Our editor took a weekend mini break at Andaz London Liverpool Street, in the vibrant East London.
I was really looking forward to my Friday nightโs stay at the five star Andaz London, envisaging a perfect start for the weekend. It couldnโt have been a more fitting start for my ‘mini break’ in London. On stepping into the striking hotel lounge I was greeted with cool tunes played by a DJ who had set up deck next to the bar โI could have been in a trendy lounge bar instead. I then spotted a sign saying ‘The Home of Hoxton Radio’. The radio station’s DJs are playing from Andaz at weekends. How cool is that!ย I had arrived in East London, at the gateway to Shoreditch.
Checking-in done and I found myself sipping a complimentary glass of bubbly in a seat made in a styleย of a Victorian train carriage in honour of the hotelโs past as a grand railway hotel. I needed a while to take in all the little quirky but very sleek details before heading over to check out my room for the night.
King bed De Luxe room with its own Peloton and fitness snacks
The first thing I noticed as soon as I stepped into my King bed Deluxe bedroom was the Peloton. Yes, my room had its own exercise bike! And also wellness inspired snacks and drinks on offer. This is great especially for busy people who want to get a quick spin in whilst catching the news or an episode of their favourite Netflix series. There is also a well equipped gym at the hotel which I went to check out in the morning. It has everything you need for a workout; a treadmill, my favourite the Nordic walker, free weights as well as several machines for strength training. It wasnโt busy either so no waiting around to use any of the equipment.
The basement health and fitness suite also has a steam room and offers spa treatments which you can be booked ahead.
My Friday night just kept getting better
Cocktails at Rake’s
Back to my Friday evening and the decision on which one of the hotels five restaurants to dine in โฆ I definitely wanted to try the hotelโs well known Rakeโs Cafรฉ Barโs famous craft cocktails before dinner. Rakeโs is a stunning space. The Victorian grandness gives the place a great canvas on which to build layers of stylist details that appeal to todayโs urban tastes. The use of bold, rich tones and inviting velvet sofas are arranged for private conversations. A sophisticated place with plenty of old-world charm in which to escape for after work and pre-dinner drinks, romantic dates or quiet catch ups with your favourite people, any time of the day. They also serve a comfort menu, their words, I think the all day menu is much more than comfort with its healthy and interesting dishes.
Dinner was a delight
Sashimi for starters at the Miyako, one of the hotels five restaurants
We didnโt eat at Rakeโs as we were in the mood for an authentic Japanese dinner and knew not to miss Miyako, one of the hotelโs four restaurants which has long been popular with the City workers. Itโs an intimate restaurant, with minimalistic deco and offers a traditional menu of sashimi, sushi and teriyaki, and naturally a great selection of sake and Japanese beers.
Miyako turned out to be a great choice. We dined incredibly well on salmon, tuna and prawn maki and sashimi to start with, followed by teriyaki chicken, salmon and also delicious bowls of vegetable ramen. No sake this time but the food was perfectly paired with a well chilled bottle Sauvignon Blanc. The dishes were all incredibly tasty and prepared from the freshest of ingredients in the open kitchen, which is part of the restaurant.
Being this close to the buzzing Shoreditch we had to simply take a walk after dinner to see what the place was like now, post Covid. It was heaving with office workers, mixed with young Londoners (Iโm showing my age here) enjoying a few drinks on a Friday night. We soon found ourselves ordering a night cap in one of the many busy bars on Bishopsgate. We didnโt even wander to Shoreditch High Street or Brick Lane where there are plenty more to see the night in.
What was the room like?
The bathroom
Back at our very nice and perfectly sized hotel room with modern furnishings that kept with the tone of a little out of the ordinary.ย I loved the comfy red armchairs and the white bathroom with black taps and shower fittings. Very fresh. What was the bed like I hear you ask. A key factor in having a great stay at any hotel. The bed was fantastic. Large and the mattress was perfectly on the firmer side for my taste. Having the Peloton in the room was a definite bonus and an easy way to get a little exercise in before breakfast. Thatโs if you donโt have the whole gym routine that early in the morning.
And finally to breakfast
On to breakfast, a highlight in any hotel stay I would say, especially if you have the luxury of time to enjoy a leisurely late breakfast. Andaz lived up to its five star London hotel status with its breakfast too. The well laid out buffet had the plenty of fresh fruit, cereal, fresh bread and pastries and also some unexpected touches such as fresh honey in a honey comb and also freshly made fruit smoothie and green juice. The hot food options were well prepared and plentiful for the lovers of a full English, or guests like me preferring a poached egg with smoked salmon.
Sadly it was time to leave this great escape. As a final word, I would definitely return here if I wanted to stay in a top location for exploring the cultural delights of East London from a fantastic five star comfort with soul, style and vibrancy to match its neighbourhood.
For business travellers, the hotel offers everything most of us need in an unbeatable location if you have meetings in the City or the eastern side of town.
Andaz London Liverpool Street is part of the Hyatt Group of hotels.
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