London hotel with a pretentious name is surprisingly laid-back

The hotel

art’Otel London Hoxton

Check-in

Located in the heart of London’s East End, the 26-storey art’Otel London Hoxton is a beacon of modernity, channelling the energy and creativity of Shoreditch, surely one of the capital’s edgiest precincts. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from Old Street station – handy if you travel light. Offering 357 rooms, this soaring glass and steel cylinder has been designed for maximum visual impact. From the street, guests ride an escalator past giant pop art installations to reception. I arrive early and use the hour before check-in to explore the nearby cobbled laneways. On my return, my keycard and room are both waiting.

The look

For most hotels, artwork is purely decorative, but not here. The entire building acts as a giant backdrop for the colourful multimedia works of London street artist D*Face, while the in-house gallery hosts a rotating calendar of exhibitions by young and emerging artists from around the globe. The giant installations give the public areas (created by interior design studio Digital Space) a playful vibe, but the overall impression is quite sober, with a colour palette dominated by light greys, slate and lush creams – with the occasional dash of vivid yellow or pink upholstery.

The room

A spacious hotel room in London. Am I dreaming? My Art Room Deluxe is a simple yet elegant living space, complete with a comfortable king-size bed, tasteful desk, marble bathroom, illy espresso machine and a well-stocked bar fridge that actually works. The room’s colour scheme of greys and whites is slightly austere but is enlivened by the occasional Union Jack pillow and a couple of D*Face pop art pieces. The old school Roberts Radio is another fun detail.

I’m disappointed that my room does not come with a bath but am delighted by the high-quality fittings – including sensible reading lights. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide a bird’s-eye view of the bustling streets of Shoreditch; a mix of decaying Victorian architecture and 1960s tower blocks, with the City of London beyond. Black-out blinds mean that I can catch a quick snooze. My room is also astonishingly quiet. No clanging doors, gurgling pipes or noisy lifts here.

Food + drink

British hotels are usually good at breakfast but little else. art’Otel London Hoxton has thrown out the rule book at its two eateries: The Brush (on the ground floor) and Solya (on level 25, alongside a guest-only cocktail bar). Overseen by executive chef Ryan Matheson, The Brush features a vast curved bar and a menu that channels edgy, multicultural Shoreditch. For lunch, I tuck into the East End’s poshest fish and chips: Atlantic halibut and frites, with crushed minted peas. It is faultless. The wine list is impressive but, this being London, is on the pricey side.

Out + about

Shoreditch is everything you might expect from London’s coolest postcode; its cobbled laneways packed with juice bars, vegan bakeries, hipster dads and dinky galleries. Traces of the raffish old East End still survive. Grand old Victorian pubs stand on every corner and there’s one last pie and mash shop in operation. Apart from its architectural curios, the biggest attraction here is the astonishing range of food on offer, especially tapas.

For truly authentic regional Spanish cuisine it has to be BRAT Restaurant, a tiny upstairs dining room serving the freshest UK ingredients, including Hereford beef sirloin, Welsh cockles and house-made chorizo. Come alone, sit at the bar and explore the wine list. For Indian nosh all roads lead to Brick Lane, just a short stroll from the hotel. This part of London is also great for street markets: Spitalfields Market, Columbia Road and Cheshire Street are all on the doorstep.

The verdict

For a hotel with such a pretentious name, art’Otel London Hoxton is surprisingly laid-back and welcoming. Shoreditch will not appeal to everyone, but for the inquisitive traveller who doesn’t mind hopping on the Tube or catching a cab, it’s a fun experience.

Essentials

art’otel London Hoxton, 1-3 Rivington Street, Hackney, London, UK. Deluxe rooms from £311 ($625) a night. See artotel.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★

Highlight
Apart from the lap pool hidden in the basement, the hotel bar on level 25 is a true delight – serving up a fresh view of the London skyline.

Lowlight
The walk from Old Street Underground is not very pleasant and the commuter traffic makes crossing Great Eastern Street a chore.

The writer stayed at his own expense.

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