One Hundred Shoreditch

One Hundred Shoreditch arrived on Shoreditch High Street in 2022 as part of Lore Group’s transformation of the former Ace Hotel site, and it announced itself with a level of ambition that the building’s prominent position demands. 

258 individually furnished rooms, six eating and drinking destinations, and a cocktail bar in the basement overseen by Ryan Chetiyawardana – one of the most awarded bartenders in the world – is a significant statement for any independent hotel, and One Hundred largely delivers on it. 

The building sits at the social heart of Shoreditch rather than adjacent to it, and that positioning is reflected in everything from the design of the rooms to the energy of the ground floor on a Friday evening.

The experience

The interiors were designed by Lore Group creative director Jacu Strauss, and they show a consistent hand throughout – warm, layered and genuinely beautiful rather than merely stylish. Contemporary art is hung throughout the building, live performances take place in the public spaces, and the ground floor hums with the kind of energy that makes you want to stay in the hotel rather than heading out into the neighbourhood. 

Rooms are soundproofed effectively given the location on one of Shoreditch’s busiest streets, and the combination of individually furnished spaces and luxurious bathtubs makes the rooms feel considered rather than mass-produced. Service is warm and unhurried throughout.

The rooms

258 individually furnished rooms and suites mean no two stays need be the same. Each room is designed with a distinct character, with thoughtful art, considered materials and the kind of detail – hypoallergenic bedding, proper minibars, soundproofed windows – that distinguishes a well-run independent hotel from a branded operation. The bathtubs are a consistent highlight mentioned by guests across categories, and the natural light in the higher rooms is excellent. Interconnecting rooms for groups of up to six or more make One Hundred a practical choice for celebrations as well as a characterful one.

Food and drink

Seed Library is the headline act – a basement cocktail bar designed in terrazzo, cool pine panelling and soft 1960s stylings, with a menu overseen by Ryan Chetiyawardana (Mr Lyan) that takes a lo-fi, analogue approach to classic cocktails. Stripped-back takes on classics using unexpected ingredients – perilla seed, curry leaf, sancho leaf – make it as interesting for cocktail enthusiasts as for guests who just want a very good drink in a very good room. Open Wednesday to Sunday, walk-ins welcomed, vinyl at weekends. 

Above the hotel, Kaso Bar and Kitchen serves Mediterranean cuisine with rooftop views across Shoreditch – worth booking for a long lunch or a sunset drink. The remaining bars and restaurants across the ground floor mean guests rarely need to leave the building for want of a good option.

The neighbourhood

Shoreditch High Street station is 300 metres away and Brick Lane is a short walk east. One Hundred’s own ground floor adds meaningfully to the neighbourhood’s offer rather than simply benefiting from it. Seed Library in particular draws locals as much as hotel guests, which is the surest sign that a hotel bar has got something right.