Last Updated on September 17, 2025
Naughty or Nice?
It’s that time of year. The annual ritual of the last-minute panic to buy your loved one/s a card, flowers and chocolates and then book a restaurant is upon us. And maybe you’ve bought them the same card as last year…? But what if you could do something different? A grand romantic fun-filled gesture to create an extra-special memory.
We were invited along to East London’s South Place Hotel just around the corner from Moorgate tube to preview its Valentine’s ‘Naughty or Nice’ experience. It’s designed to work for ‘friends, couples, singles and throuples’.
Naughty guests will choose ‘a treasure trove of sensual delights, packed with goodies for a pleasurable stay. The cleverly curated naughty gift will include a sleek and discreet intimacy box filled with toys, feathers, lube, whip, champagne and even dice that might just determine how the night pans out’. Nice guests (like us) will be treated just as well with ‘products from East London beauty brand, Soapsmith and the luscious South of France wine brand, along with rose petals on the bed and bath, chocolate dipped strawberries and champagne’ to create a wonderfully romantic ambience.
With a stay in one of the hotel’s stylish rooms, a Michelin Star restaurant, a beautifully designed roof terrace, a cocktail bar, a secret garden and an award-winning brasserie, the hotel has everything you need to create a special night to remember. And to top it all, Michelin Starred Angler’s head chef, Gary Foulkes has created a Valentine’s special dish of Rhubarb & Champagne with White chocolate, Rose and Madagascan vanilla.
So how did our preview go? The hotel is in the City of London conveniently located just around the corner from Moorgate tube. Owned by restaurant group D&D and designed by Conran + Partners, the 80-bedroom site is the epitome of urban cool and as well as servicing the business community it’s super close to East End hipster central. I had wanted to do the ‘naughty’ option but was overruled by my significant other who wanted some old-fashioned romance.
Check-in was very straightforward and we headed up in the speedy lift to our junior suite with its wonderful views of the City. The hotel is full of quirky design touches so we were excited to see what our room offered.
My significant other was thrilled by the suite which had a large comfy bed strewn with rose petals and “Nice’ Valentine’s goodies, plenty of pillows, a faux fur throw, a metallic light feature, plenty of storage space and a large flat-screen TV.
We loved the bottle of Chateau de L’Auche champagne and the Nice wine tins – all of which went straight into the fridge – and yummy delicious chocolate from prize-winning chocolatiers Carré.
The bathroom was a monochrome triumph of slate, glass and marble with a huge sexy sharing bath and powerful shower. There was a great selection of toiletries, a hairdryer, lots of towels, slippers and dressing gowns.
After a naughty and nice afternoon, it was soon time for dinner so we slipped down to the 3SP Brasserie to sample some romantic sharing dishes. The restaurant has a contemporary look but with 50s retro accents. There was low lighting perfect for a romantic tryst and R&B playing on the sound system so the mood was perfectly set.
We were drinking a bottle of Mirabeau Etoile Rosé Côte de Provence with well-balanced flavours of strawberries and cream. it was a lovely match with our starter of a light and subtle creamy dish of Pasta with Mussels. The spaghetti was properly al dente and spiked with chilli, ginger, garlic, shallots and chives.
And then we had a proper treat. A whole tender garlicky grilled lobster. It was juicy and delicious.
For desserts, we shared a fluffy Rum Baba with vanilla Chantilly cream and an extra kick from a shot of premium rum.
And to cool off a selection of homemade nicely textured sorbets – my favourite was the passionfruit full of crunchy seeds.
After a great night’s sleep, it was time for breakfast and back to the 3SP Brasserie. There is a fantastic-looking breakfast menu. Everything is freshly made – there is a wide selection of hot drinks and juices, there are pastries, oats, fruits and grains and an impressive list of ‘South Place Favourites’.
We thought about the Eggs Benedict, breakfast roll with a fried egg and Hollandaise sauce or the American-style pancakes but in the end went for hearty full vegetarian and full vegan breakfasts that set us up for the day. The Rise & Shine and Pure Green juices were perfect healthy options and a couple of well-made cappuccinos
The Naughty or Nice package runs from 10th February to 18th February. We had a lot of fun with it and I’m sure you will too. But will you be Naughty or Nice?
South Place Hotel Naughty or Nice?
South Place Hotel, London EC2M 2AF
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