TRIED & TESTED HOTEL
Mondrian Shoreditch London B A C K G R O U N D The Mondrian Shoreditch, owned by The Reuben Brothers and operated by Accor, opened in August 2021 following a major building re-design. It marked the return of the Mondrian brand to London. W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? Award-winning
London interior design studio Goddard Littlefair has put its stamp on this luxury lifestyle hotel, keeping it in line with the Mondrian brand’s upbeat, playful and individual spirit. Urban chic is the overall vibe, with significant artwork installations throughout the property, including a largescale piece hand-painted onto concrete in the ground-floor bar. Rooms and suites are luxurious and theatrical and give a nod to the area’s history as a hub for culture and creativity, with brick walls juxtaposed with dark wooden floors and furnishings, and in our suite, rich green leather. In the corridors, diffusers emit a bespoke aroma. This is a reincarnation of industrial chic at its finest.
W H E R E I S I T ? On Curtain Road in the heart of Shoreditch, a popular gentrified area of East London known for its restaurants, bars and boutiques and just a five-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. R O O M S This is a 120-bedroom property, including 13 suites. We stayed in a residential-style Loft Suite with a magnificent outdoor terrace overlooking Shoreditch and London’s Square Mile with its eclectic mix of high-res architecture. An open-plan bedroom and living space featured a king bed, table with chairs and a green leather banquette seat, green wardrobe and tea/coffee-making facilities, plus a mini bar. In the bathroom, a steam rain-shower was a nice feature, as was the under-floor heating. Amenities were plentiful and Ciel branded. Bespoke artwork adorned the walls in this cosy space. The bed and pillows were very comfortable. F O O D A N D D R I N K Dining is a highlight, with world-famous chef, Dani Garcia, fronting his first restaurant in the UK – BiBo,
BEST FOR Business stays and events with an edge
DON’T MISS Dinner at BiBo
PRICE From £299 (US$399)
CONTACT mondrianShoreditch.com
This is a reincarnation of industrial chic at its finest a Spanish kitchen serving outstanding tapas. This lively urban space, ideal for lunch or dinner, brings something new to the Shoreditch dining scene, with menu highlights for me including the oxtail brioche, pulpo a la gallega (octopus), roasted aubergine, cod fritters, and a beautifully presented whole deep-fried sea bass for two. If you like paella, choose from lobster, chicken, octopus, rib-eye and Iberico ribs and for dessert, the decadent chocolate mousse for two is very moreish. The light and airy Altitude at The Curtain on the top floor overlooks the outdoor pool and city and is part of The Curtain Members Club. It serves a la carte breakfast. On the ground floor, the versatile Christina’s
63
Shoreditch, which sources products from local suppliers and start-ups only, is an allday café and cocktail bar, popular with the local creative community.
B U S I N E S S This hotel is set up for private events, from weddings to dinners and film screenings to launch parties, with six venues on offer – the Ballroom, Screening Room, Boardroom (up to 20), BiBo’s outdoor courtyard, which is reminiscent of an Andalusian garden, BiBo’s private dining room, plus the Design Studio, a co-working space for The Curtain Club members by day and a versatile events space by night. L E I S U R E A well-equipped gym, plus a
spa and a small rooftop pool with terrace; an ideal spot for cocktail sipping.
V E R D I C T If you need to stay near the City of London for work or meetings, but want to retreat to somewhere more culturally immersive and laid back after hours, this is the spot. It’s worth spending an extra night here to enjoy the hotel’s facilities and to soak up the vibrant Shoreditch vibe. Gemma Greenwood JANUARY 2022
