One-Minute Hotel / Mondrian Shoreditch, London

A little slice of New York City right slap bang in the middle of London’s newly-glittering East End? Oh, go on then.

So, where are we?
In the beating heart of Shoreditch, Curtain Road to be precise. Hoxton is at the end of the road, the City and its skyscrapers are all around - but not crowding in - and the whole buzzing Shoreditch scene is, well, right on this very road and the cross street of Rivington. Come at the weekend and the famous Columbia Road flower market is ten minutes away, Brick Lane market even closer.

And where we’re staying...?
Mondrian Shoreditch, which used to be The Curtain, a hotel and members club based in a custom-built warehouse-style building that goes up six storeys to a roof terrace with pool called Altitude at The Curtain (you might remember the Jake party up there!) and down three more all the way to the wood-panelled gym, so way fancier than your average hotel gym. They’ve kept the hotel/member split meaning, for instance, guests can use the usually-members-only rooftop restaurant for breakfast until 12. And have a dip in the pool while your Full English is on the grill.

What’s the style?
Urban natural tropical modern? Is that a style? The roof restaurant - Altitude at The Curtain, remember - is a dream of wicker furniture and lampshades, glassy tiles, an open fire, ceiling-scraping banana-leaf plants and filament lightbulbs. Huge pictures of Debbie Harry in the stairwells, storeys-high tropical plants and tan leather sofas in the lobby all with views over the concrete and graffiti of Shoreditch.

And the rooms?
It’s very much a Shoreditch style, with bare brick walls painted white, graffiti art, heavily lacquered doors and Victorian-style wardrobes in green. Up on the sixth floor, you can get a room with a terrace with loungers while the penthouse is basically a luxury apartment.

Is there a story?
It was strange that The Curtain didn’t work, what with this location but whatever happened there, Mondrian is definitely working, bustling with people, both guests and locals, even early in the week. They come for - and we’re sticking our necks out here - perhaps the loveliest bar in all Shoreditch, Christina’s. With a copper backdrop, verdigris walls, more tropical plants and a busy, buzzy atmosphere, it’s the hot spot du moment. Try their signature oyster shell martini, which go down way too easily.

And to eat?
Downstairs with windows onto legs walking along the pavement is what people are calling the most authentic Spanish restaurant in all of London, BiBo. Created by internationally-renowned chef Dani García, it’s making its name for tapas classics from pan con tomate to paella, all in a room that is more of a party space than a quiet dinner spot. The 70s/80s soundtrack is cranked up and flawless and funny operatic ‘happy birthdays’ break out throughout the evening. And if there are three of you, definitely ask for one of the circular corner booths. If there are 23 of you, get the private patio space.

So, to sum up...
If you’re coming to London for business in the City or fun business in the East End, this is like a breath of fresh air: somewhere that feels cool and relaxed and edgy (but not silly edgy). Oh, and young.

mondrianshoreditch.com