Living like a local with Cuckooz in East London

Did you know that the cuckoo is a species that shamelessly lays its eggs in another bird’s nest?

Whilst I didn’t quite go to that extreme, my stay at Cuckooz, Aldgate East allowed me to nest in my own personal home-from-home. Serviced apartments, unlike a hotel, allow you to ‘try on’ a place, and fantasise that you live there without any of the commitment of a long-term relationship. But Cuckooz is no ordinary serviced apartment.

The Cuckooz vision is that guests ‘live like a local, as part of a community’. Currently consisting of four locations in Hoxton, Aldgate East, King’s Cross and Shoreditch, this design-led concept captures the essence of the local designers and artists in a fun and funky way.

Charlie Rosier and Fabienne O’Neil, Cuckooz Co-Founders. Photo credit – Edmund Dabney

Cuckooz is the brainchild of avid explorers Charlie Rosier and Fabienne O’Neill, who took their own experiences as women travellers to create a home from home experience, one that was far removed from a homogenous unit; still practical but quirky at the same time.

The Aldgate East property is a couple of minutes’ walk from the tube station. Arrival was at the buzzy downstairs office-cum-reception where an enthusiastic and bubbly team gave me a big warm welcome. I was escorted to my room next door and given a comprehensive demonstration of all the features.

Cuckooz Aldgate East. Photo credit – Megan Taylor

Home for the night was duplex apartment 501, a spacious 2-bed, with a spiral staircase leading up to the bright sunny lounge, with full sized, well-equipped kitchen and outdoor balcony. It’s the extra little touches that make the stay so easy: the tablet through which I could get all the information one could possibly need, including a food delivery if I so wished; the stacks of magazines and books placed thoughtfully throughout the property; the Apple TV; and most importantly the lush full-size Bamford Organic toiletries.

Each destination comes with a carefully curated C-Z guide providing a snapshot of the best things to do locally. Whether it’s a local pub, cocktail bar, chocolatier, fish and chips or fine dining, there’s not a hint of mass-market chains to be seen. Through a minimal amount of research, I discovered possibly the best pasta outside of Bologna at the Mattarello Restaurant less than five-minutes’ walk away on nearby Middlesex Street. Here the staff are evidently proud of their hand made pasta, and rightly-so! The service is discreet and charming, just what I wanted as a lone female diner.

Mattarello Restaurant. Photo credit – Carolyn Pearson

On my way back I stumbled across one of the infamous Jack the Ripper Tours, just one of the things to do mentioned in the C-Z guide along with street art tours, a plethora of galleries and a whole host of practical amenities such as local supermarkets and launderettes.

Whereas longer stays in a hotel are likely to give you ‘cabin fever’, Cuckooz is ideal for longer stays be it for a business trip, visiting friends or family or just being a tourist in your own city.