Honestly, when I first walked up to this place on Newport Court, I wasn’t expecting much – the entrance is pretty understated, tucked between the dim sum restaurants and bubble tea shops that make this little street feel more like you’re in Hong Kong than central London. But you know what? That’s actually part of its charm. You’re literally in the heart of Chinatown, which means authentic late-night noodles are about thirty seconds from your door, and Covent Garden’s chaos is just around the corner when you want it.
The location is genuinely ridiculous – I mean that in the best way. You can stumble out for morning coffee and accidentally end up browsing the market stalls at Covent Garden, or head the other direction into Soho for proper pubs and those tiny jazz clubs that tourists never find. Leicester Square tube is maybe a three-minute walk, though honestly you’ll probably just walk everywhere because you’re so central. The street itself can get a bit lively on weekend evenings (it’s Chinatown, after all), but the rooms are surprisingly quiet – they’ve clearly invested in decent windows, which matters more than you’d think in this part of town.
What struck me most was how the staff actually know the neighborhood. When I asked about dim sum recommendations, the guy at reception didn’t just point me to the obvious tourist spots – he sent me to this tiny place two doors down where the har gow is incredible and nobody speaks English, in the best possible way. The rooms themselves are what you’d expect from a solid four-star in London – not huge, but cleverly designed with that clean, modern aesthetic that photographs well but actually works in real life. The bathrooms are proper size, which is saying something for central London, and there’s decent water pressure. I stayed during Chinese New Year when the whole street was absolutely mental with celebrations, and while you could hear the festivities, it felt festive rather than annoying – though your mileage may vary if you’re a light sleeper.
The thing is, this isn’t trying to be some grand hotel experience with doormen and marble lobbies. It’s more like having a really well-located base camp for exploring London. You’re equidistant from the British Museum, the Thames, and the West End theaters, but you’re also in this little pocket of authentic London that most visitors miss. The building itself has that slightly cramped London charm – narrow hallways, a lift that fits maybe three people if you’re friendly – but everything works properly and feels recently updated. Check-in was smooth, they stored my bags without fuss, and the WiFi actually reaches every corner of the room, which honestly can’t be taken for granted. For the price point and that location, especially if you want to feel like you’re staying in a real London neighborhood rather than some sanitized hotel district, it’s a solid choice. Just don’t expect a gym or rooftop bar – you’re paying for location and authenticity, not amenities.