The Hoxton Hotel, London

The Holborn branch of the “no-bullshit” hotel chain features a coffee shop, restaurant and work space alongside its 174 rooms.
After starting out in Hoxton in 2006, the chain expanded to include new branches in Holborn and Amsterdam. It prides itself on taking the hassle out of hotels, offering free WiFi and a number of honestly described room options. It even offers Shoebox rooms to those looking to keep costs down.

The lobby restaurant welcomes non-guests, such as myself, who are allowed in to sample the taster menu, which offers a fine selection of vegetarian, meat and seafood dishes. Settled into a cozy chair looking out onto the cold London streets, I settled on the king prawns, spare ribs and octopus. Served by friendly, attentive staff, the king prawns and spare ribs were both well-cooked and among the best I have eaten.

The prawns were smothered in a chili and garlic sauce which was powerful without masking the delicate taste of the seafood, while the dry-rubbed ribs packed a spicy punch of their own. However, the octopus left something to be desired, and was the only thing left on the plate.

The overall experience was great — watching the world go by sipping on wine and one of the numerous cocktails. The hotel is centrally located just five minutes from the shopping paradise of Oxford Street and the trendier areas of Old Street and Shoreditch to the west.
Prices are reasonable given the standard of food on offer and the Hoxton Hotel attracts a large number of diners as a result. The bill came to $66 for two with drinks.

The Hoxton Hotel

81 Great Eastern Street

London EC2A 3HU

United Kingdom

44 20 7550 1000