GO TO GOLD!!! You will not regret it. What you will regret is not going based on the ridiculous rating it should be five stars completely for everyone that ever enters this place. Beautiful service, lovely staff the food is incredible. The ceramic plates and serveware, warm-atmosphere -just top notch. This place is a gem. Sea Bream, Char grilled Squid, Mushroom Toast, Short rib ravioli-all devoured before photos could be taken. We were well cared for, and well fed, which is really what it's all about, isn't it? Thank you Gold for the dreamy experience By the way, I am writing this review as I sit at the table....its that good read more

Portobello Gold - This was the mushroom toast, and it was so divine. I couldn't even take a picture before consuming it completely. - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I'm not really sure why this establishment is rated below four stars here on Yelp. Most bad ratings are from way back, and maybe there was a change in ownership/management or so? However, this place was a pleasant surprise on a long weekend trip to London. Visiting Portobello market in the morning and being hungry at lunch, we stopped there just by accident, which we rarely do without consulting apps like, e.g., Yelp. (Would we had checked on Yelp, we probably wouldn't have gone.) Space was rare, so we were seated at the bar area with a full-scale view of the kitchen. Dishes (I posted some photos) served in a sharing/tapas style, the menu consisting of a variety of starters, grilled vegetables, and deliciously prepped meat options. Watching the chefs preparing the food right before us made the experience even more fascinating. We ordered six plates and all of them were very delicious. The service was quick and exceptionally friendly, paying attention to every detail. Before clearing our check, we were asked by someone of the senior staff (or owner?) if we were happy with our lunch. We confirmed that all was very good; just the squid was a little chewy (but still good). To our surprise, he insisted on taking it off the bill immediately. Well, he didn't have to because we ate it and were happy, but hey, it's one more of many, many reasons to give this place a full five stars. read more

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Cozy and intimate restaurant with a bar area/lounge -- we were seated upstairs. The highlight was the chargrilled rump steak and the pasta (Braised Beef Short Rib Agnolotti). Service was great. I recommend making reservations beforehand. Would come again! read more

Food was fabulous. Upstairs dining was very comfortable. Service superb. What a lovely lunch!

Happened by on a Monday night and got seats at the bar. Very cool interior, beautiful bar. Great surprise it was fantastic. Food was great. Salad , had artichoke should've got the beet, cabbage with bagna cauda sauce, best thing ever! Chicken entree also delicious. Shared for 2 was plenty of food.. thanks to our great server, Rory, for a great night. read more

Good looking - food average at best After walking along the whole Portobello Road we were a bit thirsty and hungry. This pub looked very welcoming and the signs "fresh Oysters" made us going in. It is really nice inside - a classic pub. Lots of wood, a bit dark. We liked it. Service was fine on this pretty quiet afternoon. We ordered a glass of white wine and a pint. Salmon Sashimi and half-a dozen of Oysters with. Wine and beer were nice and cold. The Salmon Sashimi was ok. Fresh enough. The let-down were the oysters. Didn't taste that fresh and quality-wise not on top. We've been quite spoiled in Scotland and Ireland. We had some really fantastic oysters there. So after that, these here just couldn't compete. Didn't give us and problems (like stomach ache), but we just expected a bit more from the taste and quality. It's a fine place to have a pint to rest your legs a bit. But I'd leave it at the drinks and eat somewhere else. read more

Portobello Gold - Oysters and Salmon Sashimi - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

An independent pub on Portobello Road? A B&B style room for £74? The best margarita and nachos this side of the pond? An extensive tequila list? An indoor tropical paradise? Mulled wine? Attractive bar staff? An owner with charisma that would make Obama jealous? A loo that has been loved by the likes of William Jefferson Clinton? Free wi-fi? I'm just not sure what's not to love about this local gem. (Maybe that I don't live next door. Or upstairs on the roof terrace, for that matter.) I'd say that this pub on Portobello is a *must stop* full stop. Then I'd say it three times fast, because Portobello Gold is the epitome of a 5-star establishment in my book. No pomp and circumstance, just a low key local with fair prices, just enough camp to be cute, and a family feel. What's not to love? read more

Portobello Gold - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Came in with my husband one afternoon because word on the street was they had oysters in the pub. Indeed they do -- I ended up ordering the salmon sashimi and a half dozen oysters (I was dying for something actually fresh by this point in our trip). The food was really good (and you can get the oysters served in one of three styles) so I was happy with that. I was concerned about ordering raw items in a place like this (I'll explain more in a minute) but it turned out ok. We also ordered a cheese plate to share which was good as well. I do have some issues though! First, the place is downright filthy. I was excited at the prospect of sitting in the "hippie deck" in the conservatory room but when we came in and I saw how gross it was (upholstery stained, crumbs and smears all over the table) I passed on that. The circular booth just below it was even worse -- the cushions were so stained and coated with grime, it looked like the Exxon Valdez had dumped its load in there. WTF! I almost wanted to leave at that point because really, food is served here? Gahh! The floors look like they haven't been cleaned in years, there's grime caked into the corners of the walls, and the bathroom is really icky. Also, our server was incredibly slow and pretty much forgot about us. It wasn't a busy afternoon either; we were one of maybe 4 tables in the whole place. Good food, pretty good beer, but man....this place needs a douche!!!! read more

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Cheap and cheerful, with emphasis on the latter. I loved the covered back room and the plants, I liked the visit by the pub dog, and i loved the food. They served Leffe too. Mmmmmmm.. The room was TINY though, with a wall on 3 sides of the bed, and little other space. The toilet was reached by walking through the shower. Not a wet room, just a cheat on the space. I bet it would be a fun place to stay on the weekend. read more

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A lovely Sunday afternoon pub, the old style front bar in traditional wood is a small space where you can find comfy little booths and nooks and crannies to sup a pint. This area leads to a 'garden house' at the back of the bar filled with plants and palms that makes up the dining area. I haven't eaten in here but I will do, as the place looks very tempting and I hear their roasts are topnotch. They have regular music evenings, and look out for their Sunday evening sessions with a good mix of musicians and styles. read more

Portobello Gold - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Really cool place in the middle of portobello hustle and bustle. There's a cool but slightly pricey dining area that looks like how I want my living room to be when I grow up. All sunroof and giant jungle leaves everywhere. Seriously cool. But since we weren't there for the foods we ended up going back to the front of the building and through the double doors for some mulled wine. Smaller but not crowded bar area. Decent prices and nice bartenders. There's music upstairs sometimes, going to check their schedule to see what's playing next. Cool place overall. read more

I was meandering around the Portobello Road market on a warm afternoon, looking for a cozy place to cure my maladious thirst (I'm pretty sure I just made up that word). That's when I saw the sign for Portobello Gold, which I recognized instantly from the Yelp birthday party. Boom. I went in for one, ended up having two, and enjoyed it immensely. Cool decor, laid-back vibe, and plenty of choice for beer. Will most definitely be back. read more

I met the Portobello Gold clan at the Yelp birthday party and have since gone to the Pub a few times. It really is an amazing place and all the reviews in the world couldn't do it justice. I love the decor and the vibe, which is very inviting. I certainly hope some day to rent out the terrace room for some special occasion. For now, though, you can find me on the ground floor slurping tequila and enjoying the hell out of my time at Portobello Gold. read more

Ahoy! When I was told that some birthday celebrations I would be attending were to take place in the Portobello Gold, I checked the previous reviews from Yelpers and was then quite looking forward to the evening. POP! That was the sound of my bubble bursting. Upon arrival the place looked appealing; plenty of bar staff, football on the TV, garden-restaurant type bit at the back and a good atmosphere (a good amount of punters inside but certainly not crowded). From here the evening went downhill however, as not only were we herded in to the wrong area which our hostess claimed she had not reserved (we were in the middle of the pub and she had asked for, and been told she could have, an upstairs area), we were then denied a birthday cake! Yes! A birthday cake! Which was baked by the birthday girl herself and she wouldn't have brought it all this way if she had not been adamant that another group had done exactly the same thing (bring their own cake, that is) just the week before. A bar chap and a bar lady rounded on us as the cake was withdrawn and pointed out that what were doing was actually ILLEGAL! Strong words, I could smell marajuana on some punters but they were worried about a birthday cake! The law must've changed in the past week I guess. Even so, if they weren't happy about people bring their own food along (as I'm sure it isn't actually illegal, perhaps just frowned upon) a little compassion certainly goes along way as this put a bit of a downer on the birthday girl. That aside, the "good amount of punters" I referred to turned out to be the middle aged locals who felt it necessary to almost shout to each other despite being only a foot or so away from their fellow bar-propping chum. On top of that the few nice beers they had on tap cost around £5 a pint! All in all I didn't really enjoy the night that much, although I may have just been on a bad night and the Gestapo staff probably didn't help. I wouldn't rule out going back but I also wouldn't be looking forward to it if I did, peace y'all read more

If there's a more charming pub garden than the Gold's anywhere on the planet, I would like to know about it... Great vibe and the food is sensational - try the mussels, try the oysters, try it all! This place is a gem. Real beers, too. Plus an interesting mix of crusty locals and tourists. Possibly the last real pub in Notting Hill? read more

Review is of the accommodations, not the restaurant. We stayed in the Roof Terrace room and had four people. We had planned for two to sleep on the couches but, upon arrival, observed that the couches were not suitable for sleeping on given their drabby condition. The bathroom is located off of the upstairs bedroom with only a tub; no shower facilities and the toilet flushing system leaves much to be desired. Any time the toilet is flushed, it uses a pump which is quite noisy and located in the kitchen area downstairs. There is a communal toilet and shower stall on the first floor. If you are here in the summertime, note that sleeping with your windows open might be tough since the pub is right downstairs. Smokers standing in the street with their pints get quite rowdy as the evening progresses. Wi-fi was extremely spotty at best, even in the pub. There is no door on the upstairs bedroom, which offers little privacy given the loft-style. The unit appeared to have newer carpet, the linens were clean and it's a great location. The private roof top terrace almost makes up for the other inadequacies. read more

I stayed here with Mr Q a few years ago. The rooms are a great deal. The one we stayed in was pretty small but we weren't in the room much anyway. The only thing I had a hard time getting used to was the sink was inside the shower stall. I think when we first arrived I was jetlagged and I stepped up to use the sink and stubbed my toe really hard on the edge of the shower stall. Ahhh vacation adventures. The staff was quite friendly and accomodating-I believe we stayed for 7 days or so & each day we had thick toast with ginger extra jam, and a cup of tea or coffee for breakfast. The location cannot be beat if you want to be close to the Portobello Market & it was a short walk to the tube once we got our bearings. read more

Came in when hiding from the rain, to grab a couple quick drinks. After walking for ages, I was open to pretty much anywhere that had a bloody mary on the menu. As some reviews mention, its pretty grungy in here...which i'd have been ok with, if dressed more casually (which lets be serious, is never). The bartender was nice, made my boyfriend his white russian he could so rarely find in london, nice window overlooking portobello road - if it were just a bit more clean (i.e. not stained seating etc), i'd likely have enjoyed it more. Two stories and didn't venture upstairs, but all in all, cute on the outside, not quite as cute on the inside. Can't say i'd want to try oysters here per one reviewer, while i love oysters, definitely a bit sketchy of a place to be trying any seafood that virtually has to be fresh to be edible...or safe, if you don't want food poisoning.. if you like a grittier pub, this would be a good spot to try. although there were a couple outdoor tables that looked cute, were it not for the rain. read more

We just walked by here and we saw lunch course board out side. £14 course sounds good! Then step into the place. It was a bar restaurant. The server was a really friendly, appetizer(Calamari) was great! Main sausage n potato also yummy! Wow, everything was unexpected! read more

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Strange place this is: mix between a pub / cafe / restaurent. Decor is pub/kitsch/indoor garden. Service was poor; the barmaid had a face like a slapped arse! I think there are better places in Notting Hill - caters for touristsdon't bother tbh. read more

We stumbled upon this place out of the blue while on a stroll down Portobello Road. When we got in, we made our way to the back, where my friend proclaimed "Look! It's a jungle!" Indeed, they have a covered back patio (with open skylights when it's not raining) full of patio furniture, leafy trees, and even some songbirds in a large cage. It was a great atmosphere, perfect for having a drink and a chat with some friends. It was a bit cool outside at that point, but still nice, so this covered patio gave us the best of both worlds! read more

This place does not even deserve one star. They house both the most disgusting food and horrible tasting wine I have ever had in my life. The wine tasted like medicine syrup? It might have even been.... so do not order the Sauvignon blanc. I ordered the veg. fajitas they were smothered in grease and overly seasoned. My bf ordered fish & chips. The fish smelled foul and was greasy. The service was incredibly slow. The only time they came to the table promptly was when there was money on the table. I think my bf's Guinness was the only thing to go right. But for 36 pounds in all we could have paid a lot less for the one decent item. Eeeeek!! read more

I came in here for a late afternoon drink and appetizer with some friends when visiting London a couple of weeks ago and it was a great find. The front looks like any old pub, but when you go inside there's a covered patio in the back. We got some wine and the calamari appetizer. The service was a little bit slow, but they were nice so we didn't mind too much. The food was good and we loved the feel of the place, so maybe I'll be back on my next visit! read more

If you want to step away from the buzz on Portobello road and enjoy it as a bystander - this is the place. They have indoor seating, a back garden-ish area and front seating. We saw all the three and preferred the front area the best. They have some fabulous rose on the wine list. My pasta and the husband's calamari were really really good. The service staff, each and every one who interacted with us, was goofy and lost. Very friendly and apologetic nevertheless. Can sit there for hours and sip on wine. The best part was when the owner drove up the curb in this vintage open dodge car - his personality, in one sweeping glance, seemed like he lives his life to the fullest. Felt lucky to have a chance to see the car when one of the waiters said to us, "I have been working here for three months but never seen this car!" A chance spotting indeed! read more

Terrible service. We waited over an hour for our food before we called it quits. All we got for apologies was 'sorry there were a lot of customers today'. We were even charged for the little food we got! read more

I enjoyed fish and chips and a cider. Be specific about your portion size - the bartender assumed I wanted a large for L12 when I would have preferred a smaller one for L8. read more

Visited there in late July with friends. We had a late lunch and long visit and rested our feet. Waiter was great, food was delicious.

Friendly staff serving wholesome food. Cozy atmosphere with good music is affordable. read more

Portobello Gold - Bar leading into atrium - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Fixed Sunday lunch was great, well worth the price and tasty. I had the calamari and steak. My friend had the tapas and risotto. All well done and good portions and comes with a glass of wine for 12 pounds. A very nice stop we selected randomly I the Notting Hill area. Highly recommended. read more

It's not a fancy place, but neither are the prices. Excellent pub food. Best bangers and mash. Great half roast chicken. Kids loved it. £12 bottle of house Sauvignon blanc tasted much better than expected. We got to sit next to the house cat too. It moves for nobody. The service was great. Was quiet when we went in early to feed two tired kids on a Wednesday night. Lots of seating in the conservatory out back. A Portobello Road institution. read more

My wife and I stopped in to the Portobello Gold at the recommendation of a friend on our trip to London. I couldn't have been happier about it! Our server Alex, was really friendly and took the time to make us feel "at home" despite how busy it was. I ordered the Wild Boar sausages, and haven't stopped telling my friends at home how great they were. Probably one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. I can't recommend it enough. read more

This is a really nice pub/restaurant with a warm and friendly vibe. The Bar staff are friendly and helpful, its full but not packed and the tables are huge which is great for squeezing in big groups of people. There were plenty of available tables when I went on a Saturday. The drinks selection isn't massive but they have lots of less common brands and the ones I tried were all very good. The food selection is great but it is expensive so eat beforehand if your not keen on splashing out for dinner. They have a very good selection of mussels cooked in a variety of ways so if you're a mussels fan then it's a must. read more

Very nice Pub who serve up a fantastic Guinness I should know as I drink it by the bucket loads lol.. But on a serious note a must try

On a slow night when you have lots of elbow room it is quite a good pick for a quiet pint and something to read or write. Full of characters but destined to be turned into all bar one or Pizza Hut once the chain-ification of Portobello Road is completed (in time for the Olympics). read more

We were spending a few hours wandering around Portobello Markets and went into the pub for a quick lunch. It was a genuine "Fawlty Towers" experience. After sitting for some time waiting for service, my husband went to order drinks and food at the bar only to be chastised by the waiter as to correct restaurant etiquette. He told us that we were to sit and wait for our order to be taken as it was a restaurant and "you sit and wait, as we control you not you controlling us". So we were off to an interesting start! The garden courtyard was shabby and the cushions in some areas very dirty. We ordered the Angus beef burger and the Boar sausages with mash. These took nearly 40 minutes to arrive (after our initial wait to order) and were okay, but nothing spectacular. We were not the only ones to receive the Basil Fawlty treatment and we overheard gems such as: to a group of German tourists who had waited 30 minutes to order food (as the waiter refused to take the drinks and food orders at the same time) - "I have lots and lots of other people to serve. I will come back and take your order when I am ready to take your order". To two Spanish women with very little English - "When Spanish people speak to me in Spanish, I speak to them in English". They needed some help with the menu, but this was not going to happen. When this waiter did speak to them he did so as if they were deaf or mentally defective. He was later assisted by a young waitress who when asked the difference between the large fish 'n chips and the small fish'n chips replied: "I couldn't say because I don't know metric measurement". Not really sure what question she thought that was the answer to. The outdoor area is very shabby and could do with a good scrub, but we spent the afternoon chuckling over the very very strange service experience. There are however, much nicer and probably more friendly, pubs further down the road. read more

Exotic decor, a mix between oriental/asian restaurant and English pub. The service was extremely poor, I would not recommend going there. We waited one hour to get our food served, one waitress was very rude. It's a place for tourists don't go during the weekend, not worth it. read more

I've been an on/off regular at the Gold since the early '90's when I lived round the corner on Chepstow Villas. Its a one of a kind original notting hill stylee hang out. This was where Daniel Craig worked behind the bar back in the day and where Bill Clinton popped in for a pint when he was the most powerful man in the world. The people in the bar are an eclectic mix of the old and new portobello and its a great place to bump into people who you haven't seen for years. The restaurant is magical - a real tropical garden vibe and there are nooks and crannies to hide away with someone special. The wine list is extensive with some really good choices. And there is also a full cocktail list! The Gold is rightly famous for its oysters but my fave dish over the years has to be the nachos! There is also wifi and you can even move in and stay upstairs. All in all The Gold is a legend and a must stop when your in the area! read more

As a local I have been coming to this place for the last twenty years. It has won the Time Out best pub in area award for several years and deservedly so. The food and wines are good too. Great atmosphere and prices that are very reasonable. Definitely worth a visit. read more

I went for Sunday lunch yesterday with my friend, we both had hazy fond memories of a great atmosphere and good food. How bitterly disappointing to find neither. On a warm Sunday afternoon, we had expected to find the place buzzing but instead the bar staff were intrenched in a cosy clique of, I suppose, regulars and we had to try hard to get served. My friend had the lamb roast dinner and I just had a starter of deep fried squid. The roast dinner looked OK on first glance but gave way to cold, tough, tasteless meat, solid potatoes that must have been sat warming all day, insipid veg and gloopy gravy. The yorkshire pudding seemed to made out of some sort of bread mix and was deeply unpleasant. My squid was just horribly depressing. Small, cold, flaccid, tasteless rings sat on a bed of limp salad leaves and served with cucumber dip. Why?? We would have complained if we thought it would have done any good but this seemed to be standard fare. With a coke and a soda water we got less than £3 change out of thirty quid. A trip down memory lane that most certainly left a nasty taste in the mouth. Am local but would NEVER go back. What a shame! read more