ME London

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ME London is the flagship property of the ME by Meliá group located on the edge of Covent Garden facing Waterloo Bridge, on the site of the original London home of BBC radio.

The brand has been built on first-rate service. Each guest has an "Aura Manager" who knows the city well and can make your stay bespoke. They perform a similar job to a butler so can unpack for you and even run baths if you desire.


Design

The hotel is Foster + Partners first UK project and the first where they have designed all the interiors and exteriors, from the outer shell to the bathroom fittings.

There are 157 rooms including 16 suites. Suite ME is a two floor penthouse in the turret of the building (9th and 10th floor).

Black leather walls and crystals are part of the minimal design and this dramatic monochrome palette is played out throughout with dark corridors and light rooms. The pale leather walls in the guest rooms contrast well and the floor to ceiling glazing has been designed so you can step into a triangle and see out on both sides.

When describing ME London, another reviewer noted "its name so strikingly shameless in its appeal to the egocentric" which is a fair observation.

The corner tower is topped by a glass copula – a contemporary reinterpretation of the Edwardian-style domed roof of One Aldwych opposite.

Location
This is the southern end of Covent Garden and one street away from the River Thames.

Trafalgar Square is 5 minutes walk away along Strand and the hotel overlooks West End theaters.

Upon Entering

Guests check-in at the first floor (not ground floor) hotel lobby and Champagne bar known as the Atrium. Guests coming to stay are whisked through to an all black lift/elevator and escorted to this check-in zone. It is a nine storey high pyramidal space clad entirely in white marble with impressive light shows playing across the walls. This pyramidal form follows the triangular footprint of the building.

Back on the ground floor, the hotel lobby has the Marconi Lounge, named after Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the radio. In the daytime it's a great place to grab a coffee and read the international newspapers and by the evening most come for cocktails.

History
The triangular site of ME London on the corner of Aldwych has a rich history. Not only was this once Marconi House, the original London home of BBC radio, but it's on the site of the Gaiety Theatre which opened here in 1903 and stayed until the late 1930s when a road widening scheme meant demolition was needed.

Radio Bar

The rooftop bar on the 10th floor has spectacular views of Somerset House, the river and Westminster skyline. There is a dedicated lift/elevator so bar guests do not access hotel guest room floors. The Radio Bar is open all day and until 3am, and there is a Mediterranean-inspired menu on offer.

The metal menu folders stop things blowing away and the drinks menu folder has an etched image of the skyline to help you identify the sights. There is a good choice of cocktails and the multiple Champagne buckets at each table confirm what is popular with guests.

The Radio Bar has 140 capacity (76 indoors and 64 outdoors) and tables can be reserved. You can also just turn up and wait for a table but do note this has been a big hit since it opened so waits can be long.

Restaurants
STK is one of London's latest vibrant US dining experiences. There are a wide selection of beers and a very meaty menu. This is more of a dark venue for dinner. The restaurant seats 224 and has a 16 seater private dining room.

Cucina Asellina is the much lighter and brighter Italian restaurant seating 90. This space is also used for guest breakfast.

Anything else?
Guest rooms have rain showers, a Nespresso coffee machine and a minibar for 'body and mind'. The room safe is big enough for a laptop and has an in-built charger.

There is complimentary wifi which is still not common in London luxury hotels. There's a 24 hour gym with complimentary use for all guests. Your 24 hour dedicated personal experience adviser (Aura Manager) can be reached by your own personal blackberry and they can even arrange an in-suite DJ. All guests can enjoy an in-room complimentary spa treatment.

Address: 336-337 The Strand, London WC2R 1HA

Tel: 0845 601 8980

Official Website:www.melondonuk.com

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary tour for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.