LONDON

QBIC Eco-friendly Hotel

December 2017

In December, right after my trip to The Himalayas, I had to travel London for meetings. For this trip, like all others, I chose to stay at an eco-friendly hotel and visit conscious spots in town. It was my first time in London and I truly loved it! Finding sustainable options felt easier than I expected!

I stayed at the Qbic London and they made my short 4-day stay remarkably blissful, despite of my crazy jetlag. Seriously. To me, falling asleep and waking up on an eco-friendly mattress made of organic materials and coconut coir in a hotel that takes sustainability, art and creativity to a whole new level made my trip even more exciting and wonderful! I felt home, far away from home! The Qbic is located in East London, near Shoreditch, and only a few blocks away from the nearest underground station. There are also several vegan restaurants and cool boutiques around the area! So, what makes Qbic so special? Well, besides everything I just mentioned, this boutique hotel also used reclaimed materials (like recycled plastic produce basket and old wood) and turned them into beautiful décor pieces and furniture! And the electricity, you may ask? QBic London runs on solar energy, uses energy-efficient LED lighting and water-reducing systems, offers organic and nature-preserving bath products by @stopthewater that support different clean water projects, has a menu with vegan options, and so much more! You can read all about it here!

Other things you may want to check out and enjoy when you visit the Qbic:

-Their restaurant and lounge area are is perfectly decorated, as well. Sustainable and bohemian details in every corner. And, they offer a delicious AND healthy breakfast buffet!

-They have tea and coffee stations on some floors. (Perfect for winter nights! I know I visited the station on my floor every night!)

-The design of each room is completely different, beyond cool, and eco!

-If you are staying for more than one night, there’s a teddy bear you can hang outside of your door as a "do not disturb" sign to opt to help save energy and water by not having your room cleaned. All you have to do is hang a Do-Not-Disturb teddy on your door and Qbic will reward your green-thinking by offering a free drink at the bar!

-Excellent wifi

-Super friendly staff

-The Qbic also partners with local non-profits and sustainable brands to sell their products at the hotel. I got “Bag For Change” tote made from left-over fabric that would have otherwise been discarded, by @beforchange, and a gorgeous book on succulents, airplants and cacti (you know how much I love plants and their essential role in our health) by @houseofplants.

Other conscious spots I visited during my stay:

Vegan restaurants:

-Redemption: I had the vegan burger and match latte. Best and most beautifully decorated match latte ever topped with colorful fresh flowers.

-Farmacy: Fave of mine! Everything here was delicious! Everything! I got together with some amazing girls and bloggers here for dinner. We ordered all their bowls and the brownie sundae for dessert. No words!

-Mooshies: Vegan burger bar!!!

-Vegan Yes: Homemade vegan food with superfoods!

Holistic Spots:

-As Nature Intended: store selling holistic medicine, natural products, healthy food, superfoods and conscious products!

Sustainable Fashion:

-BottleTop: store selling eco-friendly and fair-trade bags made of can tabs. Some designs have leather but they are coming up with vegan eco leather options!

-Monkey Glasses: this is a brand from London and you can find it at several eye stores. Their sunnies and glasses are biodegradable, zero waste, and made from cotton fibers and recycled materials, supporting a non-profit that protects orangutans!