Den - Covent Garden, London

St Martins Lane has a lot to offer - Asia de Cuba and The Blind Spot in particular - so we were inquisitive about The Den. It's almost a lobby bar, but has a classic lounge feel, padded out with dark wood walls, tan-hued sofas and hunter green chairs. The walls are hung with an array of quirky artwork, such as an opera singer shattering glass with her high-decibel voice or a diptych of Anne Boleyn with the split resembling her beheading. The periphery of the  room is lined with a series of tables (retrofitted from chessboards and dart tables) where you can grab a seat for afternoon tea. During our visit it was notably intimate, perfect for a quiet catch-up or to have a business meeting.

We sat down to have afternoon tea and complemented it with a couple of their gin cocktails. The Faerie Queen (named after the Spenser poem) was made with Hayman's Old Tom, Fevertree tonic, fresh lemon and lime, whilst the Over and Under comprised of Sipsmith sloe gin, Fevertree tonic, fresh lime and raspberry. It wasn't long before our food arrived, stacked on a stand with four shelves. The cakes were light and never cloying.  All in, we were impressed The Den. It boasts the chicness and charm that you'd expect at a Morgan's Group hotel.

Share this venue