This St Paul’s hotspot offers far more than a quick city break.
Blink and you’ll miss it: Hyde London City is a hidden gem in the Square Mile. A stone’s throw from the Old Bailey, down the road from St Paul’s Cathedral and within easy reach of Soho, the hotel is housed inside the historic Grade II-listed Spiers & Pond building, built in 1874. From the outside, it keeps a low profile. Step inside and it quickly reveals its personality.
The location is a major advantage. You’re right in the centre of it all, with cultural landmarks, well-known dining spots and tourist sights on the doorstep. Hyde London City is also the latest addition to a global line-up of stylish, high-energy Hyde hotels, from Miami and Ibiza to Dubai, and now London.
Before I even arrived, the website had set the tone: playful, youthful, and high-energy. That’s exactly the mood inside. The hotel is compact but confident, anchored by Leydi, the much-talked-about Turkish restaurant on the ground floor, and Black Lacquer, an underground cocktail and vinyl bar. Beyond that, London does the heavy lifting.
I checked in on a rare dry and sunny afternoon and mentioned to the front-of-house team that I wanted to squeeze in a walk before the early sunset. The concierge came armed with smart route suggestions and genuinely useful tips. Even as a local, I found myself making notes.
Rooms and suites
Hyde London City has 111 rooms across seven storeys, designed by London-based Studio Moren. My room was on the first floor at the very front of the building. Interiors lean into mid-century shapes with bohemian flourishes, including wallpaper that nods to a William Morris sensibility. The Victorian bones are subtly honoured too, with high ceilings and bespoke dark woods giving the room an elevated feel.
The bathroom is where the building’s architecture really makes an impression. The Old Bailey provided the backdrop to my evening skincare routine, glowing under London’s dramatic night lighting. Details are handled with care, from the tasteful green tiling to the Malin+Goetz toiletries, all thoughtfully placed rather than cluttered.
Branding is present but not heavy-handed. Contemporary foam slippers and beachy towelling robes add a playful contrast, making the room feel more escapist than city-slick.
One practical downside: the room is on the smaller side, with limited storage. Aside from a rail above the coffee machine, there’s little space for clothes. No drawers or wardrobe make it feel better suited to a short stay than a longer reset.
For those going bigger, the hotel’s standout suite is The Headliner, the largest in the building with a five-metre-high ceiling. It comes with views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Barbican, plus a marble bar, a window-side study and a built-in sound system.
Restaurants and bars
We headed to Leydi for brunch, the hotel’s in-house Turkish restaurant, where we ordered The All-In Leydi Breakfast, which covers serious ground: breads and baked goods, cheeses, olives, crudité-style vegetables, honey-kaymak, muhammara, preserves, menemen, fried eggs with pastirma, and bottomless Turkish tea. The muhammara and the shakshouka-leaning eggs were the standouts, delivering that perfect combination of flavour, warmth and spice. Turkish tea and fresh orange juice rounded it out, and the menu clearly understands what brunch should feel like.
For something sweet, we added the brioche French toast with berries, clotted cream and maple syrup. It was rich, comforting and the right kind of indulgent finish.
Downstairs, Black Lacquer is the hotel’s nightlife angle: a vinyl-heavy cocktail bar with weekend DJs, Japanese small plates and inventive drinks. It was closed during my visit, so I didn’t get to experience it first-hand. Still, a lawyer friend later insisted it’s her go-to spot with colleagues on Friday nights, which feels like a strong endorsement in this part of town.
Functional facilities
This is a hotel designed for quick city breaks, so there’s no spa or pool. There is, however, a basement fitness room. The 24-hour gym is small, with two Technogym bikes, a bench, mats and a set of weights. If you want something more substantial, the hotel can arrange a complimentary pass to a local gym.
The verdict
Hyde London City is a sharp addition to London’s crowded hotel scene. It delivers character without trying too hard, pairing strong design with a friendly, chatty team and a location that makes the city feel instantly accessible. It’s best for weekends, work trips and short stays where you want comfort, style and great food at arm’s length.
Hyde Hotels has several openings slated for 2026, including Mexico City, Perth and Bali Seminyak, making the group one to watch
GO: Visit https://hydehotels.com for more information.