We’re all lovers of a weekend away at Space In Your Case. What’s not to love about a change of scenery at the end of the working (or school) week? So we’ve spent a fair bit of time in gorgeous hotels, fab campsites, and pretty cottages in the country. It’s a fact of life that if you’re travelling away from home with an overnight bag, you’re going to have a different night than you might ordinarily have at home. And we love that. But Helen has one pre-requisite of a hotel that she can’t pack in her suitcase. Coffee. Here she tells us what makes her day when she’s travelling.
UK Hotels with Nespresso machines
I cannot function without good coffee. I don’t drink a lot of it, but the people who know me well – including my husband and the kids – know that I’m not worth approaching until I’ve had a decent flat white, or a strong latte. For my birthday last year I was given a Nespresso machine, and it’s fair to say that I’m now a bit spoiled when it comes to the perfect cup of coffee. Anything other than my two-shot Arpeggio Nespresso fix with hot milk just won’t do. Even the kids have learned the magic formula for volume of milk and time of heating, and now vie for position at the Nespresso machine on a Saturday morning, to be first to get a very grateful hug.
Which is why, when we travel, the hotel that delights me on our first morning is the one that has decent coffee in all the bedrooms. Here’s my list of best recommendations for hotels with Nespresso machines:
- The Amba Hotel, London, Charing Cross: right on the Strand in the heart of London’s West End is the fabulous Amba Hotel. Newly renovated and with excellent customer service all the rooms have a Nespresso machine, as well as a fridge for milk, and room service who are happy to heat it for you. Perfect for theatre and shopping breaks with the family.
- The Amba Hotel, London, Marble Arch: sister to Charing Cross, and convenient for Oxford Street’s famous shopping district, the Nespresso here is just one of the available luxuries. You’ll also find an in-room tablet loaded with useful information about the hotel and surrounding area.
- The Landmark Hotel, London, Marylebone: for classic elegance and luxury, the Landmark is a hotel for a special occasion. It dates back to 1899, and boasts an incredible indoor garden which was once a courtyard for visitors arriving by horse-drawn carriage. I’m pleased to say that it also now boasts the modern invention of a luxury coffee machine!
- The Mercure London Bridge: ideally located for London’s South Bank, with art galleries including the Tate Modern, the Mercure London Bridge, though a chain hotel, has been thoughtfully designed for comfort and convenience. The larger rooms here have king-size beds, and a Nespresso machine.
- Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences: close to Buckingham Palace, all the rooms in this hotel are suites, designed to interconnect to accommodate larger groups and families. With Michelin starred Indian inspired food, it may be tempting to spend most of your time out of your huge room, but take a moment for a seriously good coffee before you jump out of bed.
- Malmaison Edinburgh: Penny describes Malmaison as “edgy and risky,” making this stylish boutique hotel in Scotland’s capital city perfect for a family break, with the added luxury of decent coffee in the morning. They have wine in the rooms too. Shhh…
- The Old Stocks Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold: Helen stayed recently in this charming market town hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds. The bunker room in this 17th century conversion houses a huge double bed, and three bunks, making it perfect for a larger family. It also boasts fabulous food and an enviable cocktail menu. And 4 pods of coffee for the machine.
- The Magdalen Chapter, Exeter: I love the opening sentence of this review on Mum’s Gone To, which really wants to make me visit this interesting converted eye hospital hotel. Trish has stayed there twice, in a Deluxe, and Regular room, and don’t worry – even the Regular rooms have Nespresso machines, as well as iPads for internet access. The pool and gardens make this a hotel that sounds great to relax in, as well as being a good base for exploring the city.
- The Montpellier Chapter, Cheltenham: Owned by the same company, Chapter Hotels, it’s not surprising that there’s a great in-room coffee experience at this sister hotel in Cheltenham. Here, the staff wear Converse, but don’t let that fool you; the spa sounds idyllic, and the regency villa conversion elegant and smart. Go for the stylish city, or simply never leave the hotel!
- The Pig, near Bath, Somerset: We’ve not visited the Pig, but I want to! With room descriptions ranging from ‘Snug,’ to ‘Comfy,’ to ‘Comfy Luxe,’ and ‘Big Comfy Luxe,’ I like their WYSIWYG style, and I’m dying to try the ‘Piggy Bits’ on their menu. It looks tongue-in-cheek (no pun intended) and fun, but classy, and it has a Nespresso machine in every room! Have you been? Send us a review, we’d love to hear more.
Bonus suggestion: if you’ve done all the Nespresso hotels in the UK, and you fancy going a bit further afield, the Hyatt Andaz in Amsterdam sounds like a great place to stay for a city trip. The décor is quirky, but modern enough to feel stylish, and you’ll definitely be happy with the coffee!
Have you stayed in a hotel with a great coffee machine in the bedroom? Let us know – Helen needs more to add to her list!