Take a journey into the future at Stylotel - and on a budget, too. This 2004 Paddington hotel has a post-milenniun design scheme that looks and feels like…a spaceship. Or is it a submarine? Basically, the place is coated in metal; the floors and walls are about as shiny as you can get. There’s pleather seats in the reception area that look as though they could have been picked out by Captain Kirk. Still, as Stylotel’s manager Andreas points out, you might love or loathe the retro-futurist quirks of this trendy hotel, but you can’t deny that it’s a clean and convenient resting place for travellers who might be too knackered to notice the decor anyway.
The perks of this weird and wonderful hotel certainly outweigh its peculiarities. Standard rooms are small and slick, with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, TV, pod bathrooms (shower-only), free Wi-Fi, wood flooring, chic furniture and a switch-controlled ‘do not disturb’ sign. Suites also come with kitchenettes and couch beds – useful for longer trips. You might want a comfier bed, but it still offers a decent kip.
The morning’s breakfast buffet, which was a classic fry up served in metal trays works as sustenance alone – nothing more, nothing less – served in a dining room that’s gone OTT on the design front again. But it’s nothing if not memorable, which is exactly how to classify a stay that was pretty first-rate for a budget lodging: may it live long and prosper.
Neighbourhood: The location is also a major plus. Split across two sites – one conveniently with a decent pub – it’s on a touristy side of Paddington. There are good transport links - including Paddington Station which provides a direct link to Heathrow and a global spectrum of middling restaurants on London Street are plentiful, so dinner shouldn’t be a problem.
Nearby: But for top-notch dining, bag a table at nearby The Heron Tavern for fantastic Thai food. Exceptional craft beer is also around the corner at the playful Heist Bank bar.
Time Out tip: Avoid the seedy tourist traps on London Street and Praed Street by taking a brisk ten-minute walk to the ever-growing Merchant Square development. Home to a rather pleasing canal, it’s where you’ll find decent chains like the Grand Union pub, a Virgin Active gym and free paddleboarding on Wednesday lunchtimes.