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Finding a hotel in London, be it for business or leisure, can feel like a daunting task. There’s a catalogue of establishments promising a restful night to rest our heads after a busy day in the capital. However, there’s one that stands out. Nestled in the heart of London's design district and just a short distance from some of the city's hotspots is the newly opened Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell by IHG. The four-star boutique hotel sits in a welcoming neighbourhood, dubbed "one of London’s most creative postcodes", which allowed us to comfortably slot into the lifestyle of locals during a weekend stay. It’s perfectly positioned to explore central London, including Barbican Centre, Little Italy and St. Paul's Cathedral, being just a short walk away. If we needed to venture further into the city, Barbican underground tube station is just a five-minute walk from the hotel - that’s if we could tear ourselves away from our room. Before we even reached our twin bedroom, we were impressed by the glowing clocks that were fixed outside every bedroom door, displaying the room number in time, and decorating the hotel halls. Once we stepped inside our room, we were welcomed into a chic retreat designed with sleek interiors, smart features, and a refined aesthetic that was as stylish as it was comfortable. Plush twin beds with crisp white linens and a velvet forest green headboard anchored the room, while smart lighting, including a nifty reading light and an automatic light for the bathroom, along with built-in amenities, made our stay even more effortless. We made use of the espresso machine found in every room and the gorgeous Urban Apothecary London bathroom amenities. There were subtle notes of baby pink and mustard yellow that complemented the green hues perfectly, while oak wood furnishings with touches of gold added to the room's sophistication and style. Other delicate touches include the old-fashioned style phone and the ambient circle light above the beds - we felt tucked away from the bustling capital inside our little haven. When it came to food, we were spoilt for choice and found that there was absolutely no need to dine out anywhere else during our stay, with their restaurant, Wilderness Kitchen, pub, Hat & Feathers and Sabini Bar all under one roof. Because we know, choosing somewhere to dine in London is another minefield to navigate. We started our evening with a pre-dinner drink in the hotel's luxurious cocktail bar, Sabini Bar, which is themed around Charles Sabini, a notorious gangster who operated in London's Clerkenwell during the 1920s and 30s. We opted for a spiced margarita, exquisitely made by cocktail attender Ope, and sat on one of the plush velvet seats in their cosy and elegant nook of the bar. This area of the bar featured a dramatic red curtain covering half the floor-to-ceiling windows, a large partisan-style rug over wooden floors and a dazzling orange-hued chandelier that hung above. While we can only dream of our own house being this lavish, it offered a sense of relaxed comfort with a boujee edge. For dinner, we dined in their gorgeous Wilderness Kitchen with table booths decorated in greenery and stylish rattan chairs. Served by the friendly food & beverage supervisor, Amal, we started with the garlic chilli prawns with ginger, before indulging in a 100Z ribeye medium-rare steak served with chunky chips and peppercorn sauce. After gazing upon the dessert menu, we couldn't resist the warming and lightly rich chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. It was all washed down with a refreshing glass of Pinot Grigio Rosé. Another highlight of the hotel's food and beverage options is the Grade II listed Hat & Feathers pub, which is accessible directly from the hotel or via a main entrance outside. It's the perfect spot to enjoy classic British pub dishes, local and international beers, in a cosy and traditional London pub, which is marked as "a Clerkenwell icon". For breakfast, we returned to the Wilderness Kitchen for a selection of continental options and poached eggs and avocado from their main menu. There were plenty of fresh juices on offer, along with coffees to help kickstart the day! To book your stay at Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell, or for more details, visit their website here.
