81-83 Great Eastern Street

Shoreditch is the hipster area of London and the Hoxton Hotel seems to be the center of the action. Housed in a converted garage, it features small, stylish rooms, but the place is equipped with everything the PDA generation requires for fun and business.

Most of the places I stayed in during my first trips to London were old labyrinthine "hotels" that were more like patchworks of reconstructed townhouses. I was relieved to finally find the Mayfair Hotel. Named for the neighborhood in which it's located, the Mayfair is within walking distance of some of the best shopping in London (Dover St., Savile Row, Jermyn St.), great restaurants (like Cipriani London), and the Park—for those disciplined enough to take a morning jog.

50 Berners Street

I have never stayed here, but friends of mine have and speak very highly of it.  It seems like the kind of place that you keep in your back pocket for when your old standby falls short of expectations and you need to turn to a new place as payback.  They say living well is the best revenge—I hope The Sanderson proves me right when the time comes.

1 Aldwych

This hotel is chic and contemporary without being so of-the-moment. Even if you don’t stay there, it’s worth it to stop in and sip a cocktail under one of the huge bouquets of flowers in the lobby. Just know that guests have access to a swank underground pool and a screening room with martini holders built into every chair. Something to think about.