A haven of discreet elegance; BETWEENTHESHEETS.

Julia Roberts stays at The Halkin Hotel when she's in London and as Margaret O'Reilly kicked off her visit with champagne and strawberries, she discovered it was easy to get that film-star feeling EVERYTHING at The Halkin whispers quiet, discreet elegance, from the cool, cream interiors of the rooms to the sophisticated warm wood tones of the Michelin-starred Thai restaurant - the only one in the UK.

In fact the hotel is so discreet, that even the doors to the rooms blend in seamlessly with the corridors decked in black, corrugated-effect wood, the curves reminiscent of a luxury ocean liner. Inside our deluxe room too, the teak walls curved to conceal everything needed for an indulgent stay, from the door to the glittering, seagreen marble-clad bathroom to the generous wardrobe space.

Everything is impressively spacious, a comfortable seating area overlooks one of two flat-screen TVs which allows you to access a jukebox of CDs and DVDs.

The bed is a supremely comfortable king size with goose down duvet and pillows. Touch-screen clocks either side of the bed allow you to operate everything from the air conditioning to the bathroom lights and butler service, without raising your head from the pillows.

Our room overlooked a private garden and the hotel proved a real sanctuary despite being just a few minutes walk from Hyde Park Corner tube station.

For lovers of Thai food, dining is a treat. Chef David Thompson has earned a reputation as being the best Thai chef in Britain and the dishes are far from the usual.

Choose a rabbit or guinea fowl curry for example. A dish of finely sliced scallops poached in lime juice was a multi-layered explosion of flavours with the freshness of mint and coriander, the fire of chilli and sweetness of palm sugar.

Part of the Como Group, The Halkin has its own gym and guests can make use of the Asian-inspired spa facilities at nearby sister hotel The Metropolitan. Book ahead for the best prices: a king double room from pounds 229 or a deluxe room from pounds 329. A minimum stay of two nights applies, all rates are subject to VAT, with the offer valid until December 31. For full details see website. The Halkin Hotel, Halkin Street, Belgravia, London SW1X 7DJ. Tel: [phone] www.halkin.como.bz