Gal With a Suitcase

Getty Images Back at home after a trip to Iceland, GWS reveals the haunts of her neighborhood in East London, where bars and bargains abound in equal measure.

It’s the hipster capital of England—and maybe the world. Home to galleries, graffiti, a famed flower market, curries, bagels, and countless vintage shops, East London has weathered a wave of gentrification and stayed wicked in all the right ways. Absent of parks, prams, or big-ticket tourist bait, it instead stocks great pop-up boutiques, gorgeous galleries, and chaotic urban markets hawking everything from old-school Adidas to frilly frocks from the ‘50s to the ‘80s.

By night, a new breed of action dominates, from raucous rooftop bars like Shoreditch House and The Boundary to swank, subterranean scenes like the Czech-run Lounge Bohemia. There’s also the ever-reliable LoungeLover, and of course a diversity of restaurants like none other. GWS happens to have an apartment in East London, which, upon hearing, nearly gave her posh West End pals an aneurysm. And when I say East London, I mean Shoreditch—those of you expecting sterile Canary Wharf, think again. In my neighborhood, you will find grimy and glass-strewn streets, lots of leather, vintage shades, furs, and odd-looking tights. And of course art, culture, and an army of trend-setters. The punk movement started here, as did the infamous Cockney Rhyming Slang. I’m even told that this is where famed gallery owner Charles Saatchi comes to spot up-and-coming artists. There are bargains of the mind and spirit. Pack your skinny jeans and let’s go.

Stay

The polished wood-paneled Rookery Hotel calls itself “Soho in the East” and frankly, that undersells it. Subtle and fine, this sultry, grown-up boutique marries old-world charm with a modern traveler’s comfy necessities. 33 rooms, from £175, including the gorgeous two-story Rook’s Nest penthouse, complete with views of St. Paul’s, from £495.

12 Peter's Lane
EC1M 6DS
Phone: 02070993190
www.rookeryhotel.com

The Boundary is famed British designer Sir Terence Conran’s latest winning creation. With a wildly popular roof terrace, a casual street-level café called The Albion, and a sexy underground bar (skip the restaurant; there are better places), it’s easy to forget that this is a hotel. There are only 12 guest rooms and five duplex suites, so book early. For the budget conscious, rooms start at £140. For the design minded, try Sir David Tang’s duplex suite from £250. Weekdays are most expensive; Sunday night yields a deal.

2-4 Boundary Street
E2 7JE
Phone: 02077291051
www.theboundary.co.uk

A trendy gem with an appreciated nod to the credit crunch, the Hoxton Urban Lodge models itself on the budget airlines: Book early and you could score one of the coveted rooms for a quid. The eclectic art is worth a visit in and of itself. There are 205 rooms, normally from £59.

81 Great Eastern Street
EC2A 3HU
Photo: 02075501000
www.hoxtonhotels.com