Is that the place being billed as the new Ivy?

The Ivy is in the same Covent Garden street but that's about as far as the similarities go. This is one of those trendy new restaurants with rooms. That is to say a place where you can stuff yourself silly, then pass out upstairs without having to risk a drunken drive home.

So it's not really a hotel then?

Not strictly. Just three fabulous funky rooms as far removed from boring central London hotels as they come. We tried the White Room, a long, slim, white marble-floored room with a huge bed boasting a white leather-padded, ceiling-high headboard and fake-fur throw. There's also a Stone Room with private terrace and Loft Room with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

So how come the founders haven't fallen into the trap of making the rooms rectangular, with the bathrooms on the left, beige decor and violent air conditioning that every other new luxury hotel in London boasts these days?

It's probably because they are restaurateurs rather than hoteliers. Rowley Leigh, Christopher Bodker and Marion Scrutton's restaurants (which include Kensington Place and Circus) have been copied to death. The same will no doubt happen with their hotel rooms.

What extra touches make it special?

Space NK toiletries, a full English breakfast in bed included in the price and one of those flat-screen TVs. There are art and design books about Pentagram and Mario Testino scattered along the 15m sideboard and a picture of butterflies and flowers made out of broken light bulbs. A small thing, but there are working sash windows. There is nothing more claustrophobic than hotels with triple glazing that you can't open for some real London air. OK, you get the sound of early morning dustmen, but it's still better than the whistle of air con.

And what's the damage?

From £250 per room per night including breakfast (020 7010 8700; 13-15 West Street, London WC2 9NE).