art'otel and Hoxton: on paper, at least, a match made in heaven. Famously arty hotel chain meets famously arty London neighbourhood (well, if you lump Hoxton in with Shoreditch, which is fine by us). The address has arty history, too: the hotel occupies a site formerly home to the legendary Foundry, an ale bar and arts venue once described as ‘crucible of the Britart movement’.
Not familiar with art'otel? Let us bring you up to speed. The brand posits its outposts as both hotels and art galleries, with your stay being a chance to encounter real pieces of art. Each location has its own ‘signature artist’, around whom not only is the hotel themed but who gets to actually design a lot of the hotel, from its wall artworks to its furniture.
art'otel Hoxton’s signature artist is D*Face (Dean Stockton), titan of English street art known for his chaotic, colourful, attention-demanding works. Approaching the hotel there’s a sense of occasion fitting for D*Face’s rep: the building towers over the fork of Great Eastern Street and Old Street. Two original Banksys sit above the doorway; dramatic escalators glide past gigantic, blinding screens of video art; a human-size sculpture of ‘D*Dog’ (one of D*Face’s best-known figures) greets you at reception as a kind of concierge. It is very much like entering a proper art gallery.
Why stay at art'otel London Hoxton?
If you’re fond of art – specifically street art, even more specifically the work of D*Face – art'otel Hoxton is a real treat. It’s your chance not just to get up close with some of the multimedia artist’s best-known works, but to get swallowed up in his taste.
That said, even if D*Face is not on your artistic radar, there’s plenty to admire at this art'otel. Strip away the arty bits and this is very much a high-calibre place to stay.
What are the rooms like?
D*Face’s art does a Roy-Lichtenstein-meets-street-art type thing, and his comic strip-esque works add serious character to the rooms of art'otel Hoxton. It’s simply very cool to be in the vicinity of real pieces of art – I could properly examine the brush strokes in my room’s original D*Face titled ‘Stuck on You’. I can say fairly certainly that I’ve never been quite so close to a piece of gallery-worthy art.
But art'otel Hoxton’s eye for design goes beyond its artworks. There’s so much swish taste on show here, from the deconstructed Union Jack pillows and the patterned shower glass to the zig-zagging bed throw, chic cocktail kit (with, of course, fresh lemon and lime supplied) and record player. If you’re unfamiliar with Stockton, you can brush up with rooms’ luxe coffee table books on his art.
Critically, if you strip away the arty bits art'otel Hoxton’s rooms are still comfortable, well-equipped and well-proportioned. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave my eighth-floor suite phenomenal views out over Old Street, the king size bed was smothering (in a good way), the shower was beastly (also in a good way) and blackout blinds ensured I could neither see nor hear the traffic below. The tech was a step up from the norm, too, with a modernist-style Illy coffee machine, Dyson hair dryer and gargantuan HD TVs.
The only downside to the room was its temperamental lighting, temperature and curtains controls. While the technology throughout much of the rest of the hotel felt impressively futuristic (particularly the Tron-esque lifts), some of the in-room touch screens needed wrestling with. If I’m being picky, the loo paper ply was on the thin side, too.
What are the best things to eat at art'otel Hoxton?
In September 2025 art'otel Hoxton levelled up its in-house nosh with the opening of Solaya. The Mediterranean-inspired joint (which mostly errs southern French) is run by Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson and occupies the 25th floor with high, twisted pillars and vast windows looking out over the City. A night view of the Square Mile’s dappled boxes of office lights accompanied dinner, and the food more than matched the setting: crispy creamy mushroom croquettes, plush burrata with candied walnuts and delicately fresh figs, and immaculately barbequed vegetables made interesting by sharp chillies, grapes and lemon ricotta. It’s not overly expensive, either.
Breakfast at The Brush Grand Café on the building’s ground floor was similarly top-notch. A sprawling buffet has fruit, cereal, cold meats and cheese, pastries and cooked options, plus coffee to-order, and it was all of supremely high quality. The spiced, herby mushrooms were particularly good.
What are the best things to drink?
Solaya’s drinks menu was broad, its wine menu mostly French and Italian bottles (and with a sommelier on hand to guide you through it). There’s a separate bar area, the ideal place to continue taking in 25th floor views after you’ve finished eating.
Alternatively, the plush art’otel Lounge and Bar on the first floor was a cocoon from the roaring buses of Old Street just outside. A short but focused cocktail menu (with an £8 until 8pm offer on several drinks) was accompanied by adventurous nibbles (including baby squid and schnitzel bites), and a tasteful live band played well into the evening.
What is the service like at art’otel Hoxton?
art’otel Hoxton is a prime example of how technology can enhance and slicken a hotel experience, but its staff show the lasting essential value of a human touch. On reception, staff members were keen to guide me through the hotel’s facilities and knowledgeable about its art. I left knowing a lot more about D*Face than when I went in.
What are the facilities like at art’otel Hoxton?
Wellness options at art’otel Hoxton include a heated indoor pool, a sauna, steam room and spa (treatments include massages, facials, hair boosters, acupuncture and more), and the 26th floor gym is an exhilarating place to work out. There’s an in-house art gallery, too, which exhibits lesser-known contemporary artists (not just more D*Face).
What’s the area like around art’otel Hoxton?
Midway between Old Street and Shoreditch, with Liverpool Street and the City within easy walking distance, art’otel Hoxton’s surrounding area is one of London’s most happening ’hoods. Whatever you’re after, you’ll find it here: top-tier restaurants Smoking Goat and Plates, excellent pubs like the Old King’s Head and Old Blue Last, legendary London music venues Village Underground and XOYO, plus the likes of Autograph gallery. Best of all worlds, really.
Why you should book a stay at art’otel Hoxton
You could call art’otels’ hybrid of art and accom a gimmick, sure, but the Hoxton edition doesn’t use its artiness to disguise an average hotel – in fact, art’otel Hoxton does all its hotel bits marvellously well. This isn’t just a place for art (or D*Face) lovers, it’s ideal for anyone looking for a slickly put-together, well-located and characterful place to stay.
DETAILS
Address: 1-3 Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3DT
Closest transport: Old Street Station