The Rule of the Cool: London's St. Martins Lane

A bulol chair, just like the ones in Baguio, with the goofy face and the skeletal limbs.  Giant gold teeth.  An antique carved chair.   These may sound like the disjointed inventory of a mad aunt's garage sale, but in the hands of the design world's eternal enfant terrible Philippe Starck, it adds up to a lobby that spells chic chic chic.

For my first London trip, I stayed here, and from the minute I stepped in , I knew why the catchphrase for 90s England was Cool Brittania.  The all white lobby with the eccentric mix of furniture just feels right rather than insane.  Even if you don't have a single stylish bone in your body, St. Martins will make you feel as if you've suddenly and inexplicably become an underground hipster. And for some reason, there are no unattractive people in the hotel, whether they are  guests or staff.

Instead of boring Muzak, the darkened elevator features moody videos and hypnotic music.  The rooms are all white with floor to ceiling windows, the quintessential urban loft.  Malin+Goetz toiletries and unexpected room treats add to the insider feel.  How unexpected? A box called The Minibar of the Mind (prepared by The School of Life, founded by best selling author and philosopher Alain de Botton) holds notebooks and cards with titles such as Conversation Starters and Collected Thoughts, meant to encourage both bonding and self -reflection. There are also two tiny glass tubes, nestled alongside the mini notepad, notebooks and pencils, each with a small piece of white paper rolled inside, labeled "relax" and "seduce.".

Which is exactly what the St Martins does.  It seduces you into feeling like you are part of an exclusive club of people in the know, and then you relax in the knowledge that you are in the right place at the right time.

The entrance to St. Martin's Lane.

Me & Vince Uy.

Love the lobby area, dramatic entrance, it is!

No, it's not the bar. We're still at the lobby. ;)

Check mate! Something to perk your mood up as you enter. Looks Pinoy-made huh? Guess what? They are!

Wish they'd also put a wooden barrel man. Whoopsies!

Huge aquarium? No, a sea-rrific entrance to the bar!

From huge chess pieces to golden teeth? This place is something!

If only we can line vases like this along EDSA. What do you think?

Perfect runway to sashay through. Into the elevators!

They also have these three cute dwarves! I wonder where are the other four!?

The classy concierge with the 1920's, 30's, 40's feel.

Hallway going to the room.

 My comfy white bed, I'm home!

Check this out: a one-of-a-kind interactive light installation allows you to personalize the space. With one touch you can change the ambient lighting, choosing from a full spectrum of vibrant colors to express every mood. Bongga!

The washroom is also not left behind.

Available there are the luxurious MALIN+GOETZ amenities.

Asia de Cuba restaurant, situated right at the lobby, was my go-to breakfast place during my stay.

Housed in a dramatically colonnaded space, Asia de Cuba's innovative menu is matched in its surroundings by a dramatic series of soaring art columns.

Posing by the bookshelf. The ambiance is perfect for reading a book or two. Or making chika. We prefer the latter.

After this hotel experience, my own room got a renovation of its own... which you'll see soon!

For now, just allow me to reminisce at my luxe stay at St. Martin's Lane.