PAUSE Visits: The Zetter — Clerkenwell

The Zetter Clerkenwell feels like a secret shared in the heart of London. Set within a Georgian townhouse, it carries an eccentric, design-forward spirit that perfectly captures the city’s talent for marrying heritage with modern wit, most charmingly signalled by the white roses etched into its welcoming doorway. Step inside and you’re wrapped in a curated intimacy, low-lit yet inviting, where every surface and shadow seems to tell a story. Each corner reveals another layer of detail, a tapestry woven from velvet armchairs, polished wood, and antique curiosities (among them, a somewhat scary, but watchful stuffed cat statue). The result is an atmosphere that is warm and whimsical, and typically London.

The Clerkenwell district, buried within the borough of Islington, has always thrummed with a kind of quiet eccentricity. Once home to radical printers, clockmakers and bohemians, today it’s a neighbourhood where cobbled streets and converted warehouses shelter design studios, independent restaurants and a hum of creative energy.

Rooms & Suites:

Upstairs, the rooms lean further into this intimate, layered narrative. A grand headboard anchors the bed, unapologetically large and upholstered, while a freestanding bath that takes pride of place within the left of the room (not hidden away in the bathroom but sharing centre stage), as though bathing were a theatrical act in itself. Fireplaces, long dormant but deeply evocative, remind you of the townhouse’s history, while thick drapes hush the city outside. When you are here, it’s like nothing else matters.

Dining & Drinking:

Dining at The Zetter follows the same philosophy – small but carefully considered, confident without show. A silken chicken pâté spread over toasted sourdough; smoked salmon scattered through couscous and grains, balancing lightness with substance; mocktails crafted so well they sparkle with as much ceremony as any martini. Nothing is overworked, nothing unnecessary. Sweet in every way, not just in flavour but in intent.

PAUSE Rates:

Staff & Service: ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

        Cleanliness and Comfort: ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

Property condition and facilities: ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

Contact Information: