Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a fire at a hotel on Seven Sisters Road in Hackney.
Part of the void between ground and first floor was damaged by the fire. Firefighters led 121 people to safety. There were no reports of any injuries.
One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as an observation tower to provide the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire.
Control Officers took the first of two calls at 0023 and mobilised crews from Holloway, Stoke Newington, Islington fire stations to the scene. The incident is over for firefighters at 0248.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.