Another gorgeous book has come from the Hip Hotels stable, this time concentrating on those centres of hotel cool, cities. More of a coffee-table book than a practical guide, it makes excellent drooling and dreaming material even if the hotels are out of your price range.

A mere 24 city hotels are deemed hip enough to make it into the book, but it's a feast all the same. There is no skimping on the illustrations, and even the index is a double-page spread with a photo from each hotel. The style consciousness of the writing could give Wallpaper a run for its money, but its enthusiasm is infectious.

There are more obvious choices such as The Mondrian in Los Angeles, with its Philippe Starck design and its Melrose Place poolside experience, but it identifies smaller finds such as London's The Westbourne, which exudes 'the slightly shabby, let's not try too hard' style of Notting Hill. It does a great job of putting each hotel in the context of the city's development and will make you feel like you're really there even if you never get further than the coffee table.

· To order a copy of Hip Hotels: City by Herbert Ypma published by Thames and Hudson for £18.95 including free p&p, call the Observer Books Service on 0870 066 7989.