The Standard, London

You know that feeling when a big hotel group actually gets it right? The Standard is it. Perched on Argyle Street just north of King's Cross, this isn't your corporate tower block — it's got proper personality. Head upstairs and you'll find a restaurant doing solid British-leaning food, but honestly, most people are here for the rooftop bar. It's the kind of place where you can nurse a cocktail while watching the city sprawl out, and the crowd's proper mixed: locals, hotel guests, people who've just come for the vibe. The rooms themselves are clean-lined and actually comfortable, the kind of space you don't mind spending time in when you're not out exploring the neighbourhood.