Review: Hotel Saint Aldgate – A Luxurious Escape in the Square Mile

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When it comes to a hotel stay, there are a few things you really look forward to. The initial opening of your door and the trepidation of the room within, the languid lay in on soft-thread bed sheets, sun splashed views just beyond the window and the chance to forego your normal household duties and just relax. To have the cooking, cleaning and all other monotonous tasks be taken care of and just let all your worries melt away. In a city awash with so many hotels it can take a lot to make somewhere truly special. After all, with so many choices at your fingertips, why would you try the same place more than once? Hotel Saint is one such hotel that manages to distinguish itself against the throng of places to stay to provide a location you’re keen to rebook as soon as you leave. Not only is it well located, sat right next to Aldgate station and walking distance to Shoreditch, South Bank and so much more, but it provides an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. 

Hotel Saint Review Aldage London
The lobby of Hotel Saint

Hotel Saint Review – What You Can Expect

Hotel Saint (formerly the Dorsett City Hotel) has recently undergone a brand transformation, providing travellers with a chic and luxurious destination for the discerning traveller to work, rest and play. Inspired by the site’s ancient 2000 year Roman history, it’s packed with interior design features you drink in slowly from the lobby to your hotel room itself. Shoreditch based interior design firm, Child Studio was recently enlisted to renovate and conceptualise the lobby experience, complete with wall panelling, bronze accents and modern mid-century furniture to create a welcoming and inviting space.

The Bedrooms at Hotel Saint

There are 267 rooms in the hotel, all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the rooms with light, many with views across the Square Mile, Tower Bridge and the historic, neighbouring St Botolph’s Church. As soon as you enter, you’re greeted with plush carpet underfoot and the hotel’s signature scent. Sunlight drapes elegantly over a sofa offering the perfect spot to people-watch and take in the views beyond, while large lamps and flowers lend a homey feel. Infused with vintage glamour without feeling the least bit tacky, it marries together contemporary and traditional design. From the nespresso machine and large flat-screen TV to the marble bathrooms complete with a waterfall shower and Hotel Saint products, you feel right at home. 

Hotel Saint Review Aldage London
The hotel rooms are flooded with light and packed with all the amenities you need
Hotel Saint Review Aldage London
The beautiful beds in the Hotel rooms
Hotel Saint Review Aldage London
The view from a 13th floor room at Hotel Saint

And it’s the little touches here that make all the difference. The toiletries are one such example, with things such as dental kits and make-up wipes sitting atop the marble sink. These are things you really forget when you’re away, whereas shoe shine and little sewing kits often lay discarded. It’s these that prove Hotel Saint has their guests at the heart of what they do and think below the surface for what can really improve their stay. The amenities themselves are natural, sustainable and smell divine, provided by English brand Land & Water.

Take a long shower in their invigorating spa shower before enveloping yourself in a sumptuously soft bathrobe. Sip champagne as you get ready for a night out in the nearby eateries and bars and take in the views just beyond the window. Hotel Saint has it all, whether you’re here to work, a romantic escape or a fun weekend away with friends.

Dining at Hotel Saint

When staying at Hotel Saint, we recommend you check out some of the local eateries within walking distance. Being so well located there are a host of fantastic restaurants just a short journey away.

One such example is Crispin, an all-day restaurant and wine bar in Spitalfields, a short 7 minute walk from the hotel. Here you can indulge in an array of sumptuous sharing dishes and low intervention wines.

Enjoy a meal at one of the nearby local eateries such as Crispin
Enjoy a meal at one of the nearby local eateries such as Crispin

The kitchen is led by talented head chef Lewis de Haas and offers a broadly European menu working with independent growers and small scale producers. The quality and attention for detail is obvious in each plate, with a marriage of well-thought flavours and presentation. The smell of freshly baked bread – with a perfectly crisp, flour-dusted crust and delicately soft centre – fills the air. Wine splashes into glasses, the atmosphere is electric and the sun sets lazily through the floor to ceiling windows. It’s a fantastic destination to dine during your stay and they can also deliver breakfast to your room the next morning. 

Other options we can recommend within a ten minute walk away include:

Jin Bo Law – The Rooftop bar at Hotel Saint

The last enviable feature of Hotel Saint is its rooftop bar, Jin Bo Law that’s made its name as one of the staple sky-high drinking destinations in the city. Perched on the 14th floor with sprawling views of London’s iconic skyline it offers views of Tower Bridge, the Shard, the Gherkin and more as you peruse an impressive cocktail menu.

Hotel Saint Review Aldage London
Cocktails on the rooftop of Jin Bo Law are not to be missed

Sip on a range of carefully curated cocktails that take you through a journey of mixology, placing as much emphasis on the taste as the appearance, proving you can have both style and substance in equal measure. It’s chilled yet feels special, where you can dress up and take in the atmosphere and spend hours soaking up the sun’s rays to the backdrop of music and content chatter.

Tips for booking Hotel Saint

  • Book well in advance, rooms can book up fast and you want to avoid disappointment
  • Ask for a corner room for the best views
  • Enquire about a room on the 13th floor to be on the top floor
  • Have the team book you a table at Crispin for the ultimate dining experience
  • Reserve a table at Jin Bo Law for sunset

Book Your Stay

Hotel Saint is one of those special hotels that makes it impossible to forget. It manages to distinguish itself from other hotels almost effortlessly, putting the needs of the modern-day traveller at the heart of all it does. To find out more and book your stay at Hotel Saint, visit this link, you won’t be disappointed. 

Natasha Colyer
Natasha Colyerhttps://seeninthecity.co.uk
My name is Natasha and I am the Editor and Founder of Seen in the City. I have always loved to express myself creatively, most particularly through my writing, and after working for a number of other companies including Vogue and My Chic City I decided to head out on my own and Seen in the City was born. You can contact me on natasha@seeninthecity.co.uk

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