Hart Shoreditch has a real chance of becoming fashionable again. For my generation, who grew up shortly after the millennium’s turn, the east London hotspot was the place to be the Klaxons were on a high, everything was neon, and the party never stopped.
The era, which was mercilessly lampooned by Charlie Brooker and Chris Morris in “Nathan Barley,” faded toward the end of the decade, leaving the area at the mercy of the trainloads of stag parties that arrived at Liverpool Street every Friday night.
The Hoxton on Great Eastern Street is doing brisk business, and Lore Group recently revealed its plans for the former Ace Hotel site a few streets away. With the construction of the art’otel London Hoxton, the area appears to be reinventing itself as a lifestyle haven for a slightly more affluent audience.
This may have been unavoidable in many ways, with cash from tech start-ups west of Old Street Station colliding with banking money flowing up from the City. Shoreditch may have done well to remain a creative hub for as long as it did before being overrun with boutiques, cocktail bars, and eateries. While it may never be the same, the neighbourhood has evolved into something new – and that is fine; things change.
Hart Shoreditch, a newcomer to the post-pandemic hospitality scene, embodies the area’s freshness. “We are perfectly placed to provide a base for guests to explore the wonders of east London,” says general manager Lina Zakzeckyte. Featuring Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane, as well as nightlife hotspots Junkyard Golf and Bounce London.
“Our fantastic concierge team can recommend hidden local bookshops, galleries, and food and drink spots.”
The hotel’s name comes from one of the building’s previous occupants, the Harts, who were cabinetmakers in the 1800s.
Inside, however, Hart Shoreditch embraces the modern, with design and lifestyle touches that travellers expect worldwide.
A striking wrought iron and copper staircase complements the contemporary mahogany lights that replicate cabinetmaker’s boxes and pay homage to the building’s former life.
Upstairs, there are nine room and suite categories.
Colors are muted, with copper mirrors, deep green leather, and simple modern furnishings.
Concrete vanities, herringbone flooring, bold geometric tiling, and pared-back brass detailing create a warm, urban feel in the bathrooms.
My third-floor apartment is a little cramped, with limited space to move around.
In some ways, Hart Shoreditch is a restaurant with rooms attached, with the ground floor being the main focus. After a long day of shopping in Shoreditch, guests can relax with a Turkish coffee cooked over hot sand at Tavla. The bar celebrates emerging talent with carefully selected vinyl DJs setting the tone.
Guests can enjoy a variety of food and drinks throughout the night, including truffle burgers, crispy squid, ancient grain tabbouleh, and Burman baklava.
The bar was packed with locals when I visited, indicating the owners are doing something right.
Barboun, a spacious eastern Mediterranean restaurant around the corner, serves freshly prepared dishes cooked over a wood fire and inspired by Levantine flavours. Menu highlights include lamb kofta, butterflied seabream, and muhlama. The empty breakfast room the next morning suggested guests had either overindulged or had come from elsewhere.
The hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, but the stuffy parent brand is barely mentioned throughout. “Curio Collection by Hilton allows guests to experience independent hotels while earning Hilton Honours,” says Zakzeckyte.
