The Standard, London

Housed inside a striking former municipal library, this bold destination turns seventies nostalgia into a fine art. The architecture celebrates severe concrete lines, but stepping through the doors reveals a wonderland of vivid primary colors, soft geometric shapes, and a delightfully cheeky attitude. It is the perfect playground for travelers who want their luxury served with a side of creative eccentricity.
Guests can spend an evening browsing the curated book lounge, which pays homage to the building's literary past, or zip up the exterior red lift to Decimo for live fire cooking and dramatic city panoramas. A fascinating piece of history is baked right into the foundations, as the basement studio space was once the recording home of iconic alternative rock bands.
For those looking to maximize their stay, booking a King of the Castle suite grants access to a private outdoor bathtub, allowing you to soak under the stars while looking out over the Victorian gothic spires of St Pancras. To sample the legendary rooftop bar without the evening crowds, sneaking up during the late afternoon guarantees the best sunset views and the shortest wait for a cocktail.