Friday 10 October 2008

Coffee at Oscars, Charlotte Street Hotel, Charlotte Street, central London

Stylish, boutique hotel housed in an elegant early Victorian building with a pale green facade and awnings, guarded by a pair of matching vintage street lights. A pricey breakfast is served in Oscars bar, notable for its resplendent, technicolour wall paper. You can choose between the slightly uncomfortable, low-slung chairs and circular tables near the windows or the more formal dining area at the back of the bar. Even if you skip breakfast, a smallish cup of filter coffee will set you back four pounds. Still, it does come with a biscuit. On a weekday morning, Oscars is three-quarters full with well-heeled media types and unusually fashion-conscious business executives. Pricey, but good for people watching. 7/10