Qbic Hotel London City

The Qbic Hotel London City takes minimalist, modular style and makes it trendy. The five-story brick building doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside the style is decidedly quirky, playful, and modern. Wood floors and wood-paneled accent walls are paired with bright details, while recycled items -- colorful plastic crates as lamp shades, a vendor-style bike cart as a reception desk -- add to the hip feel. The main event here is the bar, lounge, and restaurant, which works as a hangout spot offering lots of stylish nooks, including long communal tables, smaller sitting areas, upholstered armchairs, industrial pendant lights, chalkboard menus, and cool subway tiled accents. The hotel attracts budget-minded travelers who can do without some extra amenities, but don't want to skimp on style or cleanliness. 

Qbic Hotel is is located in London's East End. While the immediate neighborhood is a little gritty, many guests find the location pretty convenient, especially considering the price. Brick Lane, a popular street full of restaurants and galleries, sits right at the end of the street (a three-minute walk), and the Tower of London and river can be reached in about 20 minutes on foot. For sights farther out, the nearest tube station (Aldgate East), is just a five-minute walk. Guests can get to sights like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace fairly directly on the District Line in 30 minutes or less. Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport are a little over an hour away via public transit. Bike rentals are available free of charge, and secure parking is available for an extra fee. 

Qbic's mid-range rooms rise slightly above standard fare not due to their amenities or size, but because of their comfy beds, cleanliness, and quirky style. Small and, at their heart, minimalist, each Qbic's room is built around a modular "Cubi" design. Wood floors, natural wood furniture, bright accent walls, and splashy large-format photographs behind the beds all give a cool take on modular function. Bathrooms are simple but roomy and modern with yellow accent walls, steam-free mirrors, and walk-in rainfall showers. The hotel prides itself on its cleanliness and comfy Naturalmat mattresses, which are organic and feature soft toppers. Entry-level rooms are small, but this is no surprise for London. However, some rooms are windowless (though they're advertised as such and are well lit). Rooms have open wardrobes, safes, 32-inch TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are equipped with hairdryers and toiletry dispensers. While there's no mini-fridge or tea/coffee service in-rooms, guests are given free drinking water, and free tea and coffee are available in the halls. Upgraded rooms are more spacious (though they're still only around 215 square feet) and might add sofas or tables and chairs.

Qbic's features echo its spirited design, with a focus on stylish dining and drinks, but with nothing in the way of fitness or business facilities. The hotel has a trendy, casual restaurant, bar, and lounge with plenty of hangout, dining, and drinking spots. The restaurant serves seasonal British dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the bar is open until late some nights, occasionally hosting events with live music or a DJ. A nice continental breakfast with cooked-to-order add-ons is available, but costs an extra fee. Coffee and tea are available for free all day in the hallways on most floors (partly because they're not available in rooms). The hotel also offers free bike rentals, electric charging stations, and secure parking for an extra fee. Wi-Fi throughout is free. The front desk is open 24 hours. Luggage storage and baby cots are available, and pets are allowed for an extra fee and with advanced registration.