As an American in London, Shoreditch is always filled with an exciting energy. With glass windows and tall buildings mixed in with a trendy charm, this area of East London has something for everyone. A night at One Hundred Shoreditch encapsulates the best of what Shoreditch has to offer.
First Impressions
Located conveniently on Shoreditch High Street, we walked into the minimalist but sleek looking building. Designed in collaboration between Jan Hendzel Studio and Jacu Strauss, the unique artwork and furniture all around us was indicative of the trendy Shoreditch vibe. Jan Hendzel Studio is known for merging traditional and modern techniques to create art that blurs the line between sculpture and furniture. Plus, their aim is to make art that is made of natural materials as the wood is sustainably sourced from British hardwood. So not only is it beautiful to look at, but it’s also eco-friendly.
As we were checking in, even though it was noticeably busy, the staff were extremely attentive, answering any questions we had and addressing both my friend and I by our first names, which was a nice personal touch. Special shout out to Vlad, who led us to our room and gave us a brief tour, for his kindness and hospitality. It was the perfect start to our stay.
Our room interiors
We were on the fifth floor in a Studio Loft room that emphasises natural lighting. Other rooms include studios that have a hybrid work and dining space, studio double doubles with double beds, studio plus rooms that have a larger lounging area and studio suites that have a spacious living room and a private terrace.
The carefully crafted artwork continued in the hallways with tapestries that added a different touch compared to the traditional hotel. The first thing I noticed about our room was how clean and smooth it looked with splashes of uniqueness within the artwork (tapestries, paintings, ceramic vases for plants).
The subtle modernity throughout the room’s design and lighting were a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the eucalyptus plant that gave the room a spruce of freshness. The cream and white colour theme were very calming, with the colours of the artwork then combining to create a contemporary feel.
The personal touches continued with two biscuits on the table as a welcome gift and a handwritten note. I then pulled apart the curtains and audibly gasped. We had come to our room just as the sun was setting, and the view was immaculate, with prominent hues of orange and yellow acting as a canvas behind the buildings of Shoreditch and London.
Other facilities include five meeting and event spaces including The One Hundred Room. The rooftop bar is opening soon with panoramic views of East London. The Seed Library, headed by Ryan Chetiyawardana, or “Mr. Lyan,” is a popular destination for a Friday night to get a variety of drinks.
Dinner at Goddard & Gibbs
We then made our way downstairs to seafood restaurant Goddard & Gibbs for dinner. As a big fan of seafood, I was especially excited as we were led to our table. The interiors and upbeat music added onto the Friday night atmosphere.
The Tarragon French cocktail I ordered was light and fresh. Oysters were first as we were encouraged by our waiter to order some. They were a great palette starter, so I’m glad we listened to him.
The two main courses we ordered were the Crisp Fried Fillet of Fish Burger and the Crisp Hake Kyiv. The former had a touch of kimchi that was a nice addition and the latter had flavours that paired together well with just the right amount of freshness and heartiness.
For dessert, we decided on a treacle sponge and the fried doughnut, which was a great combination because they were very different from each other. The treacle sponge took me right back to autumn in my hometown in Massachusetts, and the fried doughnut reminded me of a beach boardwalk in the summer.
Post-Dinner Relaxation
After a long week, the only thing that was on my mind was taking a soothing shower before climbing into bed.
The Debaser toiletries had a light fragrance that made me feel very clean as I showered in the brilliantly lit bathroom. Back in the bedroom, the Chromecast was a nice touch as I could put on a show in the background or some of my favourite tunes while getting ready to sleep. The ability to dim the lights was also appreciated as the night went on.
It would be amiss of me to not mention the sustainability efforts One Hundred Shoreditch is taking. The one I appreciated the most were the still and sparkling water stations in the hallways instead of bottled water. They provided you with a large bottle to fill up water and bring back to your room – a simple but appreciated method.
Morning Sun
The next morning, it was truly hard to get out of bed because I felt like the mattress was enveloping me and inviting me to stay. But I dragged myself up and we went downstairs back to Goddard & Gibbs for breakfast.
Breakfast was delicious and definitely one of the highlights of our stay. We ordered avocado toast, and a smoked salmon bagel with a side of hash browns to share. The atmosphere was a stark contrast from the night before, as the Saturday morning ease and quiet chatter perfectly set up the rest of our day while wrapping up our time at the hotel.
In a nutshell
For a stellar stay with a contemporary and smooth feel in a lively part of London, One Hundred Shoreditch delivers. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the East London atmosphere for a quick getaway, this is a fun place to be.
To discover more, visit: onehundredshoreditch.com
All imagery courtesy of One Hundred Shoreditch.
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