I was sceptical when I first met the CEO of Malmaison Hotels, since the company is known for creating a certain amount of hype.
This is after all a hotel company which has the motto: "hotels that dare to be different".
  After he told me they specialise in displaying a cheeky sense of humour (for example, the ashtrays say "burn out" and the toiletries "stolen from Malmaison"!) I was keen to see at first hand what their hotels would actually be like.
So I went to check out the company's hotel in London, in a quiet area to the east of the centre called Farringdon (near the financial district known as "The City").
It is not far from central London by tube.
What I saw was that the staff specialise in giving guests a "quirky", informal style of service and the hotel itself is stylish.
However, it's not to everyone's taste as the colour schemes, decor and rooms might be described by some as a bit strong and "garish".
Nevertheless, for the room rates charged and quality of the product, it's certainly a solid hotel choice.
You'll especially like it if you enjoy funky, contemporary design rather than traditional English decor.
The lighting and atmosphere in the hotel are managed to create a certain mood and the staff are well-trained: in fact the CEO told me they are sent on special training courses with suppliers.
Malmaison's informal approach takes a little getting used to but on the whole it gets solid (though not outstanding) reviews on TripAdvisor.
Guests are frequently taken by the personality of the hotel and its staff and the fact that it is fairly quiet.
Food in the restaurant and breakfasts are also above average.
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In summary, if you want a comfortable and slightly "different" hotel in a tranquil location then Malmaison London may be just the ticket.