You know what’s funny about Hazlitt’s? I must have walked past it a dozen times on Frith Street without realizing there was this incredible Georgian townhouse hotel tucked right into the heart of Soho’s chaos. The entrance is honestly pretty understated – which I guess makes sense when you’re sitting between a Vietnamese restaurant and whatever trendy cocktail bar has replaced the old pub this month. But once you step inside, it’s like someone pressed pause on 2024 and dropped you into some beautifully preserved corner of literary London. The place has this authentic 18th-century vibe that actually feels lived-in rather than museum-stuffy, probably because it genuinely is a restored Georgian building and not some modern interpretation of one.
What really got me was how they’ve managed to make each room feel completely unique without going overboard on the period piece thing. I mean, yes, there are four-poster beds and original wood paneling, but you’ll also find proper modern bathrooms and WiFi that actually works (crucial when you’re trying to navigate Soho’s winding streets). The rooms can be a bit snug – this is an old London townhouse after all, not some sprawling American chain – but honestly, you’re not going to spend much time holed up inside when you’ve got this location. You’re literally a two-minute stumble from Ronnie Scott’s if you’re into jazz, Dean Street’s restaurant scene is right outside your door, and Oxford Street shopping is close enough to be convenient but far enough away that you won’t get caught up in the tourist crowds unless you want to. The staff here seem to actually know the neighborhood too, which is refreshing – they can point you toward the good pubs locals frequent rather than just handing you a generic tourist map.
Here’s the thing though – and I wish someone had mentioned this to me – Soho doesn’t exactly quiet down at night. You’ve got late-night bars, people wandering between venues, the occasional street performer who thinks 1 AM is prime time. It’s part of the charm, honestly, but if you’re someone who needs absolute silence to sleep, maybe pack some earplugs or request a room toward the back. The trade-off is worth it though, because where else can you stay somewhere with this much character while being able to grab dim sum at 11 PM or catch a show in the West End without dealing with the tube? Plus, the whole place just has this literary history vibe – apparently writers and theater people have been staying here for decades, and you can sort of feel that creative energy in the building. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to sit in the tiny lobby with a book and a proper cup of tea, even if you’re usually more of a grab-coffee-and-go traveler.