Walking from Moorgate or Liverpool St you might just miss the South Place Hotel, but when you discover it you’ll wonder how you ever survived the city without it.
South Place Hotel is the first purpose-built hotel to open in the Square Mile in 100 years and is the only independent, luxury hotel that straddles that fine line between the City and Shoreditch. This striking, contemporary mecca of cool will no doubt become your go-to stop in East London, and with a Michelin-starred restaurant atop the hotel you don’t necessarily need to spend the night to enjoy a little South Place luxe. As the debut hotel from restaurateur D&D London, food and events are paramount and with its uber cool East London location, it has become the stomping ground for artistic design lovers and discerning business travellers alike. Between exhibitions, gigs and mouth-watering menus, South Place Hotel has something for everyone.
Just a short walk from both Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations, South Place Hotel is ideally located for those looking for business or pleasure. If shopping is what you are after, the best high street retailers can be found at Westfield Stratford City, just 10 minutes by Tube; whilst Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street are all just a quick ride away. For boutique shops, art galleries and famous London markets look no further than Spitalfields, Old Street and Hoxton within walking distance. Many of London’s most popular tourist attractions are also a stone’s throw away, including the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, the Whitechapel Gallery and the Barbican Centre. Forget the tired West end; head to the East. As day turns to night, guests can enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail under the stars on South Place Hotel’s stunning terrace, relax to the beats of resident DJ, Teamy or explore bustling Shoreditch. Drinking and dancing are at your fingertips (XOYO is just down the road).
South Place Hotel will make your stay as comfortable as possible in their opulent rooms with a cool urban twist. This may be a small boutique hotel, but don’t expect tiny cramped rooms and miniscule shower cubicles. Designed by Conran + Partners, the bedrooms at South Place Hotel are comfortable, stylish, and intelligently dressed without being gimmicky. All bedrooms have fully adjustable heating and cooling; Josephine Home percale cotton bed linen; individually selected artworks by London-based contemporary artists; and lighting that will make you think the bed is floating! In fact the lighting in the entire room is remarkable, with a control panel so you can adjust it to your every need. What with South Place’s eye for art, each room has an exclusive piece of art from Hoxton Art Gallery and Jealous Gallery as well as a state of the art 40″ Bang & Olufsen TV with over 40 channels and movies on demand.
The sexy marble bathrooms are spacious and modern, with power showers and baths large enough for five, accompanied by complimentary James Heeley’s ‘St Clements’ products. The mini bars in each room are also fully stocked with a range of British snacks and lemons & limes to helps you mix the perfect drink. If you really feel like pushing the boat out, definitely opt for the hotel’s suite. Suite 610 runs the length of the entire hotel and is essentially your dream apartment. Panoramic views of the City skyline and an open-plan living and dining area that include iconic furniture and artwork, Suite 610 is the ultimate blissful bolthole. Oh and the best part? The signature glass bath in the window. (Blinds will save the blushes of non-exhibitionist guests!)
Even in the most exciting city in the world, you still need me-time. They say ‘tired of London, tired of life’, but make time for South Place Hotel’s incredible gym and sauna & steam room. The well-appointed gym is armed with TechnoGym equipment free weights, cardiovascular and resistance machines. The attentive Concierge can arrange for a personal trainer, while yoga classes are available throughout the week. Beyond the relaxing steam room, South Place Hotel has partnered with Aromatherapy Associates and offer massage, aromatherapy and beauty treatments in their dedicated treatment room. If you’re here for business and not R&R, the entire first floor is made up of inspiring rooms ideal for corporate meetings, events or weddings. The ‘Secret Garden’ is an atrium bar that’s sheltered from the elements, full of charm and the perfect spot for a chat and cocktail in the summer sun. There’s also a room for winding down, with a roaring fireplace, books and a fussball table for private members and hotel guests only.
If all this doesn’t excite you enough; the food will. With a choice of two restaurants and three bars, you will be spoilt for culinary choice. As soon as you walk in to the hotel, you’re presented with the chic 3 South Place Bar and whether it’s a coffee you’re after or a signature cocktail, the conscientious staff will whip it up for you. Also on the ground floor, you’ll find 3 South Place, a modern British brasserie who pays particular attention to provenance with honeycomb from a beekeeper in Shropshire, London-smoked salmon from a family business in Enfield or cuts of meat are selected by George Blackwell at Heron’s Farm. They serve the best of British from dawn till late (when DJs take to the decks in the bar).
If you take the elevator all the way up, you’ll find yourself at Tony Fleming’s Michelin-starred seafood restaurant, Angler. Angler’s long, light-filled dining room with a dramatic mirrored ceiling is designed by artists Grace&Webb and quite literally reflects the elegant dishes. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a sun-drenched terrace that brings a little piece of Provence to the heart of London, Angler is the perfect spot for business lunches, romantic dinners and night-time drinks. For large parties, ‘Chef’s View’ offers private dining for up to fourteen guests and commands spectacular views of City landmarks, including the Gherkin and Tower 42.
Art is at the heart of South Place Hotel and it’s evident as soon as you walk through the door. Dedicated to supporting the London art scene, each room has a unique piece from a local artist and the hotel itself is like a gallery. The lobby features a wall of mechanical pixels by AMD Architect, “pop-art” prints by John Vincent Aranda adorn the walls of 3 South Place and “two-minute portraits” by Damien Florébert-Cuypers can be seen on every coaster. More impress still, the hotel offers incredible opportunities to young British artists with their South Place Hotel Art Prize, an annual competition open to recent MA grads of London art schools. The winner gets £5,000 and has their work displayed in the hotel’s window for a year. James Crawford was this year’s winner and you can head down to South Place Hotel to see his sculpture, Patapolis. The attention to detail is admirable, from the tailored uniforms by local tailor D.S Dundee to the incredible luxury Conran-designed interiors.
With amazing food, drinks and impeccable service, South Place Hotel will meet, and exceed, your expectations. If you’re after a truly luxurious and eccentric stay in one of the coolest areas of the coolest cities, don’t hesitate, book it now.
