Dubbed one of the top five most popular places to propose in the city, where better for a romantic getaway than the arty Hyatt Place London City East?
A dazzling jewel in the crown of East London venues, this gem sits at the cosmopolitan centre of London just a short distance from vibrant Brick Lane, a wander at Spitalfields Market and the trending sights of Shoreditch. A masterclass in sleek and chic spaces, every corner of Hyatt Place London City East offers an exciting view into how we wish life could be everyday.
As always with Hyatt properties, the service from arrival to departure is second-to-none, but if you’d rather fly solo, they offer self check-in tablets at the entrance for a hassle-free start to your stay. After a glowing welcome from Noella at the desk, we whisked up the lift to settle in to our rooms, and following a day of office life in the big city, we couldn’t wait to kick back and relax in Hyatt style.
With 280 rooms spread out over the pet-friendly hotel, it is impressive how the design for each space manages to balance the fine line between urban chic and sumptuous comfort. I was lucky enough to be greeted by the Premium King Bed Room with Terrace, a 23-square-metre space with a calming colour scheme, huge bed, efficient desk, sleek sofa, tech wonders and elegant ensuite to wash the day away. Refreshed and pampered, I sauntered out to the private terrace and was greeted by an awe-inspiring view of the glittering London skyline, the sort of vista that puts all your worries into perspective and allows you to watch the bustling world go by. With the Gherkin and Canary Wharf in sight, I sank into the outdoor seating and breathed a sigh of utter peace, imagining pre-dinner selfies for lovebirds and late night chats with the soundtrack of London in the background, the kind of evenings couples long for.
To cement Hyatt Place London City East into the tapestry of the East London atmosphere, the hotel even commissioned a series of London-based artists to splash the walls with colour and personality, resulting in one-off pieces and local photography adorning each corner. Contemporary wonders and illustrative masterpieces deck the walls, situating your stay in the vibrant and popping atmosphere of this urban locale.
Suitably refreshed in our rooms, we made our way up to the 70-seat PocketSquare Skyline Bar & Terrace on the ninth-floor, the peak of sophisticated evenings and the perfect spot for a date night to get your romance recharged. From classy seating in the art-filled interior to those breathtaking skyline views on the terrace, it feels like the perfect VIP spot to toast your relationship. A gin-led bar ‘where the city meets the East,’ the informative mixologists curate some truly unique and inventive cocktails in the cocktail laboratory, ensuring every recipe on the menu utilises a mix of local flavour and diverse twists.
Now, it might be my wedding background, but it is hard not to imagine the fantastic proposal you could plan at this skyline space, and it seems the Hyatt team is already one step ahead. The hotel boasts a number of all-inclusive proposal packages, including a stay in a high-floor room with a private terrace decorated with rose petals, cocktails at PocketSquare and even the chance to upgrade to a private tasting dinner with bubbles at Sotto Cucina & Bar. The hotel works with The Proposal Company, a luxurious planning team that has brought countless special moments to life. Owner, Hafsa Majid, places Hyatt Place London City East in the top five most popular places to propose in the city, saying “clients love the privacy they get with their own room attached to a completely exclusive terrace, the perfectly intimate setting for their special moment.”
On the lower ground floor stands the hotel’s very own Sicilian restaurant, Sotto Cucina & Bar, and we were lucky enough to have dinner reservations for two. The menu is bursting with traditionally Sicilian tastes, championing freshness and quality when it comes to their ingredients. The underground vibe transports you to an authentic trattoria, with a palette of warming mediterranean colours, plush furnishings and specially selected art using sculptural elements like rope and metals to bring the space to life. The sanctuary feels miles away from the bustling streets above, with our tastebuds in heaven as we feasted on saffron arancini, Sicilian pastas and gelato to finish. With a warming family feel that makes every guest welcome, Sotto Cucina & Bar is a must for lovebirds on the hunt for good food and atmosphere in London.
Just when you think it can’t get any better, Hyatt Place London City East take it up another notch by winning awards to hold the status as one of London’s most sustainable hotels, notably AHEAD’s European Special Award for Sustainability. Offerings such as complimentary Brompton Bikes available for each guest, a BREAAM Excellence accreditation for their low-carbon building and filtration systems, diversity and freedom within their workforce and a constant support for biodiversity with bird boxes, flowers and meadow grasses to please the pollinators of London all cement their status as a conscious and considerate force in the hotel world. Plus, it was the first London hotel to achieve the SHe Travel Club Platinum Award for meeting the needs and expectations of female guests, a testament to the safe and inviting environment guests feel as soon as they enter the doors.
Hyatt Place London City East puts thought into every element of their offerings, from the curated Sicilian dishes of the lower ground floor, up through the sleek rooms for guests and all the way to the ninth-floor for dazzling skyline cocktails in style. For a stay that oozes romance, find out more information at: www.hyattplacelondoncityeast.com
