As dusk settled over the Roundhouse on one side and Chalk Farm Tube on the other, from my spacious fourth-floor terrace at Selina Camden I could spy plenty of Camden’s bohemians readying themselves for another night in one of London’s trendiest hotspots.
The brainchild of two Israeli property developers, Rafael Museri and Daniel Rudasevski, the Selina Hotels group has grown rapidly to 162 properties across 25 countries: this new London “poshtel” brings the tally of UK cities to five.
All are based around the concept of blending beautiful places to stay with co-working, recreation and wellness: in other words, made to measure for today’s digital nomads.
And Selina Camden is a perfect example. A formerly distressed property has been converted into a hip urban haven for lovers of bohemian art and design: plenty of exposed brickwork, potted plants, hanging lightbulbs and vintage knick-knacks.
There are numerous nods to the Camden music scene, from vintage radios and record players to a basement area for live events.
The ground-floor restaurant Powerplant is both a place to eat and a workspace, with plenty of tables among the greenery for free wi-fi and laptop working, fuelled by the organic coffee and fresh leaf teas from the all-day menu.
Selina Camden Restaurant 04-2021 Credits @Photobenphoto 4
Powerplant restaurant (Photo: Ben Broomfield Photography)
And, in keeping with Camden’s burgeoning vegan vibe, it’s 100 per cent plant-based — but with a difference. Powerplant has partnered with Israeli plant-based pioneer Redefine Meat to offer additional meat-like menu options to those who still yearn for that meaty taste on their palate.
Full disclosure here: I’m not vegan but I enjoyed an excellent dinner and breakfast, and while not a fine dining experience, it was beautifully presented and very tasty.
Dinner highlights for me included smoky aubergine with caramelised “redefined meatballs”, harissa, coconut yoghurt, pinenuts and fresh herbs, and three-cheese arancini: rice croquettes with plant mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan, miso mayo and leek oil.
The “meat” was the closest I’ve ever tasted to real meat, and I’m officially now a fan of expertly created vegan cuisine.
Breakfast was equally delicious, with plenty of freshly-squeezed juices, fresh pastries and my personal highlight, toasted sourdough with smashed avocado, heirloom tomatoes, vegan feta, radish and chilli oil. A side of redefined sausages (ordered for quality purposes only) proved to be indistinguishable from the real thing.
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Vegan dish (Photo: Selina Camden)
Upstairs, the hotel has equally hipster-inspired accommodation for 78 guests, made up of an eight-bed community dorm with shared bathroom, entry-level standard rooms (with shared bathroom) and a range of private rooms and suites each with ensuite bathrooms.
There’s also a fully equipped communal kitchen with free tea and coffee, fitting with the ethos of encouraging guests to get out and meet others.
My terrace suite was well-appointed with a queen-size bed, high-thread cotton sheets, flat- screen TV, black velvet headboard, rabbit- and monkey-inspired lamps, vintage radio and roomy bathroom/wet room with towels and vegan Prija toiletries.
The standout for me, though, was the spacious outdoor terrace area accessed directly from the room, with tables, chairs and great views down to Camden Lock.
Needless to say, paper plays no part here: everything about Selina is digital, from booking and check-in to wristband room access. As well as the communal spaces, there’s also a daily menu of morning exercise sessions from yoga to meditation — a stay feels somewhat like being in a global village for well-to-do travellers.
All in all, I think the Selina concept is pure genius, and with a Margate hotel soon to join existing UK properties at Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, the brand’s digital nomadic future is looking very bright indeed.
Rates
Rooms at Selina Camden cost from £61.
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