Sanctum Soho

Since splashing out on a posh hotel would seem terribly déclassé in these times, the newly arrived Sanctum Soho, with rates starting at about $175, is like a beacon in the dark. Charming (tasseled keys, just 30 chambers), yet playfully ostentatious and sexy (lots of glittery silvers, pinks and kitschy baroque), it taps into a distinctive manner of flamboyant English eccentricity without overdoing it. Still, the Sanctum Soho, a member of Design Hotels, doesn't skimp on luxe: there's a gym, a 24-hour private roof bar and in-house cinema.