If you’re planning a weekend in London, looking for a hotel can be a little daunting. So, if you want somewhere central to stay without compromising on luxury or chic design, then Dorsett City could be the right choice for you.
The 14-storey hotel stands in the City of London, at the heart of the financial district next door to Aldgate underground station. It occupies an extremely convenient location for travelling businessmen and tourists alike – with many of London’s major landmarks within a short Tube ride.
We started our weekend in the West End ‘Defying Gravity’ with the Wicked cast before jumping on the Underground for a quick, straight-forward journey over to Aldgate. Outside, four-star Dorsett City blends into the background of commercial skyscrapers and towering office blocks.
But inside, the hotel’s own character comes alive as soon as you step through the revolving doors. The regal reception area is boldly designed in black and gold with grand marble flooring and gilded, sculpted pillars. Friendly staff greeted us at check-in, which was easy and stress-free.
Square footage in inner-city London is at a premium so, as with most of the capital’s hotels, rooms here are compact. But everything you need for a comfortable stay is squeezed into each room. We were invited to stay in one of Dorsett City’s penthouse suites on the 13th floor, boasting awesome views across the financial district’s glistening lights. While the rooms may be small, we made ourselves at home in the bijou living space and bedroom.
There was space to relax and watch TV (while enjoying the delicious cupcakes that were left for us!) before dinner. The boutique, chic design of the hotel runs throughout the rooms, with the glitzy gold theme extending from reception to each floor. The room was finished with gold drapes and bejeweled accessories – and even the rich mahogany furniture was laced with gold. The bathroom was well-proportioned and boasted a gold shower!
We got our evening off to an elevated start by heading up one more floor to the jewel in the hotel’s crown: Jin Bo Law Skybar. The cosmopolitan cocktail bar has unrivalled views across the capital’s skyline; the church next door is so close you could practically reach out and touch it, and the Gherkin is just a stone’s throw away.
A balcony offers al fresco drinking for summer evenings while inside, the bar is like something out of an RnB music video! Contemporary music pounds out of the sound system while trendy, young staff dash around with rainbow-coloured concoctions for guests.
The bar offers a packed menu of spirits and cocktails but staff are happy to create anything for customers – within reason. We both opted for off-book classics; the Bloody Mary had a big kick of spice, while my Lychee Martini was refreshing and sweet.
Coming back down to earth we descended to the ground floor for dinner in one of the hotel’s two restaurants: VQ. The 24-hour modern diner offers guests a laid-back atmosphere for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chatty staff showed us to our table and brought us a warming bottle of red wine.
The menu was simple but provided a good mix of meat dishes and vegetarian options. To start we chose to share a colourful mezze board before I had the rich and tasty smoked salmon linguine, while my dad opted for the succulent ribs, with tangy, finger-licking BBQ sauce. Sweet cheesecake finished the meal which was wholesome and enjoyable.
VQ has a buzzing ambiance. We sat in a cosy booth and enjoyed the chatter of neighbouring tables and the hustle and bustle of the popular eatery. While the restaurant isn’t going to win any awards, the food was filling, the staff were friendly and the atmosphere was lively.
We headed back into the sleek, sauve hotel and back to our cosy room. The suite provides its visitors with all of the main amenities from a minibar and friend to tea-making facilities, while there’s a free-to-use Travel Companion for overseas guests heading out into the city to explore. WiFi is available throughout the hotel for guests visiting on business or those wishing to update their social media accounts.
Despite being in the depths of busy, chaotic London we had a sound night sleep and woke feeling well-rested and relaxed. We chose to try out the Asian-inspired Shikumen restaurant for the buffet breakfast. There was lots of choice from cereals to toast, fresh fruit to yoghurt, as well as Asian cuisine, continental options and cooked breakfast. There’s something for everyone on offer to ensure guests are ready for a busy day exploring the city.
A stay in a standard double room at Dorsett City starts from £220PP per night including breakfast.
A stay in a Junior Suite at Dorsett City starts from £320PP per night including breakfast.
Address: 9 Aldgate High St, London EC3N 1AH
Phone: 020 3805 1000
Website: dorsetthotels.com/en/dorsett-city-london
