The old saying goes that you should never judge a book by its cover. But what if the cover has no title, no artwork, no clues to the treasures that hide within?

This is the approach of the Morgans Hotel Group. Looking for their flagship hotel in St Martin’s Lane, London, you’d be forgiven for walking straight past it. There is no showy entrance or flashy signs to signal your arrival.

Instead, their clientele are “tipped the wink”, with signature style points such as oversized plant pots standing guard at the entrance, and tantalising half-length net curtains, which tempt passers-by to crouch down and surreptitiously tie their shoelaces to take a sneaky peek at what’s going on inside.

If you think all this sounds tantamount to an elaborate secret handshake, well, you’re right. The St Martin’s Lane Hotel, like all the Morgans Hotels, prides itself on having visitors who are of a certain calibre. An “itinerant ‘tribe’ of world travellers... [who] treasure humour and irony, and define true luxury in terms of making a connection with something special, of being in the know”.

The aforementioned humour is evident inside, courtesy of Philippe Starck’s tongue-in-cheek design. Poking fun at the English habits (not to mention dental work), you’ll find a trio of garden gnome tables and a gleaming row of stools shaped like golden teeth waiting for you in the lobby. Meanwhile, the yellow glass used on the revolving door as you enter ensures sunny skies, however the British weather may protest otherwise.

But you’d be mistaken if you were to think this hotel chooses style over substance. The rooms are minimal yet luxurious (in a clean, urban-cool kind of way, rather than an opulent “look at the chandeliers”-type way) and the service is second to none. Fancy staying in? Have a movie night with a complimentary DVD and popcorn brought to your door. Like the music being played in the restaurant? Just ask what it is and a member of staff will email you the full playlist. Nothing is too much trouble.

This service extends to every part of the hotel “experience” – from the achingly cool Light Bar, full of business types drinking deliciously expensive cocktails after work, to the decadent Asia De Cuba, the hotel’s fantastic fusion restaurant. Food here takes dining to another level. Asian and Latino flavours, textures and colours collide in an array of beautifully presented sharing plates.

The honey-rum glazed pork, calamari salad and tuna tartare were all divine dishes, but the lobster mash made my heart skip a beat. The prices reflect the quality and, although not cheap, every bite was worth it.

St Martin’s Lane’s sister hotel, Sanderson, is just as luxurious but in a more overt way. Think immense stained-glass staircases and galaxy-inspired lifts and you’re on the right lines. We visited to take advantage of the hotel’s Agua Spa, an otherworldly experience in itself. On entering, you are met with miles upon miles of diaphanous white curtains, conjuring up thoughts of a palacial sci-fi set. The friendly staff ensure that, whatever treatments you indulge in, you are transported to a galaxy far, far away (while conveniently remaining in central London).

And that really is the beauty of these two hotels. Although it’s easy to forget once inside, their locations mean you are never more than a short walk away from the capital’s main attractions. St Martin’s Lane sits comfortably next to theatres, art galleries and the buzz of Covent Garden’s markets, which means you barely need buy a Tube ticket during your stay.

After wandering around the National Gallery, we decided to explore some of the city’s smaller galleries on a Fox And Squirrel guided art walk. They also do vintage and fashion walks, with local experts offering up some of London’s hidden gems. We roamed through Chinatown, the streets festooned with bright red lanterns, and popped into smaller galleries to view some of the country’s up-and-coming artistic talents.

After a spot of afternoon shopping, we returned to the Sanderson to enjoy the culinary delights of the hotel’s restaurant Suka. Its sophisticated surroundings are home to tasty Malaysian street food served in tapas-style sharing dishes, perfect for trying out the many flavours on offer.

Later that evening we wandered back through the buzz of the city’s streets towards St Martin’s Lane. And as we spied the oversized plant pots quietly heralding our arrival, it suddenly seemed pretty good to be part of the “in crowd”.

* Spring rates are available at both hotels from April 1 to June 10, with rooms starting from £199 at St Martin’s Lane and £209 at Sanderson. From March 31 to April 18 any second room booked will receive a 50% discount. Rates include breakfast.

* There will be special events over the Easter period, including Easter egg hunts, with a unique “kid’s butler” available from March 31 to April 18, who will be up-to-date with all children’s activities across London over the Easter holidays.

* For more info on both hotels, visit www.morganshotelgroup.com

* Fox And Squirrel art walks start from £15 per person for a 90-minute guided walk. Bespoke walks are available on request. Visit www.foxandsquirrel.com