Travel
Originally published on Monday, 13th May 2013
THE HOTEL HOP
Forget the days of chocolates on pillows and 12pm checkouts – the hotel model is changing. In London, the latest crop of hotels aren't just providing a place for tourists to lay their heads, they're also appealing to homebodies. Abroad, something's changed too. While luxury travel still abounds, the rise of the haute hostel means more options for fun, stylish travel for less – and you don't have to bunk.
THE PRE-HOLIDAY
If you're Eurostarring anywhere soon, plan a mini-holiday before your holiday at the Great Northern, a one-time Victorian railway hotel. After an extensive refurbishment, the hotel positively gleams, and everything from the original architecture, Couchette rooms (which emulate train sleepers) and decadent, chandelier-clad bar evoke the romance of the railway age. Dine on something straight off the Inka Grill at Mark Sargeant's Plum and Spilt Milk restaurant before helping yourself to midnight snacks at the Pantry. Roll over to St Pancras the next morning, picking up a salt beef sandwich from Kiosk (the hotel's food-to-go place) en route to your platform. You can also get your King's X fix at Shrimpy's Outside Grill, Caravan or Kerb.
Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross, Great Northern Hotel, N1C 4TB Opens May 23 (currently in soft launch), rooms from £250
THE STAYCATION
Pack an after-work bag and make like a tourist in Chinatown at new 15-room boutique spot One Leicester Street. Weekends in Soho are quiet, so check out all the things you keep meaning to, go to some favourite restaurants (Spuntino!) or book into a "post-supper" room. It's all about attention to detail here. Uniforms are handmade, there's unique typographic signage on doors, and the interior design by Universal Design Studio is unadulterated and calm. The restaurant follows a similar ethos. Tom Harris (former head chef of St John Chinatown) has designed a simple sharing menu, split into five categories: shellfish, meat, vegetables, cheese and pudding. A great place to breathe and reboot.
One Leicester Street, 1 Leicester Street, WC2H 7BL Rooms from £180
THE SUITE PARTY
If we were to throw a party anywhere in London, up high on our list would be the inside of a St Pancras penthouse apartment, especially since TG Studio redesigned their interiors. We'll take the next best thing and play make-believe a few floors down in a hotel penthouse. For £10,000 you can rent out the Royal Suite, which includes 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a table that seats 22, complimentary drinks and spa treatments. Alternatively, the best suite at ME London is a two-level duplex (with an optional link to an adjoining suite) under a glass cupola, which opens directly onto the rooftop Radio Bar. Then there's the Hoxton Apartment (pictured), a new hire concept from Soho House that launches tomorrow. The space, styled to mirror a real-life apartment (living room, pantry, library, study, dining room, pantry and playroom) is available for meetings, events and parties. No clean up? We're sold.
The Royal Suite at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, NW1 2AR
Suite ME at ME London, 336-337 The Strand, WC2R 1HA
The Hoxton Apartment, The Hoxton Hotel, 81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU, launches May 15
THE HAUTE HOSTEL
We're not advocating bunking, but since the onset of the Ace Hotel culture, the haute hostel has become a sustainable hotel model. Call it research, or a re-visit to youth, perhaps. The rumour mill has it that Ace will be coming to London later this year, but in the meantime we've got some good haute hostel alternatives. Freehand Miami's interiors were designed by the folks behind Ace New York, but offers a more SoBe feel in an Art Deco building with a swimming pool. Or, stay Europe-bound and get to the Generator Barcelona, which opens today. Interiors have been designed by Anwar Mekhayech (behind Soho House Toronto) – you'll find us in the penthouse suite (with decks, wet bar and hot tub), overlooking the Sagrada Familia. Lastly, #Bunk in Istanbul's buzzing Beyoğlu district is boutique travelling at its finest – 11 rooms, a beautifully designed café and rooftop #bunkbath (aka hot tub). A much larger #Bunk hostel – complete with sundeck and pizzeria – will open this summer.
Freehand Miami, 2727 Indian Creek Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33140, king rooms from £171
Generator Barcelona, Carrer de Corsega 377, 08037, Barcelona, private rooms from €37
#Bunk, Kamer Hatun Mh., Balık Sk No:7, 34435 Istanbul, superior double rooms from €90
