PILLOW TALK

The Mal

LOVE ME DO Luxury
bedrooms, a hip bar
and a stunning dock
setting make any
visit to the Mal an
unforgettable
experienceA stunning riverside location and high-spec bedrooms ensure you can relax after a hard day’s night, says Dominique Afacan

LIVERPOOL has received a flood of enthusiastic press recently, thanks to its European Capital of Culture accolade for 2008, and its current 800th birthday celebrations. The canny Malmaison group — which now has 10 hotels around the UK — quickly spotted the lack of high-end hotels in the city and opened this swanky addition in late January.

The modern industrial building sits squarely waterside on Princes Dock, within walking distance of Albert Dock, home to Tate Liverpool, the Maritime Museum and a host of trendy bars. Most rooms have a clear outlook over the water and some have picture-perfect views of the Liver Building, part of a trio of architectural icons known as the Three Graces.

Malmaison hotels are all fairly similar. The design of the bedrooms tends to be quite masculine, with clean edges and simple, dark colours. The bathrooms are fit for any bachelor pad. But Malmaison Liverpool has some nice features to help it stand out.

In the lobby, designers have managed to pull off an improbable-sounding cosy-industrial feel. High ceilings, a steel staircase and a space-age open fire are offset by a warm lounge bar. And the super-friendly staff, seemingly freshly trained, couldn’t be more accommodating.

The hotel is kitted out with a gym, complete with plasma screens on all machines. And, if you’re not a fan of exercising in public, the hotel can arrange for fitness DVDs and excercise gizmos to be brought directly to your room.

To pile on all the calories you’ve just lost, head to the brasserie, which, with its exposed brickwork, floor-to-ceiling windows and Beatles-inspired murals, manages to be pretty hip. Pizza, pasta and steaks are the name of the game here, and, although the food is entirely edible, it won’t set your world on fire. For more of a buzz, book the glass-walled chef’s table — at no extra charge — where you can spy into the kitchen and watch your food being cooked.

After dinner, check out the bar, which is dotted with velvet love seats and boasts a tempting cocktail list. It’s non-smoking, as is the entire hotel, and smokers will find there’s no dedicated outdoor area either.

The 128 bedrooms — a few of which are a touch on the small side — are equipped with CD players, free wi-fiand the most comfortable beds in the business. Bathrooms feature huge walk-in showers and — for when you emerge — sleek, black bathrobes, rather than the usual white towelling number.

Finally, if you want to treat a football fan, book into one of the hotel’s two suites dedicated to the city’s two top teams, Everton and Liverpool. You’ll be in their good books for the rest of the season.

Doubles from £99 (€148). Tel: +44 (0)845 365 4247, www.malmaison.co.uk

While you’re here…

TATE LIVERPOOL

Centre of the creative universe: Liverpool and the avant-garde Until 9 September, 2007 Find out how Liverpool has inspired a range of post-war artists, emerged as a centre for global popular culture, and hosted movements from pop to conceptual art. See works by Martin Parr, Yoko Ono and Jeremy Deller. www.tate.org.uk/liverpool

MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM

Hello sailor! Gay life on the ocean wave Until 25 March, 2007 A look at gay culture in seafaring life, aboard passenger and merchant ships from the 1950s to the 1980s. www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime

WORLD MUSEUM LIVERPOOL

Animated Adventures Until 26 August, 2007 Discover how the animation process works, and interact with characters like Morph and Wallace & Gromit. www.worldmuseumliverpool.org.uk