Big-name hotels can feel like airport terminals in disguise – impersonal, overpriced, and flat in flavour. That’s why I’m chasing those design-led, more lifestyle-first stays that feel like they actually see you. In a city like London, where foot traffic is constant and culture never sleeps, my legal district find finally brings the kind of energy, edge, and comfort that makes checking in feel like checking into your own vibe.
WELCOME TO HYDE LONDON CITY
Funnily enough, I first heard of the Hyde name when news broke that they were launching in my own country, with what is now touted as one of the most vibrant hotel offerings in Johannesburg – stripes earned through holding up what has become the brand’s design signature:
- Vibrant accents in perfectly measured rooms
- Textural & rich furnishings, and
- A welcome warmth that makes the hotel hum with life, but still gives you a reason to stay in!
Hyde London City appears to be equal to its siblings around the world, emerging as a refreshing blend of the past and the present in a city that thrives on reinvention. Opened in September 2024, this hotel breathes new life into the Grade II-listed Spiers & Pond building, which was originally constructed in 1874.
Located exactly where a red bus could drop you off and just a short stroll from St. Paul’s Cathedral (where the late Princess Diana wed), Hyde London City offers a stay that’s both rooted in history and buzzing with contemporary energy – just look outside your hotel window! From neighbourhood pubs to legal teams, beer bike tours, and backpackers walking by, the hotel serves up a slice of everyday London without battling crowds.
Design That Tells a Story
Check in to one of the hotel’s 111 rooms and prepare for playful & thoughtful design as you calculate your next London move.
Whether you take the gorgeous, punchy stairs up to your room, or the well-lit elevator opening up to jungle-green halls, the public spaces set the tone and it’ll sweep you up!
Alternating between forest green and midnight blue velvet headboards depending on your room choice, each features bespoke furniture like boucle chairs that you can’t help but run your hands along, and that’s while Bang & Olufsen speakers softly croon.
The youthful charm of this particular hotel’s DNA is also encapsulated in the rooms’ bathrooms, by the way – often grid-patterned in shades of inky blue, charcoal, or emerald, depending on the room category, they match the unisex rubber sandals and speckled counters topped with either brass or black fixtures.
Wash the commute away with the additive-free Malin+Goetz toiletries in their apothecary-style packaging, which don’t dry you out but surprisingly leave you feeling cleansed and moisturised. Along with the warm-toned vanity lighting, your Hyde London City room has the comforting essentials to get ready to take the town.
Oh, and if you’re treating yourself to the Headliner Suite nestled in the building’s eaves, Hyde shows off with a 5-meter-high ceiling, gorgeous botanical motifs, a marble-topped bar, and staggering views you’ll definitely capture of London’s rooftops.
Culinary Delights at Leydi
Ground zero at Hyde London City is a visual and dining pleasure: Leydi – a flavour-forward reunion of heritage, warmth, and texture. Guided by acclaimed chefs Selin Kiazim and Halil Simsek, the menu spins Turkish tradition into a sensory moment fit for London’s modern palate.
It was a deeply satisfying introduction to dining traditions and spicy cuisine beyond my present repertoire!
Forget tourist-trap theatrics and dated standards because this is London’s East-meets-Bosphorus elegance, and it starts with sharing plates (or indulging solo as I’m prone to do). From the cold meze, the Atom, which arrives silky and complex, with strained yoghurt laced in smoked garlic and a gloss of Urfa chilli oil – it’s spicy, but restrained.
Then comes the Muhammara if you choose, all walnut crunch, spices, and peppery sweetness, made richer by sun-dried tomato and pomegranate molasses. You’ll be clearing the plate with bread and hoping for a second serving just to get that taste back!
The hot side heats up with golden Börek parcels if you dare – think: crispy, comforting, layered – while the Lahmacun (a whisper-thin flatbread dressed with spiced lamb) comes garnished with onions, fresh parsley, and the kind of pickled chillis that raise some eyebrows just before they hit lips.
When the charcoal-grilled stars land, things go up a notch for the meatlovers.
The Chicken Thigh Shish, deliciously tender from its fenugreek marinade, has that slightly smoky, satisfyingly fatty char. The Lamb Loin with Turkish Peppers, meanwhile, sings of Anatolia but finds kinship in modern British sensibility: earthy, rich, and perfectly offset by flame-kissed pide soaked in juices you will slurp right up!
Leydi has leaned fully into London’s new food era: where spice meets comfort, and where neighbourhood locals and visiting nomads can meet in the middle – elbows on the table, and appetite wide open.
Drinks?
Mornings can kick off with Turkish tea poured hot and strong, served in tulip-shaped glasses that felt ceremonial in the best way – a ritual guests can take on that nods to Istanbul breakfasts and East London’s chai culture.
For the abstaining or the adventurous, mocktails like citrus-rosemary spritzes and yoghurt-based ayrans hit high on refreshment without pulling punches (it’s really not “expensive juice”). The bar’s strength, though, lies in its subtle but confident wine and raki list, clearly curated with an eye on regional pairings and flavour elevation.
The staff won’t just pour – they’ll guide, perhaps suggesting a lightly chilled Narince or a bold, food-enhancing Kalecik Karası to match your shish or meze journey. Even the cocktails carry an interesting point of view – whether you’re a returning diner, restaurant critic, or easygoing guest – like the raki-spiked sours with sumac dust rims or a chilli-infused pomegranate negroni that lingers with sweet heat.
This is London’s drinking culture seen through a Turkish lens – energised, eclectic, and designed to draw you in sip by sip!
Evenings at Black Lacquer
If wiling away the night at Leydi isnt for you, maybe host a little something at Black Lacquer – once Hyde’s after-dark vinyl bar. It has now evolved into an exclusive events-only space, available for private hire and bespoke experiences.
Tucked intimately beneath the hotel, it’s no longer open to the public, but its curated soundscape, moody lighting, and Tokyo-inspired design still sets the scene for stylish late-night gatherings.
Think of it less as a bar, and more as your secret venue in the City – fashion week alone will ensure invite-only parties that set the society pages alight!
VERDICT?
Hyde London City isn’t just a place to stay – it’s where good design meets smart living. Whether you’re in town for theatre, meetings, or meandering through creative spaces (I always recommend Moco Museum), Hyde keeps you plugged in and balanced.
Their 24-hour fitness suite – kitted out with TechnoGym equipment and a Visio screen – is a godsend for those trying to stay limber between long-hauls or late-night bites. And with the Barbican Centre and the design-led energy of Farringdon all a stroll away, your step count will climb whether you’re dressed in gym gear or street-style chic.
Beyond the walls, there’s a little-known perk that turns this vibrant London City address into a strategic booking move for frequent flyers and point-hungry nomads: Hyde is part of Ennismore’s “Dis-loyalty” program – a cheeky, refreshingly modern take on loyalty.
Members unlock 50% off newly opened hotels, 20% off first stays, as well as 10% off repeat visits – not to mention daily barista-made drinks and discounts on food & cocktails.
It’s made for wanderers who hop cities but still crave the comfort of insider benefits.
So, whether you’re plotting a London escape with culture, ‘vibes’, and points to collect or looking for a staycation with decent personality, Hyde London City delivers.
It’s a hotel that doesn’t just nod to its past – it remixes it for the now!
By My Recommendation: HYDE LONDON CITY
15 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EF, United Kingdom
+44 (0) 20 3530 8100 | book.londoncity@hydehotels.com
