Never mind that whoever was behind this hotel’s 2004 renovation decided to boldly go for a post-millennium design scheme that feels like a… spaceship. Or am I getting a submarine? Blame all the metal on the floors and walls, as well as the shiny glass surfaces and square pleather seats in the reception area, that look for all the world like they could have been picked out by Captain Kirk. Still, as Stylotel’s manager Andreas points out, you might love or loathe the retro-futurist quirks of this trendy hotel, but you can’t deny that it’s a clean and convenient resting place for travellers who might be too knackered to notice the decor anyway.
The location is also a major plus. Split across two sites – one conveniently with a decent pub – it’s on a touristy side of Paddington. Good transport links and a global spectrum of middling restaurants on London Street are plentiful, so dinner shouldn’t be a problem. But for top-notch dining, bag a table at nearby The Heron Tavern for fantastic Thai food. Exceptional craft beer is also around the corner at the playful Heist Bank bar.
Standard rooms are on the small side but they’re slick, with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, TV, pod bathrooms (shower-only), free Wi-Fi, wood flooring, chic furniture and a switch-controlled ‘do not disturb’ sign. Suites also come with kitchenettes and couch beds – useful for longer trips. You might want a comfier bed, but it still offers a decent kip.
The morning’s breakfast buffet works as sustenance alone – nothing more, nothing less – served in a dining room that’s gone OTT on the design front again. But it’s nothing if not memorable, which is exactly how to classify a stay that was pretty first-rate for a budget lodging: may it live long and prosper.
Time Out tip: Avoid the seedy tourist traps on London Street and Praed Street by taking a brisk ten-minute walk to the ever-growing Merchant Square development. Home to a rather pleasing canal, it’s where you’ll find decent chains like the Grand Union pub, a Virgin Active gym and free paddleboarding on Wednesday lunchtimes.