London

Concierge.com's insider take:

Terence Conran's Boundary hotel follows hot on the heels of a slew of bars, galleries, and private members' clubs that have settled into the painfully cool Shoreditch neighborhood in east London. This Victorian red-brick warehouse has been transformed into 12 stylish rooms and five suites as well as an eponymous subterranean bar and restaurant serving classic British and French dishes; an upscale version of a typical English "caff" called Albion, offering fish and chips, pies, and puddings; and a rooftop terrace with an open fireplace for those hardy enough to brave the British climate. Boundary's lodgings strike an excellent balance between top-line design and homey city chic. Each room is inspired by a great designer, complete with signature pieces such as the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman or David Tang's near-psychedelic chinoiserie (his suite will have you either basking in Oriental reverie or climbing the walls, depending on your aesthetics). Choose from Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, Bauhaus, and, of course, Conran himself. The rooms are surprisingly spacious for an urban hotel (from 334 to 393 square feet), while the duplex suites are positively palatial (from 470 to 662 square feet). We suggest an upgrade to any of the corner rooms, which have no less than six sash windows and are well worth the extra 30 quid ($50). No-nonsense details like discounts for Sunday nights and long stays, free Wi-Fi, eco-friendly climate control, and underfloor heating in the bathrooms push the envelope, making Boundary a most appealing alternative high-ender for style-conscious travelers focused on visiting the galleries, bars, and shops of Shoreditch—or for those who have appointments in the City but can't bear the idea of staying somewhere business-boring.—Vanessa Able