In a city brimming with high-end hotels boasting amenities galore and glorious restaurants, and in a district so trendy you can’t rely on your five-star status alone when it comes to attracting and impressing guests, Mondrian Shoreditch has its work cut out. But has the young hotel managed to tick all of the boxes in this fashionable East London neighbourhood? LLM’s editor-in-chief Nick Gibbens checks in to find out.
Hotel
On the sub ten-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station to the hotel, there’s quite the juxtaposition to be found – the immediate area caters to business minded individuals with glitzy office buildings standing tall, and as you head to the hotel’s destination on Curtain Road on a Saturday afternoon, you’ll pass groups of women who’ve no doubt been enjoying the bottomless brunches of the area, passing hip cocktail bars and heading towards a looming, somewhat artfully, graffitied disused carpark, where across the road you’ll find the Mondrian.
Step inside the hotel and you’re transported to a haven of modern, fresh interiors, smiling staff, characterful décor and a spot-on blend of luxury and cool to provide guests with a welcoming escape.
From basement restaurant BiBo to the rooftop pop-up bar next to the pool, to the array of interesting atypical items to be found in the minibar, it’s fair to say that a stay at Mondrian Shoreditch ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to offering a standout stay in Shoreditch.
Rooms and suites
From a standard king to the penthouse suite, there is a good selection of accommodation options to choose from when planning your stay here. If you’re using the hotel as a base to explore the local area, then the comfy king rooms will suffice, but if you enjoy a slice of luxury and plan to indulge a little longer, then one of the suites would make for a more than a pleasant home from home with their extra space.
Whichever style of room or suite you choose, you can be sure that plenty of five-star elements can be found as standard, such as steam rain showers in the bathrooms (the first time I’ve seen this in a hotel room), bespoke artwork by Studio Graphite, a well-stocked mini-bar and super comfy king bed. Entertainment can be found through a retro style Marshall speaker and a huge TV, while relaxation awaits after your steam shower with a cosy robe and slippers.
The British weather won’t defeat you with your own umbrella to use as well as air con to keep your room at optimum temperature. When it comes to refreshments, your tea tray, espresso machine and curated mini-bar provides you with plenty of options, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, chocolate and nuts, and there are various handy kits you can purchase, including a pleasure kit and sleep kit.
Style-wise, the room I stayed in married various design styles well, from the industrial to the glam. A white painted bare brick wall met with rich fabrics, bright green elements, dark wood and subtle metallic accents, and I loved the green leather chesterfield corner chair, but ultimately, the bed was supremely comfortable and I slept well, and that’s the most important element for me when staying away from home.
Food and drink
Great cocktails in a stylish and sociable setting; a bountiful breakfast in buzzy, trendy surroundings; sumptuous Spanish cuisine with a winning atmosphere; casual drinks on the rooftop – experience it all at Mondrian Shoreditch.
Start the day right with breakfast at Laurel’s On The Roof, an all-day dining destination that offers a casual yet chic space where you’ll feel you’ve been transported to 1970s L.A. Tuck into the likes of French toast with crispy bacon, maple syrup and berries; a super acai bowl; Eggs Benedict; a full English and more, while you take in the lofty views from the seventh floor.
Of course, you can visit here throughout the day for a hot drink or wine by the monochrome fire, to tuck into a California lobster roll, tuna tostada or other and catch up with friends in between exploring the delights of London.
You’ll spot the rooftop open-air pool from here as well as the pop-up alpine lodge – Winter Chalet, at Laurel’s On The Roof by Grey Goose – the ideal spot to indulge in the Californian cuisine and drinks in a casual setting.
For cocktails that will knock your socks off and all manner of other drinks to enjoy, stick to the oh-so welcoming ground floor bar Christina’s Shoreditch, the perfect place to sip on a tipple pre- or post-dinner at the indulgent Andalusian restaurant BiBo.
Descend the stairs from Christina’s and you’ll be transported to world-famous chef Dani Garcia’s first London outpost, BiBo Shoreditch – the hotel’s highlight and a restaurant that all should dine in, whether residing in a room upstairs or not.
Brighter days see diners enjoying good food and good weather in tandem in the courtyard, while cooler evenings, as on my visit, are best spent cosied up in a booth inside, tucking into an array of the fantastic sharing plates, a dish from the grill or a paella (whole lobster, octopus, rib eye, wild boar and the like).
My dining partner and I opted to share some tapas – a selection of vegetables, seafood and meat – and we were pretty pleased with ourselves with the choices we made, though I’m sure we would have felt that way whatever we had chosen, such was the excellent quality of the dishes.
We started with sourdough bread with Castillo de Canena extra virgin olive oil and Padron peppers then enjoyed a fantastic selection of dishes when they were ready – patatas bravas; broccolini and kale salad with black sesame mayo and peanuts; BiBo grilled avocado with coriander pesto, feta cheese and crème fraiche, tuna belly tartar with yuzu soy marinade, sesame oil and salt cured egg yolk; gambas al ajillo (prawns in filo) with garlic and chilli; chorizo brioche with a quail egg; and croquetas de jamon Iberico with a slice of Jabugo Jamon Iberico on top.
A fantastic mix of flavours, textures and ingredients, a relaxing atmosphere and very friendly and accommodating staff made this a dinner that I’d happily repeat again and again.
To do
Whether you’re looking to remain active during your stay here, are seeking relaxation, or both, you’re covered at Mondrian. As mentioned, the rooftop pool is ready and wating to transport you to an L.A oasis, while a wood-panelled basement gym is well equipped to keep your heart rate up. Ease tired muscles and busy minds with a range of treatments using VOYA, OTO CBD, Natura Bissa and Lola’s Apothecary, whether with a partner or solo, and feel rejuvenated in time for check out.
Mondrian Shoreditch is well placed to enjoy the great selection of bars, shops and eateries in and around Shoreditch High Street as well as Spitalfields Market, just moments away. Being so close to Liverpool Street Station offers up a brilliant selection of transport options whether travelling in from the East, connecting to Paddington via the Elizabeth Line or heading in to take in the incredible display of museums, galleries, shops, sporting events, history and the like that London offers in abundance.
In a nutshell
A trendy L.A hangout, a fine dining Andalusian restaurant, an Alpine chalet, or simply Shoreditch – a stay here is sure to leave you feeling you’re well travelled from a short stay and it certainly ticks all of the right boxes for a luxurious stay in the city.
Factbox
Address: 45 Curtain Road, Hackney, London, EC2A 3PT
Tel: 020 3988 4455
Email: guestservices@mondrianshoreditch.com
Website: book.ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/shoreditch
