Just steps from east London’s bustling Shoreditch High Street Station is Hart Shoreditch Hotel London, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. Though there is a big name behind it, the hotel might trick you into thinking it’s a boutique hotel, with its trendy hipster interior complemented with nods to the area’s rich industrial history. The hotel originally opened in 2019 but was forced to close soon after due to the pandemic, before re-opening in the late summer of 2020.
Though it has a few years behind it, Hart still feels fresh and new, with a sleek lobby area which doubles as a buzzing co-working space. Even while we sat waiting for our room to be ready, we saw local workers come and go, making use of the communal table loaded with USB plugs and outlets.
Rating: 4/5
Hart Shoreditch Hotel is home to nine room and suite categories, including the King Skylight Suite which is flooded with daylight from above the one-bedroom suite with top-floor views of London. Arguably one of the best rooms to book is the King Superior Corner Room, with a large corner window boasting beautiful views. A select few of these rooms are also the only ones in the entire hotel which come with a free-standing bath – perfect for a special occasion.
For our stay, we checked into a King Deluxe Room. Like all of the rooms at Hart Shoreditch Hotel, the room uses a warm and neutral colour palette, completed with copper fixtures and mirror accents, to create an inviting atmosphere.
At its heart is the king bed, which provided us with one of the best night’s sleep in a hotel we’ve had in a while. You’ll struggle to want to leave its cloud-like embrace come morning. There’s a handy desk and vanity area where you can go straight from business to gussying up. The only niggle is that the mirror is fixed to the desk, so you are unable to move it to suit your needs.
Rooms also come with free WiFi and a HDTV, which sits above a side unit decorated with a couple of books curated by the Hoxton Mini Press. A Marshall Wireless speaker on the bedside table also adds a thoughtful touch and injects an element of cool into the space.
King Deluxe rooms come with ample storage space, a huge mirror, a mini fridge and complimentary tea and coffee. However, while the room was advertised to come with bathrobes and slippers for use in the room, we were a little disappointed to see ours had been forgotten. With that said, a quick call to reception can ensure you have everything you need.
The bathroom offers a spacious marble shower, though you’ll need to dance about a little to stay under the stream of water, as well as a toilet complete with a golden seat lid for hygiene purposes. It’s a small touch we’ve never seen before but found to be extremely thoughtful.
The room features a variety of textures with granite sinks and golden fixtures, as well as beautiful light fixtures reminiscent of an old-world gentleman’s club. However, given how fresh and new the rest of the hotel looks, the bathroom was the only place where we noticed signs of wear.
Rating: 5/5
Having only opened in April 2024, UBA restaurant is a must-visit venue all on its own, and it’s well worth reserving a spot even if you aren’t staying at the hotel. The pan-Asian restaurant is from the team behind London hotspots Sucre and Clap bringing tastes from the likes of Hong Kong and Hanoi, Kyoto, Singapore and Bangkok to East London, with plenty of options to suit those with dietary requirements.
Expect deep red, plush furnishings with Asian ceramics adorning the walls and lantern-style lighting stacked high. A statement marble bar offers counter dining, while the rest of the space is comprised of high tables and banquette seating.
The menu itself is designed for sharing, with standout dishes including the purple-tinged spicy aubergine and spinach dim sum, and the decadent miso caramel glazed aubergine. The menu offers plenty of smaller plates to mix and match or if you are after a slightly larger dish opt for a robata teppanyaki.
There’s a wide-ranging drinks menu, where cocktails are the main event. Classic favourites are infused with flavours of the continent to match the restaurant’s vibe. Mandarin Star, for example, uses flavours inspired by the vibrant streets of Beijing.
Though we were too full to try dessert, the menu features some alluring options including a vanilla tofu cheesecake with sakura floss and plum wine ice cream or a traditional Omakase ice cream moche.
Guests can expect to be looked after from the moment of arrival, with friendly staff on-hand throughout the meal, whether it’s to explain menu items or top up your wine.
By morning, UBA transforms into a breakfast space, with a buffet option comprised of continental and hot dishes. This is more than your standard breakfast fare, including an eclectic fruit platter, breakfast quiche, chia seed puddings and slices of moreish banana bread.
Rating: 55
Just off Great Eastern Street and slap bang in the heart of Shoreditch, UBA is perfectly placed if you want to explore the trendy East End. Hart Shoreditch is just a 12-minute walk from the vintage stores and local bakeries of Brick Lane, 12 minutes from the shops and restaurants of Spitalfields Market and 16 minutes away from Columbia Road – perfect for visiting the flower market on Sundays.
If you’re hoping to explore further afield, Shoreditch High Street overground station is a five-minute walk away and Old Street underground station is 16 minutes away. Local and national rail links can be accessed from Liverpool Street Station, a 13-minute walk from the hotel.
Rating: 4/5
Rates vary depending on the time of year. Nightly rates at Hart Shoreditch start from £189 on a room-only basis. Breakfast comes at an additional charge. Find rooms and book direct on the Hart Shoreditch Hotel website or via the Hilton website.
Or, compare deals and prices for a stay at Hart Shoreditch with Booking.com or Hotels.com.
