Gold | A Smart, Bohemian Restaurant in Notting Hill
Did you hear the one about King Midas?
It’s pure gold.
But joking aside, the man’s presence has been felt in Notting Hill where you’ll now find Gold, a three-story bar & restaurant neatly installed right in the middle of Portobello Road‘s most colourful stretch of buildings.
You would be forgiven, however, for not even noticing the vibrantly painted antique stores down the street because when you look at Gold, you’ll find it starting straight back at you. Because covering the building’s facade, from pavement to roof, is a huge, gold mural of an extreme closeup on a pair of eyes. It’s done by Portuguese street artist Vhils, and it’s literally called ‘Eye Contact’ (you can see a smaller version in the dining space below).
Walk into the giant face – roughly where the mouth would be – and you’ll enter the ground floor dining area. It’s got a light, airy, smartly bohemian look, all skirted by an open kitchen… but you’ll want to breeze straight past it, and make your way into the lush green Garden Room at the back. Bathed in light from the huge glass roof, Gold is filled with verdant plant life and summery terracotta brick flooring. And that roof? Is retractable.
Now back to that open kitchen. It has even more than 24 carrots. The man in charge is Theo Hill (formerly at The River Cafe), who’s using an open wood fire to cook dishes like whole sea bream with wild oregano & capers; Cornish Red chicken with nduja, tomatoes, and parma ham; and some wood-roasted purple potatoes marinated peppers, pea shoots and roasted pepper vinaigrette. Of course, if you prefer your food off the grill, then you can always get some wild sea bass carpaccio; or a creamy burrata with charred pears, tuscan ham, radicchio and balsamic dressing.
Head upstairs, and you’ll find their big Gold bar. Cocktails being shaken behind it have been curated by Matt Whiley & Rich Woods (from the critically lavished Scout), and include a Gold Milk Punch, which has something called ‘clarified spiced rum milk’ plus a little whisky and Assam tea – a Garibaldi, which includes Campari, bee pollen gin, mandarin and fennel – and a Royale Retreat, mixing prosecco with passion fruit and pina colada soda.
The third floor is reserved as the private dining space, and you can reserve the entire thing if you want… meaning no-one one else can medal with your plans.
NOTE: Gold is open everyday for lunch & dinner. You can make a booking, see the menus, and find out more at their website right here.
Gold | 95-97 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 2QB
While you’re in the neighbourhood… you might want to check out the best bars in Notting Hill.