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Mid-century modern is such a thing at the mo. The interior design style, which was established in the middle of the 20th century and is known for its distinctly sleek, boldly curved, earthily coloured and fashionable-but-functional furnishings, is currently dominating everything from TikTok’s design algorithm to Ikea’s latest collections. While plenty attempt to blend MCM with the mod-cons of the 2020s, hardly anywhere does so well. All too often the style requires too much attention to detail, too much flair (and, usually, too much money) to effectively pull off.
Sir Devonshire Square is an example of mid-century modern (plus the influence of a few other design schools) pulled off with marvellous panache. The first London hotel from Amsterdam-based boutique chain Sircle Collection – which also has Sir outposts in Barcelona and Prague – boasts rooms that are exquisitely put-together. Whether you’re an academic design-head or a casual social media admirer, there’s plenty to gawp at (and take inspo from) in this handsome Liverpool Street/Shoreditch establishment.
What are the rooms like at Sir Devonshire Square?
Plenty of hotel rooms are perfectly pleasant. Very few do I get serious home envy from quite like I did at Sir Devonshire Square. I spent a fair amount of time just sitting back and admiring the handsome corner space, its dog-leg an exhibit of carefully chosen fittings, furniture pieces, colours and textures. Soft greens and rich oranges, papery cream lampshades and countless varieties of varnished wood. Curtains like Bakerloo moquette, a voluptuously curved sofa, spindly legged tables, grand rounded wooden frames. The suite captivated in the details but flowed as a whole; my favourite spot from which to admire it all was the neatly upholstered cubby bench, with its space age amber dimple light.
Sir Dev did the in-room practical stuff well, too. I visited during a blistering, typically stuffy London heatwave and the room temperature was ideal, while the summer’s late evening and early sunrise were beaten back by blackout curtains. Everything was spotless, scented by a black tea Zenology diffuser (with more of the brand’s luxe concoctions for soap, shampoo and body wash).
A well-stocked and fairly priced mini bar accompanied a dinky kettle (with premium Canton teas) and coffee machine (plus an array of Nespresso pods). There was good heat in the shower – with caressing soft water – and a tub with complimentary bath salts. I was gobbled up by the vast, evenly plush bed, and it was a nice touch that the TV bracket could bend around to the bed, cubby and sofa. Not only did real thought go into the furnishings; the foundations were considerate, too.
What are the facilities like at Sir Devonshire Square?
Beyond its rooms – of which there are 81, with 14 suites – and staff – exceedingly friendly and helpful – Sir Devonshire Square is a fairly rudimentary hotel. On ground level there’s a bar at reception and a lounge which doubles up as an all-day small plates eatery (more on that below). Reception also sells a variety of local products, with Two Tribes beers and wines from Silverhand in Kent. For gym, all guests get access to 24N Fitness around the corner – which is quite the flex. The space is vast, with 11,000 square feet of workout equipment. A private members’ club called The Cover was yet to open when I visited.
What is the food and restaurant like at Sir Devonshire Square?
Sir Devonshire Square doesn’t shout particularly loudly about its dining options on its website, and on my visit it was fairly obvious why. The hotel hasn’t paid as much attention to the design of its dining area as its rooms; its open spaces, with a confusing clash of furniture styles, didn’t feel unlike a department store.
But don’t take that necessarily as a sign to skip on Sir Dev’s food options. While the vibe is casual the food is dependably flavourful. Breakfast’s highlights were the tangy, very fresh orange juice and fragrantly spiced avocado on toast with beaming, wobbly eyeball poached eggs. The à la carte dinner menu had a range of picky bits and more substantial plates: don’t miss the silky humous with its salty, plump mushrooms.
What’s the area like around Sir Devonshire Square?
Sir Dev is just a minute or so’s walk from Liverpool Street station, which, yes, makes it ideal for City slickers – but it also means visitors are very well-connected by tube to the rest of London. It’s also within very easy walking distance to Shoreditch, with Spitalfields Market less than 10 minutes away on foot.
More immediately, the hotel sits within the recently developed Devonshire Square area, a peaceful enclosed courtyard with public art, shared workspaces and outposts of Cinnamon Kitchen, Lucky Voice and Story Coffee. Once land that was packed with warehouses owned by the East India Company, these days it’s a sleek, happening sort of place – the week after my stay SXSW London was using DSQ as a venue.
DETAILS
Address: 5 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YE.
Price per night: From £290 per night.
Closest transport link: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan Elizabeth and Weaver lines, plus Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services).
Book now: Click here