T

he very cool and very modern Zetter gets an expansion; and what’s the point of an expansion if it’s literally just more of the same? It’s a question that’ll remain rhetorical in the case of The Zetter Clerkenwell, as this early Georgian residence, just across St. John's Square from its forebear, takes a decidedly different stylistic tack.

Where the original Zetter is somewhat airy and modern, the Townhouse opts for a period vibe, a bohemian, antique-furnished sort of look. It’s only natural — a hundred-odd rooms sort of demands a systematic approach, while thirteen rooms and suites is quite small enough to be furnished with some individual attention paid to each room’s character. The atmosphere, necessarily, is clubbier and more intimate than the Zetter as well, which is mostly just a function of the size and the décor. For the full effect, book the whole house, and invite a couple dozen of your closest friends.

Though the differences are instructive it’s worth noticing the similarities as well — beginning with (it’s almost too obvious to mention) the same convenient Clerkenwell location. The Townhouse, like the Marrable’s Hotel, benefits from a similarly intensive approach to the food and beverage offerings. Its owners were restaurateurs before they were hoteliers, and the care is apparent in the cocktail lounge, which features a drinks menu from Tony Conigliaro and inspired plates by Bruno Loubet. A look around the room more or less sums up the difference between the two, as sun-dappled modernism gives way to an eccentric Georgian sensibility.