A Design-Lover’s Dream: One Hundred Shoreditch – Review

7 months ago

A touch of serenity in the bustling East End

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A Design-Lover’s Dream: One Hundred Shoreditch – Review

Last year, designer Jacu Strauss graced the C&TH House Guest podcast to chat about his vision for One Hundred Shoreditch – and the hotel really is a triumph, says Martha Davies.

Hotel Review: One Hundred Shoreditch, London

When I walk through the doors of One Hundred Shoreditch, there’s a full blown photoshoot going on. After the cameras have stopped flashing, I can see why this spot is the perfect location – it’s a design haven.

Jacu Strauss, the hotel’s creative director, told C&TH interiors editor Carole Annett that he envisioned the space as a kind of sanctuary, and while the Shoreditch buzz is palpable, there’s a real sense of serenity that you might not expect: huge wooden totems stand in the corners, columns are clad in cork, and abstract tapestries (some painted by Strauss himself) hug the walls. Think Shoreditch-artsy but with all of that edginess softened. It’s utterly inviting.

Each of the 285 rooms follows the same formula, with neutral tones galore – you’ll spot them in the mismatched chairs and stools, the gauzy curtains, the wall hangings, and the enormous bed, which is unadorned save for enormous marshmallow-like pillows. In a lovely eco touch, you’ll find empty carafes on your bedside table, ready to be filled with still or sparkling water from handy water fountains beside the lifts on every floor. Strauss’ expert creativity and thoughtfulness is evident, but everything feels effortlessly relaxed. After all, with that East End energy thrumming just beyond the windows, why wouldn’t you want a room that feels like a retreat?

One Hundred Shoreditch does, of course, occupy a coveted spot on the high street, so if you do feel like exploring, you’ve got the whole city at your fingertips. Yet you’d be forgiven for wanting to explore the hotel instead: I started at the Lobby Bar, which offers an extensive cocktail list (go for the cucumber smash margarita) and a menu that blends comfort food and sophistication into something truly delightful (the crayfish brioche and steak baguette are both glorious, as is the nourishing burrata salad – and the chocolate cake). You can even find £10 cocktails here every Thursday and Friday during Lobby Lates, the hotel’s much-loved DJ nights. If you’re simply after a nightcap, however, you can head to the sultry Seed Library downstairs, which boasts an even more extensive cocktail menu curated by renowned bartender Mr Lyan.

Meanwhile, the crowning jewel of One Hundred Shoreditch is The Rooftop, an effortlessly cool spot pairing panoramic city views with a distinctly California vibe provided by rosy terracotta tiles and a host of cacti. You can swing by for drinks and small plates in the evening before returning for breakfast (an indulgent affair complete with the likes of granola, pastries, avocado toast and caviar-topped eggs) or brunch (during which French toast, breakfast burritos and burgers are on offer). It’s decidedly more colourful than the rest of the hotel, but it perfectly retains that feeling of calm. And, of course, it looks gorgeous, too – it seems every nook and cranny of this Shoreditch stalwart is photoshoot-worthy.