Honestly, when I first walked into Sun Street Hotel Shoreditch, I wasn’t expecting much – I mean, it’s tucked away on this narrow street that feels more residential than hotel territory. But stepping through those doors? Complete surprise. The lobby hits you with this perfect balance of industrial chic and actual warmth, which is tricky to pull off in Shoreditch where everyone’s trying so hard to be edgy.
What really got me was how they’ve managed to feel boutique without being pretentious about it. The rooms are properly soundproofed too, which matters because you’re basically in the heart of everything here – Old Street roundabout is a five-minute walk, and you know how mental that area gets, especially Thursday through Saturday nights. I stayed on the fourth floor and barely heard the street noise, even with the windows cracked open. The bed situation is actually impressive – none of that rock-hard nonsense you sometimes get in trendy hotels. Staff at check-in were refreshingly normal people who clearly knew the neighborhood well. When I asked about decent coffee nearby (because hotel coffee is hotel coffee, you know?), they pointed me toward this little spot on Leonard Street rather than just shrugging.
Here’s what I really appreciated – they’ve got the details sorted without making a big fuss about it. The shower pressure is excellent, there’s proper blackout curtains for those post-Camden Market recovery mornings, and the WiFi actually works throughout the building. You’re a two-minute walk from Spitalfields Market, which means Sunday browsing and some of the best street food in London. Liverpool Street station is close enough that you’re not dragging luggage forever, but far enough that you don’t get the constant rumble of trains. The whole Brick Lane area is right there – curry houses, vintage shops, that buzzy weekend energy – but the hotel itself sits on this quieter stretch where you can actually get some peace. I’d definitely stay again, particularly because parking around here is absolutely dreadful (don’t even try), but they’ve got a deal with a nearby garage that takes some of the stress out of it. The only minor gripe? Breakfast runs until 10:30, which feels early for a neighborhood where most people are out until 2 AM, but that’s Shoreditch for you – it operates on its own schedule anyway.