring environment.The service however was faultless. I felt so flattered by the waitress on my choice of food that I was left with the impression that I had truly wonderful taste. We couldn’t decide between Merlot and Malbec, the waiter made a recommendation but also brought us a a sample of both. His recommendation was quite right. A nice touch I thought.

The starters were lovely, delicious, full of taste and beautifully presented. Mains were slightly less wonderful and I can never quite get accustomed to paying £3.75 for spinach to accompany my beef. But hey that’s what these places expect.

We shared an entirely unnecessary pudding, with a lovely pudding wine. It was all very well done, but felt slightly clinical. I’d probably use it as a place to take clients but not somebody I love.