The Page 8 Hotel, located at 8 St Martin’s Place in the heart of London, shares its name with another establishment, the “Page 148” Hotel, situated in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Both properties are under the same ownership. Continuing the “Public Coffeehouse” culture of its Hong Kong counterpart, the lobby of London’s Page 8 features a café-style corner, serving independently sourced quality coffee. With its façade opening towards Trafalgar Square, it conveniently fills the void for an independent coffee shop in this area. On several occasions while en route to Charing Cross Station, I’ve found myself recalling this particular spot, opting to bypass nearby chain coffee shops in favor of Page 8.
In the bustling landscape of London hotels, Page 8 distinguishes itself with a unique creative endeavor. In 2022, the hotel collaborated with travel writer Milly Kenny Ryder to publish its own city guide, “Undiscovered London.” Flipping through the pages, one can discern the consumer positioning of “independent,” “urban,” and “artistic,” from exploring offbeat shops to layout and color choices.
My overnight stay at Page 8 was in early September last year, shortly after the announcement of the date for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. Central London hotels were swiftly fully booked, with bustling streets and a growing presence of police cars to maintain order visible outside the windows. Soundproofing was crucial, especially for rooms with a view of Trafalgar Square. The hotel delivered on this front and even provided Marshall Bluetooth speakers, allowing guests to create their own ambiance while observing the bustling street below—an ingenious combination.
Page 8 boasts Bisushima, a rooftop Japanese restaurant with a separate entrance. The lunch offerings, particularly the bento boxes, provide excellent value compared to dinner. The open kitchen and panoramic rooftop views create a bright and expansive atmosphere. Overlooking Trafalgar Square, this perspective is particularly exceptional—especially during moments like the rare sight of an airplane descending upon London. As a fan of soups, I bypassed the bento boxes and opted for a bowl of udon noodles with tempura prawns listed in the “starters” section of the menu. In the world of simple noodle bowls, the broth is the chef’s masterpiece. The first sip quietly placed this restaurant among the city’s finest noodle establishments.
