In well-heeled west London, Notting Hill stands out as a cool and colourful district that’s been distinctively shaped by its modern history. The first wave of Caribbean immigrants arrived in London in 1948, with many setting up home in Notting Hill. A Caribbean influence is part of the very fabric of Notting Hill to this day, which is evident in the area’s culinary offering, shops, art and – of course – the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival: an institution since 1966.

The arrival of a new hotel earlier this summer pays homage to this colourful corner of west London. Ruby Zoe (all Ruby hotels adopt a female moniker) is the 16th opening from the German-based hotelier, and the second in the capital (a third, in Clerkenwell, is scheduled for later this year). Ruby Zoe is located in a prime spot at Notting Hill Gate, just a few minutes’ walk from the iconic Portobello Road with its antique shops and famous weekly street market. The hotel spans 6,860sqft across six floors, with 173 bedrooms. The ground floor features a 455sqft public area with a bar and retail space that even includes its own vinyl store. The idea is that the space is open to hotel guests, members of the local community and passers-by to work, shop and catch up over a coffee. Music plays a big part in Caribbean culture, and Ruby Zoe pulls together a number of musical references in its interior design scheme, with a vibrant colour palette inspired by the 1970s and the Caribbean islands.

Ruby Hotels was founded in Munich in 2013, and the group has flourished over the past decade; a number of hotels are under construction. Ruby Zoe follows the launch of Ruby Lucy in Waterloo in 2020. The hotels are all recognisably part of the Ruby brand, but each one has a distinctive aesthetic that relates to its surroundings. Furthermore, every hotel embodies the company’s ‘Lean Luxury’ ethos.

Lean Luxury entails stripping away the superfluous and leaving the essentials, which are nevertheless carefully considered, modern and design-led. Rooms range from the “Nest” at 15sqm to “Wow’” at double that size. Each one is sleek and elegant, equipped with the necessary amenities for a comfortable, memorable stay. The rooms feature an open washstand and glass rain shower, minimalist white walls, cherry-wood panelling and a splash of character from an artwork above the bed depicting Notting Hill’s famous candy-coloured houses.

Matthew Balon, head of interior design at Ruby Hotels comments: ‘The hotel was designed as a kind of love letter to the neighbourhood. To finally be able to share it and see the public spaces full of life is just great. Ruby Zoe is a fantastic meeting place and offers lots of different areas for locals and guests to come together.’

ruby-hotels.com