Hotel Fox

Eclectic and centrally located design hotel. Always a hip crowd plus a kicking sushi restaurant

A quick quiz: at home, do you (a) search out places that are packed and noisy but with an interesting, diverse crowd and a great vibe or (b) think, “Maybe 10 years ago, but not now; I want to be able to sit down and chat with my mates.” Well, it's a gross generalisation, but if you're 'a' you'll probably love the Fox, if you're 'b' you might not.

Quirky sums the place up - originally launched in 2005 to house journalists for a pan-European Volkswagen car launch, all 61 rooms are designed by artists from Denmark to Venezuela. Some are light and airy, others verging on the Gothic. And there's graffiti in the lift which I'm sure is part of the design, not the handywork of some local chav. The lobby is light and airy with check-in doubling as a lounge, where a DJ sometimes plays on weekends; here breakfast is taken on the low-slung couches. By the front door are bikes to rent, although most sights are well within walking distance. And there's a very hip restaurant, which attracts a lot of smart locals.

Highs

• It's very designer, in a striking 'pop art' way. In a world of identikit hotels, this one really does try - and succeed - in being different
• There's a whole range of cool rooms to choose from, each designed by a different artist and full of great graphics
• The central location is very handy
• There's a roof terrace in summer
• Free internet and WiFi are available

Lows

• Rooms vary enormously and some are very dark, too kitsch or just too small. You may love or hate yours. IKEA, this ain't
• If everyone arrives for breakfast at the same time, it can be quite a bun fight
• Some rooms subject to street noise
• There's lots of wear and tear to fabric and fittings