Sleep Here: The Standard, London
A staycation in your own city always feels sumptuous, but never more so than at The Standard London — a hotel that’s anything but average. Expect a rooftop with a view, big beds that demand a lie-in, and King Cross’ coolest eateries all under one roof.
The Standard London is the brand’s first hotel outside of America; you’ll find its outposts in some of the US’ hippest neighbourhoods like East Village NYC, Hollywood and Downtown LA. Here in London, it’s located directly opposite Kings Cross St Pancras in a striking (some would say ugly) 1974 Brutalist building. It’s hard to miss and couldn’t be a better placed base if you’re arriving into London via Eurostar or on train. Whilst the facade might be overwhelmingly grey (bar the bright red pill lift that shoots you up to the much talked about restaurant), inside it’s anything but. A dimly-lit Library Lounge is laden with mid-century furniture and cosy dark corners separated by shelves of old library books (the building formerly housed Camden Council Library). There’s the Sound Studio, a recording booth and hub for DJs who regularly hit the decks, and the buzzy Double Standard bar and restaurant which spills out onto a plant-filled terrace. It’s easy to see why The Standard upholds a reputation for hedonism: you could definitely have lots of fun down here.
In contrast to the bustling streets below and the bold, fun-fuelled atmosphere of the rest of the hotel, our Junior Suite felt like a real sanctuary of calm. Muted sandy textiles, dark wood finishes and tan leather make the room feel warm and relaxed. For a London hotel where space is a real premium, the room is huge. Dubbed the ‘crown jewel’ of its room categories, the Junior Suites each have a bathtub by the bed, a huge walk-in shower in the bathroom, and the best views in the house with floor-to-ceiling windows that show off the grand Gothic facade of the St Pancras Renaissance hotel opposite in all its glory. A minibar is bursting with local supplies and plenty of booze; Stutterheim raincoats are hanging in the open wardrobe to be borrowed during your stay; and should you be interested in getting sweaty, a Peloton bike is available on room service. The hotel’s 266 rooms span a whopping 11 categories, and range drastically in style — many of them are much more colourful with very 70s Austin Powers-esque aesthetics. For me, it’s the muted swanky spaces that seal the deal.
Weather permitting, start the night with a cocktail on the roof. There’s a great view of East London and the City from up here, and I’d suggest enjoying it with a Margarita in hand — they’ve got tasty Black Lines cocktails on tap. We stayed on a Monday when Decimo — the hotel’s real destination restaurant, serving Mexican flavours, headed up by Michelin-starred Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias— was closed, but I have only good things to say about Double Standard, which is arguably less flashy but delicious nonetheless. The set up feels very LA, with relaxed indoor-outdoor seating areas, a roaring fire pit in the corner, and an easy to enjoy menu with the likes of hot dog sliders and things that go well with fries. Don’t miss the Southern Fried Cauliflower — little nuggets of joy.
Don’t even think about setting an early alarm here. The Standard is for not-so-standard mornings, and lie-ins are essential.
The Standard London, rates from £186
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