Our selection of the best Clerkenwell bars

Coin Laundry is about a 5-minute walk from Angel Station, on the corner of Rosoman Street and Exmouth Market. It has sage-green and teal subway tiles on the outside and carries the colour theme to its casual interiors of wooden floors and tables punctuated by comfy worn sofas.

Coin Laundry has got it all – a love for ‘70s & ‘80s cocktails, a DJ set on Thursday evenings, regular comedy nights, Sunday Roasts, and a classic pub fare menu.

This Clerkenwell bar is a top pick for private hire. The Lounge is available with a capacity of 30, the Front Area with a capacity of 40, and the Basement Bar with a capacity of 50 seated and 90 standing, or you can hire the entire venue which can accommodate up to 200.

You’ve probably seen photos of this pub if you’ve seen any marketing for Exmouth Market. The pub is housed in a stunning red brick Victorian building with a green subway tile facade and stained glass windows, apparently a popular design choice in the Clerkenwell bar scene. On a sunny day, you’ll see patrons occupying the outdoor tables and standing around the entrance beneath the old-fashioned front that proudly displays ‘courages, fine ales & stouts’.

The inside is just as lovely as the outside with a deep and rich colour scheme complementing the dark wood interiors. The bartenders always have a good playlist on, there’s a DJ set on Thursday evenings, and pub fare worthy of Exmouth Market.

The first-floor bar of the Exmouth Arms is available for private hire. Originally a cocktail bar, the space accommodates 40 seated and 55 standing, comes with a bartender, and the pub offers bespoke packages that can be tailored to suit your event.

The Holy Tavern occupies a beautiful preserved Georgian building dating back to the early 18th century. It was built on the land that once belonged to the Clerkenwell Priory – home to the medieval order of the Knights Hospitallers. Since then it has been a watchmakers’ shop, architectural firm, coffee shop, and even a notorious brothel.

This Clerkenwell bar is the epitome of ‘cosy and intimate’ with snug corners amidst stunningly-preserved original wooden panelling, and old blue and white tiles. On Tuesday evenings it is lit entirely by candlelight, making it hard not to feel the nearly thousand-year history of Clerkenwell all around you. This is one for the history buffs and lovers of good old-fashioned boozers.

The Crown Tavern is another historic pub in Ye Olde Clerkenwell. It’s said that back in the early 20th century, Lenin and Stalin met here, no doubt discussing dialectical materialism over a pint of stout. These days, the Clerkenwell bar may still hear revolutionary fervour from over-caffeinated UCL students. Still, it’s more likely to be the place you come to for a relaxing Sunday Roast or to celebrate a special occasion. Oh, how the times have changed.

The Victorian building was once the site of a concert hall and its pretty facade is well-preserved and as picturesque as the surrounding green of St James’s Church Garden. Inside, the pub has stepped into the 21st century with its period features blending with contemporary touches. The Crown boasts two stunning function rooms for private hire and a seasonal menu making it a top destination for private hire in the area.

It’s hard to miss Tabac Café when strolling down Exmouth Market, it has a ruby-red facade, with little wine tables and chairs outside that are so perfect for people-watching. This Clerkenwell bar doubles as a French bistro and wine bar – it’s big on cheese, wine, apéritifs, and digestifs.

It’s casual and rustic, and dare we say a little romantic – there’s a lovely intimate garden in the back if you want to break from the busyness of Exmouth Market. It’s the place you’ll find us drinking wine, eating fondue and munching on cornichons, and taking a coffee break before diving back in with a round of cocktails.

There’s nothing green about the Green – its exterior is blue and it’s located on Clerkenwell Green which Dickens once described as, “an open square which is yet called, by some perversion of terms the Green”, but if you’ve ever seen Clerkenwell Green you’d know there was no greenery. It’s a lovely pub all the same, with period features on the outside and modern features on the inside.

This Clerkenwell bar is one for the locals and the post-work crowd. It’s casual, and relaxed, focusing on natural wines, cocktails, and good beer. While the kitchen isn’t open, it still offers an upstairs function room for private hire or you can book the whole pub which can accommodate 150 people standing.

One of three pubs in Exmouth Market, the Clerkenwell Tavern has been serving the locals since 1876. It’s classic on the outside, and the many windows let in plenty of natural light – the benefit of being a corner pub.

This Clerkenwell bar is known for its Salt Beef sandwiches and Reubens, and being part of the well-known Exmouth street food market, you know these sandwiches have to be good – and they are. Pop along for an afternoon session or a special occasion, the craft beers, organic and natural wines, cocktails, and pub fare menu (let us not forget the sandwiches!) are well worth the visit.

The Sekforde is a corner bar located at Sekforde and Woodbridge streets near St James’s Church Garden. Its brown brick and dark wooden facade – stately and elegant – looks out onto a relatively quiet residential street.

The pub has been around since 1829 and only shut in 2015 to undergo re-development and restoration. Since opening back up in 2018, the Sekforde has gone on to win architectural awards for its restoration and commitment to sustainability.

With its set menu, weekly menu, Sunday menu, and wine list, you can understand how the Sekforde is a popular and picturesque destination for group bookings, private parties, and weddings.

The Clerk & Well is a historic pub near Farringdon station, although you wouldn’t necessarily know how old it was just by looking at it, so much attention has been paid to its preservation. The Clerkenwell bar has updated its exterior and interior for the 21st century, highlighting its period features and adding elegant contemporary touches throughout.

The Clerk & Well bar comes with all the bells and whistles you expect of a gastropub, but it also has a cocktail bar where you can enjoy signature gin that’s infused on-site. The Dining Room is an upstairs function room ideal for private hire, and it’s equally relaxed and elegant in decor as the rest of the pub.

The Sunday Roasts are great, and we have a soft spot for its signature gin. We haven’t stayed in one of the rooms yet, but we’ve got high expectations if the pub is anything to go by.

The Clerkenwell & Social, located in St John’s Square, is a modern spot, bright and generously spacious, with quirky decor, known for its house-infused cocktails and pizza.

This Clerkenwell bar offers exclusive hire of its first floor, ideal for parties, meetings, and many other types of events, it has a capacity of 120 standing, but if you’re looking for an even larger space for your party or event, you can book out the entire venue with a capacity of 200 spread over two floors.

The Clerkenwell & Social also has a great outdoor terrace for the sunnier days to enjoy those house-infused cocktails and pizzas.