Pillow Talk: Between the Sheets of NoMad Hotel, London

The bones don’t get more old-world London – the 1880s Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, where the likes of Oscar Wilde and the Kray twins went on trial. But the interiors, befitting the NoMad’s NYC roots, are elegant Manhattan, with dusty-rose tones and sharp blacks in bedrooms and a grand yet intimate vibe in the NoMad Restaurant – London’s hottest new ticket. Book well ahead to feast on crafted chef plates here, or go laid-back with dressed-up nibbles – think a hotdog with black truffle – in another corner, the Library.

Yes, you can get brunch at the NoMad. But you don’t want to miss 26 Grains, a cafe just a five-minute walk from the hotel. Settle into the wooden chairs at this cosy Neal’s Yard haunt, and tuck into sweet-savoury banana tahini porridge or cheesy scrambled eggs in a St John’s brioche bun smothered with house date and tamarind ketchup. A flat white or ginger hot chocolate will get you ready for a day of sightseeing.

A brief intermission away from the NoMad, you’ll find the headquarters of the finest opera company in London – a gilded chamber of velvety red seats, heavy curtains and bygone elegance, the kind that only still exists in the West End. Dress to the nines for a dose of old-world culture – think Verdi’s Rigoletto or Mozart’s The Magic Flute for opera and Romeo and Juliet or The Nutcracker for ballet – then spend the interval sinking crisp white wines in one of the many elegant bars.

Fat, juicy gambas. Silky slivers of jamón (dry-cured ham). Wobbling tortilla. You’ll get a proper taste of Spain when you step into this Covent Garden outpost of what is perhaps the finest tapas restaurant in London, Barrafina Drury Lane, a two-minute walk from the NoMad. Snag a countertop seat at the polished bar and clink glasses with your mates as you down simple but perfect pan con tomate (bread with tomato). Besides being delicious, the energy of the place is infectious and will make you feel as though you’re right in the heart of the action – which, indeed, you are.

We don’t need to tell you Covent Garden is great for shopping; from souvenirs in the historic market hall to the chic clothing boutiques of Seven Dials, you’ll find it all here. But if you’re after gorgeous bling that won’t break the bank, head to cutesy Floral Street and the tiny jewellery shop Alex Monroe. The space is cluttered with lovely gold pieces featuring small figurines – think chains with tiny bumblebee pendants or earring studs shaped as whales or swallows.

If the NoMad represents the newer side of London’s hotel scene, the Savoy, a five-minute walk away, is quite the opposite; the first luxury hotel in the city opened back in 1889. Its American Bar, the oldest surviving cocktail bar in Britain, is a thing of pure palate-pleasing beauty. Signature cocktails are inspired by popular songs – penned by famous musicians who have visited the bar at one time or another – but if you have a hankering for a classic martini, it’ll nail that in this art deco space, too.

You’ll probably smell Neal’s Yard Dairy before you see it. This cheese shop of dreams, a few minutes from the hotel, is somewhat whiffy, but that’s because it stocks some of the finest artisan dairy made in Britain. Stock up on creamy baron bigon brie, veiny stichelton and nutty coolea – and don’t forget the gourmet biscuits, pickles or fruity damson paste to complete the spread. Real connoisseurs will love the st jude – an oozy, fragrant round inspired by the French st marcellin.

Sure, a museum dedicated to London’s various modes of transport – bus, Tube, etc – doesn’t, on paper, sound hugely exciting. But this interactive space at the edge of the Covent Garden market will inspire even the most apathetic with its interactive exhibits. Discover the history of the first underground system in the world, explore abandoned stations and see old-school Routemaster buses salvaged from yesteryear. The gift shop, too, is enticing, and don’t be surprised if you leave with a vintage moquette pillow, modelled from the fabric of Tube carriage seats. You’ve been warned.

There are many places to drink wine in Covent Garden, but few take their tipples as seriously as Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels. An extensive by-the-glass menu of natural picks, ranging from waxy German riesling to cherried burgundy pinot noir, will keep wine lovers sated all evening long. Feeling plucky? Order a glass of the Mystery Wine – if you can guess what it is, you’ll win a bottle to drink. Should you get it wrong, you can nurse bruised egos with a treat of aged madeira – wines dating back to 1973 are available by the glass.