Malmaison Newcastle

The Malmaison Newcastle arrives just in time to take part in this once-drab city's renaissance. Where once the town belonged to coal miners and ship builders, today it's a more cosmopolitan city, home to the new Baltic museum, built from a converted grain silo, and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, an arched footbridge across the river Tyne that swings upward into the sky to let large ships pass beneath.

Rather like the Baltic, the Malmaison is housed in a repurposed industrial building — in this case a grand old warehouse alongside the Tyne. The hotel is a design statement as well, easily the most stylish in Newcastle, with such Continental flourishes as a French-speaking elevator and a Parisian-style brasserie. Guest rooms are chic yet exceedingly comfortable, with massive plush beds and extensive CD libraries, and the hotel comes complete with a fitness center and spa.

Still, the Malmaison is no uptight “luxury” hotel. All the comforts are provided, and the look is smart, but the feeling is more laid-back and informal than in more traditional hotels. It's the perfect place to get your first taste of the new Newcastle — many rooms have views of the Tyne, and all the architectural sights are within easy reach, with the shopping district close at hand.