Hotel Review Tribe London Canary Wharf, London/UK. Pressereise.
The Location
London with a difference: if it weren’t for the red buses and the typical signs to the underground stations, we could just as easily be standing in any modern, sophisticated metropolis in the world. Skyscrapers tower up, architectural highlights of glass and steel reach for the sky. And then there is this mega-instagram-ready hotspot for business travellers and London lovers: in the middle of the tallest buildings is the first hotel in Canary Wharf, the Tribe London.
When Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, began to locate the London financial district in the very east of the metropolis at the end of the 1980s and to direct banks and corporate headquarters there, there was still very little sense of an urban feel. A few years of construction later, the former port district, from which goods arrived from all over the world (and from the Canary Islands, hence the name Canary Wharf), became new and an “extension of London”.
Canary Wharf’s New Life
It was only a few years ago that two new railway lines – the Elizabeth Line and Jubilee – provided a swift connection to the London so many know. Since then, shoppers, culinary fans, families and entertainment seekers have flocked to the district, which lies in a loop of the Thames. It takes about 15 minutes to get from the London Bridge stop to the life and hustle and bustle of Canary Wharf.
Today, around 120,000 people work there. They have only been able to live there for a good two years – before that, flats were simply not planned. Around 3,500 people have just moved in, and residential construction projects are increasing rapidly in the district, which is already bursting with cranes. So if you want to see how urban development – i.e. targeted urban planning – can work, this is the place to be.
Style & Character
As soon as we arrive at the Tribe Hotel, the whole atmosphere is very, very relaxed. We would love to sit on all the beautiful sofas in the lobby – each one is a unique style piece in its own right, sometimes in velvet and sometimes in leather look (the sofas, not us). Chic arc lamps provide warm light and select decorative pieces like coffee-table books are fun to look at. The design is a harmonious mix of hip and retro, the colours pop and Insta fans are sure to have a blast taking photos here.
The Tribe does without frills and things that no one really needs throughout the house. It is tidy and not cluttered in any corner. However, one or two eye-catchers are waiting – you can count on that.
Amenities and Service
The team is friendly and helpful – and shows us the brand new possibility to contact them from the room. There are no telephones there any more. Via the screen, we can connect to the lobby’s WhatsApp channel using a QR code and quickly submit questions and requests in writing. We test this. Answers come flying immediately.
Otherwise, too, practicality wins out. The gym is not in the same building – those with sporting ambitions can swim, run or work out on the equipment in the classy fitness studio a few blocks away. If required, the Tribe team will provide entry tickets including directions; promised, it’s no more than a five-minute walk.
Zimmer & Suiten
We call the room size “compact”, because the smallest rooms in the Tribe have 14 square metres and the larger ones 21 square metres. Obviously, business travellers and city trip fans who travel light were the target group. Admittedly, a little more storage space, especially in the bathroom, would be nice. So good organisation is called for, but there are no decorative knick-knacks to get in the way. The retro-style radio is just as pretty to look at as the golden bedside lamps. And then we let ourselves fall onto the bed. What a cosy landing! The heavenly mattress is chosen with flair – not too soft, not too hard.
The view from the bed or the small workplace in the room is impressive. The people in the offices of the high-rise building directly opposite seem within reach. If you don’t want to catch their eye, just close the light curtains during the day or the heavy curtains in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows at night. The fact that Canary Wharf is constantly growing is something we can also observe from our beds, because the construction sites are bustling with activity. The construction noise stays outside thanks to good insulation of walls and windows. In total, there are 320 rooms and three room types in the orange-red building.
Food & Beverages
At the standard breakfast buffet with sausages, fried eggs and fried mushrooms (hey, we’re in the English-Breakfast stronghold of London!), a big jar of granola stands out. Goji berries glow red, a few coconut chips are also nice to look at – and the combo tastes great! Together with the Greek yoghurt or the coconut yoghurt in the bowls next to it, it’s the perfect combination for a happy morning. Coffee and tea are available to go, and if you want more than an Americano, you can order to your heart’s content for an extra charge. The same goes for other breakfast extras.
After a busy day, we head to “Feels Like June” for a sundowner. The bar team mixes Negronis, Cuba Libres and various specials – and we love the Palabras, a sparkling mix of tequila, Italicus, basil and ginger beer.
For dinner, we swap the bar stool for one of the tables next to it. The “Feels Like June” is a visual delight alone. The dishes are light and exude Californian flair. Here it’s “West Coast meets Europe”. We try the starters of delicious tempura vegetables, grilled halloumi and creamy mac & cheese. The Sticky Rice Bowl afterwards comes with kimchi, tofu, sprouts and a dab of mayo dressing. All in all, a fresh treat in a really nice atmosphere.
If you get hungry in between meals or late at night, you can find sandwiches, biscuits and juice around the clock at the Social Hub, the bar in the lobby. It works on the principle of “grab something good and take it with you”.
What we’d like to see next time
Definitely a shop where we can pick up the fragrant hand cream and the orangy shower gel to take home.A “Feels like June” T-shirt should also fall into our shopping bag. as well as the pretty canvas bag that holds the hairdryer in the rooms. Printed: “Good hair day“. Oh, and a bag or two of goji-coconut granola would also remind us of our stay for a while longer.
Best for
- Couples
- Friends
- Business Travellers
- City-Trip-Fans
The Tribe is the place to be for people who love a creative look and a casual lifestyle. Pets are welcome, by the way. The clientele is totally mixed and cosmopolitan. There are business people. But artists go out and about as well as music makers and lots of other creative people.
With the house in Canary Wharf, the young hotel brand Tribe has gained a foothold in the English metropolis. There are already ten Tribes – and in the near future, another 45 are to follow worldwide. What do all of them have in common? The social hub, the Grab&Go bar with snacks around the clock. The functionally furnished rooms and the motto “as much as necessary, as little as possible” when it comes to furnishings.
Tribe London Canary Wharf
5 Water Street, Tower Hamlets, London, E14 9QG, United Kingdom
London Canary Wharf | TRIBE Hotels
Fancy a special afternoon tea? Here’s what we recommend.
