A Scandi-inspired spot of calm in the hustling heart of Shoreditch
You’d be forgiven for thinking the lobby of One Hundred Shoreditch was the office of some edgy millennial’s start-up, with its fizzy trap-house soundtrack, large statement sculptures and cool twenty-somethings tapping away on their laptops. Head upstairs, though, and it’s a very different story. The bedrooms – all whitewashed walls, feature tapestry hangings and pine – radiate an instant calm. The design is subtle, but carefully calculated: curved vases clash with hard corners, rough natural textures sit next to excruciatingly soft sheets. There’s an attention to detail here which makes it feel like you’re staying in the spare room of some impossibly fashionable friend, what with the cult DS & Durga toiletries and Jacu Strauss artworks. But it’s not all about sleeping. Formerly home to the hipster haven the Ace Hotel, this landmark east London building is now as much a social destination as it is a place to rest your head. Head to the buzzy rooftop for drinks – a cacti-dotted terrace with a pink-tiled bar and panoramic skyline views over the city – and you’ll see why.
Neighbourhood
Shoreditch might have lost its crown to its Dalston neighbour as London’s king of cool, but that doesn’t mean this area has completely forgone its edge. Nearby, you’ll find a tonne of late-night bars, music venues, art galleries and indie fashion boutiques – in addition to Dickensian-era cobblestone streets and a Palladian church with a spooky crypt filled with Tudor-era actors.
Nearby
Manteca: A nose-to-tail Italian resto with proper fresh pasta and ragu you’ll be thinking about for days.
Columbia Road Flower Market: For London’s most glorious blooms, plants and foliage, head to this traditional street market which takes place every Sunday.
Oranj: A vibey warehouse wine bar with top-notch kitchen residencies.
Time Out tip
Don’t miss The Seed Library: a speakeasy-style cocktail bar by Mr Lyan, tucked away under the hotel. Dimly-lit and sexy, with vinyl stacked up on the walls, next-level drinks and a fun, nostalgic menu of retro-inspired light bites (we’re talking potato smiles and ketchup), this is an ideal spot for a nightcap or two (or three).