The Standard London

The 10-story Brutalist-style building is located in the revitalized neighborhood of King’s Cross in North London. It’ll take you about 40 minutes to reach the hotel from Heathrow Airport and once there, you’re close to public transportation, including St. Pacras International station—and about 15 minutes from most of the major hot spots, whether you’re looking to visit the Tate Modern or Buckingham Palace.

The recently restored building itself, with its great architecture and bright red elevator that can be seen from the outside, gives off a stylish and trendy vibe right from the start. And it only continues inside. There are a total of 266 rooms. That includes The Single, which has a studio-like feel for when you’re traveling solo, the King’s Terrace which comes complete with an outdoor bathtub (!) and the Suite Spot, which at 861 square feet is the largest of the rooms, and features floor-to-ceiling windows and  “emperor-size beds.” Though it’s slightly smaller at about 732 square feet, the Suite Terrace has many of the same amenities as the Suite Spot, but also includes a huge terrace with outdoor seating and great open-air views. The rooms are bright, with a mid-century California vibe—and come with great amenities, like Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speakers and custom-made Craig Green robes.

There’s so much to love about this property—from the rooms to the restaurants. On the food front, there are three unique spots on-site. Isla, which has an outdoor garden area, “offers an approachable seasonal menu featuring light proteins and a predominantly natural wine list.” Breakfast is available in the morning, and then the kitchen is open until almost 11 p.m. every day of the week. Then there’s Double Standard, the casual, ground floor restaurant that—like Isla—is run by chef Adam Rawson. For dinner, there’s Decimo, which occupies the enviable top floor of the hotel (the views!)—and can be reached from that red elevator. Opening in October 2019, this marks the first London outpost for Michelin-star chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias and “merges the Spanish cuisine of his family with his love of Mexico.” Also cool? The Sounds Studio. Here’s how they describe it: “A recording booth, a performance pod, a living magazine—the Sounds Studio is a broadcast recording venue that with the open of a window can act as a public stage to hotel guests and beyond.” You’ll find it in the Library Lounge—which also features a great book collection—and you can visit their website to see what’s on tap.