Montgomery Place, Notting Hill Bar Review
31 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2EU
Strolling down the side streets off Portobello, Notting Hill, on a Tuesday evening, the understated yet classy look of Montgomery Place signage lured me in for a drink. I had an hour to kill before dinner, so why not?!
Décor and Ambience
Stepping into Montgomery Place is like being transported into a low-lit, warm drinking den from the 1920/50s. The busy and bustling Notting Hill streets were now a distant memory and many decades away! The beautiful drinks bar flanks the right hand side with a mirrored back and the alcohol bottles gleaming and sparkling like polished diamonds. Old horns and trumpets hang over-head and even account for some of the lighting. The dark wood floor and dark wooden furniture instantly cocoon you in. The inspiration for the bar is the 1920/50s per-se, with clear Parisian, Cuban, London and New York influences. Think Hemmingway, the Rat Pack, The Ritz and Cuban Revolution. This era of prohibition is backed up by display cabinets housing old bottles of booze and 1920s rhetoric. At the front of the bar are comfy communal couches as well as some high chairs and tables. As you walk through the narrow bar the space opens up to more communal leather seating and american diner-esque booths. Candle light flickers the faces of those illegal incumbents about to pick their tipple for the night.
Montgomery Place's simple but sharp sign to welcome you in
Atmosphere and Clientele
Montgomery Place was scattered with young professionals probably falling out of the offices nearby. However there were also young couples and a few groups of tourists who had clearly ignored the Lonely Planet and veered slightly off Portobello Road (lucky them!). The bar is not big but as the different groups descend into their own candle-lit discussions you don't really notice people around you. There is a warm up tempo buzz of people chatting, laughing and toe taping to the infectious sound track. The one constant is the delightfully loud clacking sound reverberating from the firm beat of the barman 's cocktail shaker.
The fabulous trumpet, brass band inspired lighting
Food and Drinks
If the incentive decor, warm welcome and overall transportation to the global 1920s/50s don't grab your attention, then the cocktail and food menu will. The cocktail list is expansive to say the least with Montgomery originals, inspirations from around the globe and the eras that the bar leans towards. The menu is segmented to help; eg Citrus or Gin. I sampled a 'Relight my fire' which was a blend of Rum, ginger licquor, vanilla sugar and fresh chilli. I was warned that it "is served with a kick". Luckily the waitress didn't boot me in the head, instead I was served a simply divine concoction; the perfect blend of flavour, heat and alcohol. Delicious! Cocktails range between the happily affordable and splash the cash at £8.75 - £10.25. Worth it? Yes. The food menu is equally as tempting with a mixture of American, Cuban and European; anything from a NYC Burger to popcorn prawns and crab and lobster cakes. Prices range from a very reasonable £5.80 to £7.50.
The claking of the cocktail shaker with the bejewelled, mirrored drinks bar
Music
By know you can tell I'm probably enjoying my transportation back in time. The soundtrack in Montgomery Place is the icing on the beautifully decorated cake. While it is a mish-mash of styles, that can be difficult to keep up with, the music perfectly matches the bar; Rat Pack, Latino, Cuban hip shakers and 20s swing. It acts as the perfect backdrop to enable you to chat easily while adding to the atmosphere. I know my toe didn't stop tapping all night!
The front interior of Montgomery Bar
In Summary
Montgomery Place is a perfectly executed cocktail bar and one of the best in Notting Hill, if not, London: Thoughtful and authentic decor, divine drinks and warm and friendly staff. Perfect for after work drinks, catch ups with mates or a lucky date. I was just delighted I decided to have that pre dinner cocktail and would have preferred to forget my plans and sample the rest of the menu. I will be back though!
Budget: Happily affordable / Splash the cash
Pre-designs: impressing your date, after work drinks, cute and cosy
Service: 5/5
Montgomery Place designmynight rating:
For further information on Montgomery Place, including user reviews, opening times, food menus, drink prices and bookings, please click here.
