Cool Place of the Day: Staying Cool at the Rotunda, Birmingham

Every day, a new place to discover or explore from coolplaces.co.uk

Staying Cool at the Rotunda offers stylish luxury and panoramic views of Birmingham

It’s as discreet as you like, with no signage indicating that the Rotunda is home to a place to stay, and the serviced apartments at Staying Cool may just be one of Birmingham city centre’s best-kept secrets.

It's also unjustly named: Staying Very Cool at the Rotunda would be a more apt moniker as the accommodation is of rock-star quality, and it’s nice too to be staying in what has for decades been perhaps the city’s most iconic, building – now a Grade II-listed landmark.

The Rotunda's circular shape lends these idiosyncratic upper floor apartments a "cheese wedge" design, while the floor-to-ceiling windows allow for great panoramic views. The white bespoke furniture helps ensure the space is refreshingly light and airy, even in the smaller studio rooms, and they all boast proper pocket-sprung king-size beds and high-end fixture and fittings – Poggenpohl kitchens with dishwashers and washer/dryers, Illy espresso makers, Apple entertainment systems with iTunes, ultra-fast wifi and satellite TV… plus aromatherapy bathroom products and complimentary breakfast cereals.

The staff and service are slick and professional, and you also couldn’t be more central for the many delights of Brum – the Rotunda is handy for both stations, the Bull Ring and other shopping centres. Go on, indulge your inner rock star and check in.

Cool Places is a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk).