The Pilgrm

First things first: no, that’s not a typographical error. The Pilgrm, in Norfolk Square just up the road from London’s Paddington Station, has chosen to go without the customary second I. And upon closer inspection, it’s not the only standard that this bare-bones boutique hotel has decided to leave out. There’s no front desk; you’ll have checked in online before arrival. Nor is there a Victorian bathtub or even, truth be told, all that much space — even the Large rooms are smallish by London standards.

But so is the bill. Even the basic boutique hotels in this ever more expensive city command multiple hundreds of pounds per night, and in order to get the Pilgrm’s price to a reasonable level, its proprietors, veterans of the London hotel business, have had to make certain sacrifices. But the result feels smart, well-edited, economical, rather than miserly — intentionally minimalist rather than deprived.

It helps that the place is so damned attractive. There’s plenty to delight the eye, from 200-year-old mahogany parquet floors to crisp tilework and smart modern fixtures. And while the comforts are low-tech, from cast-iron radiators to proper, functional windows — no air conditioning here — they’re no less welcome, and reinforce the human touch.

A ground-floor café serves guests and locals alike, and the lounge upstairs adds an all-day menu of well-chosen bites and a creative cocktail menu. And while Paddington Station may be just around the corner, Norfolk Square showcases the bohemian side of the neighborhood. London — and a few other cities, if we’re honest — could do with more like this.