THE ACE
The lure: The Ace is a testament to visionary founder Alex Calderwood, whose untimely death this past weekend stunned the travel industry. The hotel’s edgy style evokes previous Calderwood-developed outposts in New York and Seattle.
The look: Universal Design Studio’s conversion of a former Crowne Plaza gives a London twist to Ace’s industrial-chic aesthetic.
The location: Shoreditch, a former working-class East End area that’s morphed into one of London’s more creative ’hoods.
The layout: The Ace’s 258 rooms are each meant to feel like a friend’s flat, with cool but homey appointments like patchwork quilts and in-room turntables.
Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?: Brunch. The hotel’s informal but appropriately cool Hoi Polloi — a mod-brasserie from the folks behind nearby Bistroteque and Shrimpy’s — features a live string quartet that makes Sunday brunch extra-special.
The luxe factor: Hotshot local artisans are on display, like Ally Capellino’s leather change trays in every room and Hattie Fox’s That Flower Shop downstairs.
The letdown: The fast revamp means that kinks are still being worked out — an in-room lamp had no plug, while the bathroom sink lacked soap entirely.
The lowdown: With its understated yet hip vibe, comfy digs, reasonable rates and prime London location, the Ace is a fantastic choice with an arty flair. From $270.
THE EDITION
The lure: As just the second edition of the Edition brand, the property marks a bold London return for boutique hotel pioneer Ian Schrager, who last overhauled the Sanderson just down the street 13 years ago. The Edition’s tony West End location is ideal for culture- and retail-mad Anglophiles.
The look: Schrager helmed the 3-year/$53 million makeover of the landmark Berners Hotel with Toronto architects Yabu Pushelberg; the result is Belle Epoque opulence with 21st-century swagger.
The location: Fitzrovia, a leafy West End district just north of Soho and the Oxford Street shopping strip. Recently, there’s been an influx of art galleries in the nabe.
The layout: The simple style and abundance of wood (oak floors, walnut and oak paneling) give the Edition’s 173 rooms a yacht-like, cabinesque feel.
Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?: Dinner. Local celeb-chef Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern serves gastro perfection in an art-filled room. Starlets like Alexa Chung approve.
The luxe factor: The Edition’s undeniable superstar is its lobby/bar — a marble-walled lounge with a huge egg hanging from its ceiling.
The letdown: The Edition ain’t for the faint of wallet — beyond the steep room rates, minibar and room service prices are rather eye-popping.
The lowdown: London’s center of gravity may have shifted eastward, but the Edition brings an infusion of unapologetic high style back to the West End. From $430.