Andaz London Liverpool Street: What it's like at this historic European hotel

Some hotels are just cool. From dramatic lighting and fab decor that's swanky without trying too hard to catchy music, swinging bars and happening restaurants, some hotels have a vibe all their own, and Andaz London Liverpool Street is a full vibe in all the best ways.

I stayed there once before, about a decade ago, and remember it being kind of cool but not exactly memorable. It's clearly had a glow-up in recent years, though. Now, Andaz London Liverpool Street isn't just playing the part of a hip hotel; it actually is a hip hotel on London's east side.

The hotel has cozy corners splashed with dramatic colors and fabrics, multiple bars and restaurants and more thoughtful inclusions than you'll find at most hotels in London.

Here's what you need to know about Andaz London Liverpool Street to decide if it is the right hotel for your next trip to the British capital.

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At the risk of sounding decidedly unhip myself, I'll belabor this point a little more. A cookie-cutter hotel, this is not. There's a DJ in the lobby a couple of evenings a week and a bold use of art, colors, patterns and textures that, though flashy, just works.

My king room was replete with grays, blacks and saddle-leather brown — accented by a pink desk, of course. The spotlight-style lamp added a bit of drama to the room, too.

The heavy drapes did a great job blocking out the sun streaming in the huge windows, and the bed was simply perfect for sleeping off some jet lag — just the right balance of firmness and softness. A small chaise at the end of the bed made for a convenient spot to sit if you were just dallying for a moment before starting your day out in the city. At over 300 square feet, the room also felt positively palatial by London standards.

Unlike in some hotels that are struggling in this department, housekeeping promptly made up my bed and room without request during my stay. There was even a newspaper dropped off at the door each morning, something that I almost never see anymore.

Remember to pack your power adapter if coming from the U.S. since type G-shaped AC plugs are standard in the United Kingdom. The room also had USB-A ports. There was a variety of outlets in the room, including some available on each side of the bed to charge up your devices. And I did overhear the front desk loaning someone an adapter, just in case you're in need.

The bathroom was white and black, with heavy use of glossy subway-style (or is it Tube-style in London?) tiles and black stone floors. It was great having my pick of a relaxing tub or a separate walk-in shower, with British skincare brand T-London products available in both, something that isn't a given these days.

Set in the same building as what was once known as the Great Eastern Hotel, a railway hotel from the 1800s, what is now known as the Andaz London Liverpool Street has enjoyed a few lifetimes in its roughly 150 years. It's served as a rest spot for weary rail passengers, a secret masonic lodge, and now hosts World of Hyatt guests.

But through all that, this East London location has remained a constant with handy proximity to the Liverpool Street Station that can get you on your way to almost any part of the city you'd want to go, including directly to and from Heathrow on the new Elizabeth Line.

The east side of London is quite convenient for some spots, such as visiting the Tower of London, but it's not the best for some other things like visiting Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and seeing shows in the West End. You are right next to the Liverpool Underground Station at the Andaz, so you can get to any part of London, but on some trips, it's easier to just be able to walk to everything from your hotel.

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Andaz hotels are known for their complimentary minibars, which was certainly the case at the Andaz London Liverpool Street.

It was nice to have free cold soda, water and juice in my room's fridge that were replenished each day. The highlight of the included snacks and drinks wasn't actually in the room itself, though. In addition to the welcome glass of Prosecco guests receive, there was complimentary red and white wine in the lobby from 6 to 7 p.m. each evening.

During my stay, I also saw multiple complimentary small bites out in the lobby during the evening happy hour, such as salmon toast points and arancini. In the morning, mini-croissants and orange juice were available for guests to enjoy.

That's not enough to make a meal, but it was a thoughtful touch that left an outsize positive impression.

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There are a total of five different bars and restaurants that are located in a bit of a "follow the yellow brick road" maze around the hotel. Thankfully, the projected signs on the ground do light the way.

The spots to choose from at the Andaz London Liverpool include:

For dinner one night, I tried out Miyako, which was on the smaller side and had playful decor touches like a ceiling made of floral parasols. The service was prompt, and the dishes were solid. I had a tuna avocado roll, three pieces of sushi and two pieces of tamago for an all-in total of $43 — not a cheap meal, but not exorbitant for a sushi dinner out, either.

While I only had time for one dinner at the Andaz, I did enjoy breakfast twice (complimentary, thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status), once on a weekday in Eastway and once on the weekend at 1901.

Eastway had a great buffet-style spread set up around the room with cold meats, cheeses, pastries, fruit and more on one side of the room and hot items on the other. (Don't skip the hash browns, they're fabulous and crunchy.) I came toward the end of the breakfast window and didn't feel rushed or shooed out the door.

While Eastway is a perfectly serviceable restaurant, 1901 is downright grand. Perhaps I'm too easy to please, but it felt Titanic-era spectacular to me.

Its over-the-top Victorian architecture, with ornate columns, crown molding and an elaborate glass dome, screams that you're in a historic spot, even if you're just there for modern-day coffee and a yogurt parfait. The menu lineup was much the same as in Eastway, but if you are choosing between spots or days to enjoy breakfast at the Andaz London, choose 1901, if possible.

I didn't get a chance to enjoy the bars or nightlife at the Andaz. However, it was a pretty lively spot around every turn when I did a walk around, so don't miss a chance to grab a drink here if you have time.

The breakfast to which my Hyatt Globalist status entitled me consisted of all of the buffet-style items along with a supplemental selection from a small menu that included choices such as omelets or pancakes. Coffee, juices and tea were also included, along with gratuity, making this a very budget-friendly way to start the day.

I did not score a suite upgrade on this stay, though I was moved from the queen room I booked into a king room, which was a nice, if modest, upgrade that would have cost $20 or so more per night. I was also proactively offered a 4 p.m. late checkout and given a free drink voucher valid at any of the on-site bars as a thank-you for being a Globalist.

I've stayed at the Andaz London Liverpool Street a few times and would do so again. But even though I'm a fan, it's not the right hotel for every trip. Here's why:

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For the first part of this trip to London, I wanted to be centrally located, so I stayed at the similarly priced Mayfair Hotel, which is part of the Radisson family.

That hotel is just a 12-minute walk from Buckingham Palace and in a perfect spot for a first trip to London. I've also quite enjoyed a stay at the Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, which is part of World of Hyatt like the Andaz, but offers a more central location and a more traditional look and feel.

The downside to being a historic hotel is being built in an era where accessibility was not top of mind.

There are grand staircases and doors and twists and turns aplenty at the Andaz London. When I searched for accessible rooms at the hotel across a wide variety of dates, none were displayed. However, when I called, I was told there are four accessible rooms in the hotel — two standard king rooms and two standard twin rooms, though none are on the ground floor, so you will need to use the elevator if stairs are an issue.

The hotel does have an accessibility section on its website, though aside from some general statements about providing equal access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities, the only concrete information on the site is about it being a pet-friendly hotel. If you need to book an accessible room here, I highly recommend calling the hotel — and be aware that with the layout of the property and extensive use of stairs in some parts, there may be some challenges beyond the room itself.

There are plenty of hotels in London that can feel a bit stuffy, but the Andaz London Liverpool Street is not that. It feels vibrant and alive without being forced. The small touches, such as the included minibar drinks and snacks and evening happy hours, are value-add touches that make you feel welcome and at home as a guest.

If you don't have a particular need to be in this part of town, then the location may be a bit of a drawback for a traditional tourist-centered trip to London. However, a quick ride on the Tube or a push of a button in the Uber app and that's a solvable challenge. As for me, I'm already a repeat guest and hope to keep that tradition alive.

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