It might be best-known for bringing Singaporean cuisine and hospitality to the City, but being able to watch the rat race from Pan Pacific London's infinity pool is the highlight of a stay here. Food and drink options are equally extra, with the hotel being home to two restaurants and three bars. Straits Kitchen, a Singaporean-inspired kitchen, offers authentic lobster laksa for £45 a pop; the Shiitake Sayuran Rosette - a mix of mushrooms, pak choi, beancurd, enoki and soy - being one of the best veggie meals I’ve eaten during my 17-year run as a vegetarian. The wine list and cocktail menus also have an Asian influence, with red, white and sparkling Chinese wines competing for attention alongside Sussex, Argentina and California vines. Ground-floor bar Ginger Lily is the spot for a nightcap, serving up a Highball, made with green tea, lemon juice, whisky and honey.
Best for: An East London stay with lots of dining and drinking options – and swims with a view.
Time Out tip: Order breakfast to your room. The food trolley and white-cloth experience lets you live out your ‘Home Alone 2’ fantasies. Checkout isn’t until 12, so a post-Royale nap is compulsory.