You know what? I wasn’t expecting much when I first walked up to Sleepy Joes on Pitfield Street – honestly, the name alone had me wondering if this was going to be some quirky budget spot. But this place actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s tucked right in the heart of Hackney, and I mean properly in the thick of things, not just claiming to be “near” everything like so many hotels do.
The location is honestly brilliant if you want to experience London beyond the tourist bubble. You’re literally a two-minute walk from the Regent’s Canal towpath, which is perfect for morning runs or just escaping the city buzz for a bit. Hoxton’s right there too – I spent half my evenings wandering between the little galleries and coffee shops that seem to pop up on every corner. The Old Street roundabout is close enough to be convenient for transport (about a 10-minute walk), but far enough that you don’t get that constant traffic noise that drives you mad when you’re trying to sleep. Speaking of sleep, the rooms are surprisingly quiet considering you’re in the middle of everything – they’ve clearly put some thought into the soundproofing.
What really got me was the attention to detail throughout the place. The staff actually seem to know the neighborhood inside and out, not just the standard “there’s a Tesco down the road” kind of help. When I asked about good places to eat, they pointed me toward this incredible little Turkish place on Kingsland Road that I never would have found otherwise. The rooms themselves feel properly thought out – not huge, because this is London after all, but everything has its place and the beds are genuinely comfortable (I’m pretty picky about mattresses). The bathrooms are modern without being sterile, and there’s decent water pressure, which honestly can be hit or miss in this part of town. I also appreciated that they had proper blackout curtains – essential when you’re dealing with those bright summer mornings or trying to recover from jet lag. The whole place has this relaxed, slightly arty vibe that fits perfectly with Hackney without trying too hard to be trendy. It’s the kind of hotel where you can come back after a long day exploring and actually feel like you’re staying somewhere special, not just crashing in a generic room. For a 4-star place with ratings pushing 9 out of 10, it really delivers on making you feel like you’ve discovered something good rather than just booked something safe.