The chic sleep: Town Hall Hotel, London
Make yourself at home in this art-filled, mid-century-modern oasis in the heart of London’s historic East End. By LARA FAYE
It might be situated in bustling Bethnal Green, but when you step into the magnificent marble-lined lobby of the Town Hall Hotel, you may well forget that you’re in 21st-century London. Built in 1910, the building served as a municipal town hall until the 1990s and is now a hotel steeped in the capital’s rich design history. An English Renaissance façade sets the tone for understated elegance, inviting you in from the tree-lined Patriot Square to a haven of mid-century charm. A boon for art lovers, the hotel is surrounded by some of the best contemporary art spaces in London, while the property itself is also akin to a living, breathing gallery; a vast and impeccably curated collection of whimsical art works line its wood-paneled hallways, evoking a sense of child-like wonder as you explore the building’s hidden nooks. The spacious, light-filled rooms are appointed with mid-century furniture that mirror the building’s rich antiquity, and the careful curation conveys a Wes Anderson-style charm. And all the while a home-away-from-home atmosphere will put you at such ease that you may well find yourself wandering down to dinner in your slippers. You’re also likely to find Dizzy, the hotel’s resident greyhound, dozing in the corner – she has made such an impression on past guests that she’s even been invited to weddings and hotel events.
THE DETAILS
Dine
Feed your soul and your senses with Latin American and Italian fusion cuisine at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Da Terra. In the spirit of indulgence expect a blind tasting menu personally presented by chefs, Rafeal Cagali (formerly of The Fat Duck) and Paulo Airaudo, as they take you through the flavors of their Latin American roots. Alternatively, for contemporary French food, take a stroll up the majestic marble staircase to the Corner Room restaurant, where a daily changing seasonal menu puts locally sourced ingredients at the center of your dining experience.
Explore
Although Bethnal Green and the surrounding areas now form London’s creative epicenter, they are also among the oldest parts of London, featuring historic streets lined with some of the best shops, restaurants and bars the capital has to offer. Exploring the neighborhood on foot is the perfect way to take in the local architecture, vibrant culture and art scene – with galleries including Herald St and Laura Bartlett Gallery being just a stone’s throw from the hotel. A walk down nearby Brick Lane offers a snapshot of the evolution that the entire area has undergone. Once infamous as the site of Jack the Ripper’s murders, this street is now the center of London’s hipster scene, abuzz with an array of bars, pop-up shops and art installations. If you fancy venturing a little further afield you can indulge in award-winning coffee at speciality roasters Climpson & Sons – founded in nearby London Fields – before enjoying a stroll beside one of the East End’s best kept secrets, the vibrant, graffiti-lined Hackney canals.
Relax
There’s no better way to start your day quite like a few laps in the hotel’s beautifully mosaic-tiled pool. Need to wind down? Once the sun has set, why not indulge in a nightcap in the sumptuous surroundings of the Corner Room before bedtime.