The Standard – With a convenient location for travellers, a new rooftop bar and achingly cool interiors, this stylish hotel has it all.
Until recently Kings Cross was never a destination of choice for the discerning. How things change – and with the arrival of Coal Drop Yards, an array of luxury apartments and designer shopping it’s now moved from ‘up and coming’ to arrived. Nothing cements this more so than the iconic US hotel brand, The Standard that appeared on Euston Road in 2019. Yes, that’s right, Euston Road. Hardly the most glamourous location, however don’t let that fool you…
The Hotel
Originally founded by Chiltern Firehouse and Chataux Marmont owner Andre Balaz, this is the first international outpost for The Standard who already have venues in Miami, LA and NYC. Notorious for their hedonistic, more-is-more approach, London certainly doesn’t break the mould. Interiors come courtesy of Shaun Hausman who has transformed Camden Town Hall Annex into an impressive 266 room hotel complete with two restaurants, a bar and roof terrace.
The retro interiors playfully combine 70s nostalgia, colours and shapes with a chic but futuristic twist. We’re talking fury walls, geometric carpets, indoor foliage and pine detailing. Sounds crazy and random – it is, but it works. The lighting is subtle and the background music instantly make you feel like this is somewhere to be and be seen. Groovy, funky, vibey, hip – I instantly love this place.
Our Suite – those little touches
We check into our Junior Suite on a balmy Sunday evening. Staff are charming, beautiful and most importantly incredibly helpful. The spacious 8th floor suite has a Scandi – Japanese aesthetic with fun features such as bedside bathtub, a dining table-come-work area by the floor to ceiling windows and show stopping views of the London skyline. A thoughtful handwritten note welcomes us, along with some complimentary treats – toffee popcorn and smoked nuts. Stutterheim rain coats and Craig Green bath robes hang in the wardrobe, the mini bar is well stocked with snacks, booze, grooming accessories and in true The Standard style – a few raunchy extras.
Our little puppy Moo was not forgotten and there was a bed (which she refused to get out of!) and dog bowl awaiting in the room for her. It’s all these little touches that elevate this from the ordinary and make it feel extra special.
Our evening at The Standard
Decimo is The Standard’s destination restaurant from acclaimed Chef, Peter Sanchez-Iglesias and accessed via the famous ‘red pill’ lift to the 10th floor. We opted to start our London night out with drinks on the newly-opened rooftop bar followed by dinner at Double Standard. Sunset cocktails on the festival-style roof is the ideal spot for an aperitif and the sweeping views of the city aren’t half bad either! Situated on the lobby level, through The Library is Double Standard, the hotel’s American style all-day dining concept that has a fun and chilled vibe.
You can enjoy a hybrid of two restaurants at The Standard, with the best dishes from both restaurants available all day. We went all out Luxuriate Life and sat in the stunning open terrace filled with lush green plants transports you from London to LA in an instant.
The simple yet sophisticated menu that spans small and larger plates. Warm sourdough with a velvety cultured butter kicks of an exciting dinner with some unexpected twists. Standout dishes include an Iberico pork pluma with Chimichurri and creamy, rich burrata with rainbow heritage beets. Scallops with XO pancetta and fermented cauliflower however stole the show – sticky, sour and salty, each morsel was a taste sensation. We washed this down with a crisp and minerally white and headed off to bed content, fed and watered for a delightfully sound sleep.
We can’t wait to return
If you’re looking for a city-staycation you can’t fault The Standard. They’re even running some generous offers at the moment that include three nights for the price of two and £150 credit to spend in the hotel with each overnight booking – winning! It’s worth noting too that it felt incredibly COVID safe with all staff wearing masks, lots of sanitation stations and very obvious regular cleaning. Moo’s dog bed was also amazing and she really didn’t want to leave.
The Standard successfully finds the sweet spot between feeling hipster without being overly try hard and is a flamboyant and fun space that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It might be Standard by name but it certainly isn’t by nature.
To discover more, visit: standardhotels.com
All imagery courtesy of The Standard and Moo.
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