A former nurses sleeping quarters for the nearby hospital, a few nights at Malmaison London can heal. Situated in a grand Victorian red brick building, Malmaison has everything you want from a hotel: friendly staff, big, comfy beds in its 97 rooms, a good bar, same-day laundry, wi-fi and late-night room service. Couples looking for extra warmth can book the Love Suite, decked out in spicy red and cedar tones and prepared with champagne on ice and the ubiquitous strawberries dipped in chocolate.

The hotel group Malmaison has created a standard that is hard to beat. But that standard comes with a price—nightly rates can cost as much as rent—not in London, of course, where staying at five-star Claridge’s or Brown’s can ring in at triple the cost.