Lovely bar, well hidden, in the midst of the bustling Portobello Street market. Worth seeking out! read more

Portobello Star - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Ginstitute class is a truly impressive experience satisfying the adult needs of any true Sensuist. **well worth the price **great gift idea, make special memories with loved ones Backdrop of first session, a classy gorgeous dark-wooded, candle-lit room finished out with literature displays, collectible bottles and stunning mirror masterpieces paying worthy tribute to the glitz of gin palaces gone bye. Very sexy ambience complimenting a genuine & comprehensive tale detailing the arts, literature, politics, social, & economic times of lifestyle through the history of gin, given by instructor Jake Burger, whose intellect, wit, professionalism, expertise & individual care stimulate any interesting & curious mind. The romantic details of his glamorously seedy tale touch the feminine wiles of ladies and passionate prowess of any man's soul. The frosting of the class is flowing to the mixing room where Jake talks nerdy & interesting science of distilling. Each guest smells & examines many ingredients from which they get to choose & create their own custom recipe. Holiday buzz drove me to choose cubbed berries, cardamom, cinnamon, casio, nutmeg (loved end product so much and can't wait to experiment with gingerbread, vanilla, eggnog mixers). Another fellow from Spain went for a peppery savory mix which sounded delicious (I almost switched to cheat off his recipe). A few refreshing gin drinks, good company and jokes later, you depart the class with 2 bottles gin in your hands and that undeniable molecule of splendor and excitement for the 'night to come' arcing in the air as you enjoy another drink downstairs at the fun nice bar with your new classmate friends. ****Be sure and read the entire Portobello Star menu. It's a masterpiece and forced me to drink my way through it. Something for everyone. I especially enjoyed the Tommy's margarita, Guinness Punch, and a warm drink (can't recall title of drink but included a mans name). I never got to try the Grasshopper Shake but alas there's hope for one day. Note- Jake F Burger is an intoxicating expert charting the map of my tongue and various other organs. Ladies beware, and gentlemen too. read more

The Portobello Star is an award winning cocktail bar on Portobello Road in Notting Hill that is well worth a visit. Cosy décor and a relaxed atmosphere it's the perfect place to chill out with a cocktail and one of their famous home made chocolate brownies. With a recently updated cocktail menu, the Portobello Star offers a wide range of unique and classic drinks created by award winning mixologist, Jake Burger. If you have a sweet tooth, like me, try The Guinness Punch - a Caribbean drink made with white rum, Guinness Stout, condensed milk, vanilla, all spice, cocoa and cinnamon, served up in a pewter tankard. Rock the Kasbah is one of Jake's own creations - a cocktail which was created for the Eva Herzegovia designed bar at the Annual Character & Cocktails fundraising event, in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Made up with vodka, lemon juice, mint tea syrup, orange flower water and egg white - £1.00 from each sale goes to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Every drink is made carefully to perfection making your visit feel even more special. If you fancy splashing out, Jake can whip up a Brandy Crusta which will set you back £100. A cocktail made to the original recipe by Harry Johnson in 1882 that includes one of the last surviving Bokers Bitters. "The only bar in the world where you can enjoy such a treat". If cocktails aren't to your taste the Portobello Star has a wide range of beers and wines to suit your taste. Also if a bit peckish try their home-made comfort food. The chocolate brownies are a must! read more

Portobello Star - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This place is what Charlie Sheen would refer to as #winning. Unlike Charlie Sheen, however, this place would kick some serious ass in stand-up comedy. The don't-give-a-flyin'-flip, hipster atmosphere is a blessing and a curse. Because really, is there anything better than watching shitfaced hipsters prance about the bar singing Ladyhawke, while trying to achieve the unachievable: looking cool and trying to keep themselves upright simultaneously. The head bartender knows his stuff. The drinks are something else. We tried the margarita--mmm. The three-toed sloth was all sorts of whisky goodness (and I can imagine better than the one Tom Cruise made in the movie, "Cocktail"). The negroni was a little heavy on the Campari, and he didn't have the grapefruit juice for a Hemingway, but all was forgiven when the all sorts of girly beverage known as the Bishop's Sin--I think, but if not, very close to some holy figure and sinning--came sliding across the bar. It tasted kinda like a banana daiquiri and made me feel like I should have been scorching my opaque skin in the sun of South Beach. The best part of the evening had to be when water started leaking from the ceiling down one of the speakers and onto the red banquette along the wall. In all fairness the bar staff was swamped, but they could have at least tried to get it under control, maybe just with a bucket or something. Instead, they just let it go. Really topped off the atmosphere of the place nicely. read more

I went here with a BIG group after a BIG day of drinking and rounders in the park. I think the bartenders put up with us very well, considering we were pretty obnoxious as a group. However, I thought it was really funny/not-so-funny when my friends tried to eat some chips they'd gotten from across the street and were shunned upstairs to some small room because, "It smells like a fryer in here" said one of the bartenders.... Hmmmm. read more

Come with a date or a couple friends for a great cocktail at a decent price (~£8-12). It's pretty small so, might not be the best place to come with a large group unless you reserve the table at the back beforehand. But the drinks are delicious and the menu is quite extensive (personally a fan of the 'Dirty Mermaid' - maybe because I like the name). It's really one of the better date spots in Notting Hill if you want to avoid a pub. The crowd is great and there are small tables to sit at with your date. Also, more importantly the music selection is one of the best (ranging from 'Build Me Up Buttercup' to Biz Markie's 'Just a Friend'). And before I forget, the bartenders are great! They're fun and very very good at making any cocktail you could want. So swing by if you're in the neighbourhood it's one of those places where everything comes together for a great time. read more

If ever in the area, and in need of a real cocktail, Portobello Star, home of Portobello Gin, is a great place to start. Set right in the heart of the famous market street, Star (and by day, The Ginstitue, where you can bottle and blend your own gin!) overseen by bar tending legend Jake Burger has a great selection of cocktails, classic and some really interesting modern twists, including a real mermaid, and a slushy Miami Vice! The menu itself is a work of art, gold trimmed, well written, intriguing facts and overall something you might want to accidentally take home with you! The back bar is well, well, well stocked with a huge range of gins (naturally), good selection of rum , tequila, whisky etc., too much to choose! Look our for the £100 cocktail with some of the rarest Bitters on earth, it's like drinking history. The only downside would be staff, not looking over smart or that interested in looking after their guest, but this is made up for by the quality of the drinks! A must!! read more

love the neighborhood. only just started exploring around here. It seems a little out of place for the rest of the surrounding poshiness (I like to call it). But that's a good thing. Their drink menu looked delicious and was filled to the brim with way too many drinks that I wanted at the same time. So I asked for a brandy sidecar. I know a good one when I taste it so I wanted to see what they could do. Pretty darn good I must say. The tenders were a bit un-attending. But I think that was just part of the decor. And they were playing the most ghetto fabulous music. read more

I'll be back to try the cocktails, but for an afternoon coffee it's excellent. Not busy, chilled atmosphere and good taste in music. Excellent espresso. read more

Portobello Star - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Earl Grey Martini. Enough said. This gin-based drink lures me back weekly so I can sip on the frothy egg white and tea-infused delicacy. The original version of the cocktail was created at the Pegu Club in Manhattan, and this one is a true testament to the celebrity of Pegu. The cocktail menu alone is also worth the visit. It's detailed description of the drinks and background history make you feel so much more connected with what you're drinking. There are many cocktails to choose from up anyone's alley, and at about 7 pounds a pop they are also the best value in the hood. The music is always totally hip and as are the young clientele. This is actually the one place in the 'hill where I see actual, live, young British folk! No yummy mummy to be seen here, and I'm happy the secret is still safe. read more

I'm really surprised I only recently visited Portobello Star for the first time. I've passed by it a zillion times. It's a really nice space with a couple of brilliant bartenders (or at least they were working some real cocktail magic the night I was there). I'd go back and wouldn't be afraid to bring around my more finicky friends. read more

If BarChick were picking teams then Jake Burger would be first choice: this guy is a bar wizard. He has nailed it at the Portobello Star by turning this old Notting Hill pub into a classic cocktail tavern. Seriously BUFF looking crowd, and you never know who'll be there when you go. Occasionally it's quiet, but more often than not it's kicking off. BarChick went for a quick one, but found herself man down 4 hours later. Always got music playing - plenty of old school classics - and they get the DJ down on weekends. Most importantly, Jake and his crew know how to make a good cocktail; the best in fact. They're all good, but we loved Tommy's Margharita and the Sally Cinnamon. The P.S. We Love You is epic, served with a swinging lampshade as well. You'll probably bump into BarChick there! read more

it seems silly to write an update and give it the sane rating as before, but its true! i have since moved out of the area and hardly go back, but when i do i make a point to stop in and get a drink - i mean say hi. but really its one in the same. the bartenders have changed a little and Jake is there a ilttle less, but the cast is still an amazing group of very talented bartenders. its really a local spot with people flowing in and out saying hello to friends, grabing a quick drink, a tease, a hug, a shot. i miss living across the road. this is really one of a kind. read more

What a treat this was! For 110 GBP (or about $150 USD) one gets a 3 hour "tour" of the history of gin, 6? (I lost count!) generously poured (strong) gin cocktails, a bottle of the house Portobello gin AND a custom made bottle of your own concoction! The guide (Kevin? - a young Buddy Holly look alike) was fun, knowledgeable and patient with all our questions which I'm sure he's all heard before. We had to book 6 months in advance - well worth it. If you like gin, you'll love attending The Ginstitute, "Gin Blending Experience" at the Portobello Star. read more

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Jake Burger and company have carved out one of the best Cocktail bars in London, with an absolutely stellar menu and some of the friendliest bartenders around. read more

Took the ginstitute class with my buddy and it was awesome. Definitely one of the high points of our trip to London. I don't know many people that can say they went home with their own blend of gin! Would do again if I come back to London read more

Busy, buzzy place. Cool cocktails and not pretentious. Staff could be a tad warmer but maybe that's just the hipsters vibe...

This bar does excellent and creative cocktails. Though it was crowded when my date and I arrived, we were able to get seats by the bar. It was a little stuffy, however, so I wouldn't recommend layering up for this particular venue. read more

I had been wanting to go to this place for quite some time. The sign outside claiming it was the "Ginstitute" was terribly misleading. Not only do they not have many gin based drinks, but they make them horribly. I ordered a dirty martini with their house made gin with high hopes. It tasted like cleaning product and my friend and I didn't even finish them and moved on. The venue itself is small but luckily has air conditioning which many places in the area do not have. The bathroom is up a small moldy smelly staircase and was extremely dirty for it being a Monday evening with no one but us in the bar. Overall, I would steer clear, their gin is terrible, and their cocktail making skills are seriously lacking. For a fantastic martini, simply walk down the street to the First Floor bar, they make a killer one there, and its cheaper! read more

I liked this spot. Although I was here on a Monday night when it was pretty quiet, and although I was being wooed with free promotional rum (http://timinator.wordpress.com/2008/11/12/elements-8-a-rum-do/) , it felt relaxed. It was modern, sharp and simple, yet comfortable and easygoing. The bar staff seemed like nice chaps. A good choice for a casual non-pubby bar along Portobello Road. read more

Great evening at The Ginstitue. Learnt a lot about the history and production of gin. The staff are very helpful and proud of their business. We definitely go again read more

What a terrific dive bar in London. Tucked snugly away along Portobello Road my wife and I popped into this ace establishment and consumed several scrumptious Tom Collins made with the Portobello Road 171 house gin which is simply smooth, fresh and full of juniper. The atmosphere was cosy, intimate and had a vibrant crowd who all seemed equally pleased with their experience. I would recommend getting there a bit early before the late crowd shows up and I would also strongly suggest trying their gin and tonic served with an orange peel. If you are with a large crowd, this might not be the best place to hit up, but with a group of 5-10 you will be more than fine, although you might not have seating. The bar area is narrow, but deep. Keep in mind that the bar is charged ridiculous amounts of fees if you want to drink/sit outside so if this option isn't available, don't blame it on 'The Star', blame it on the government. This bar is hands down 5 stars as you will not find such a quality, upscale, hole in the wall pub anywhere else in the city. If you are looking for an exclusive feel without being ambushed by pretentious knobs, you just found your home away from home. read more

this is a lovely little, relaxed bar in notting hill. they have wine on tap which is fun.

Great experience.Friendly Service. I had three different drinks and they were all tasty. My favourite being the Talented Mr. Kipley. It's like a milkshake! read more

I will never drink in this bar again! I was totally shocked by the behaviour of the bar staff when I went there last Saturday, they were so arogant - downing shots behind the bar instead of serving the queues of people waiting. There was one female member of staff in particular who was drunk, extremely rude and abusive to customers - even the bouncer apologised for her behaviour! Don't waste your time drinking here! read more

Nice little place unfortunately the drinks were slightly expensive for what they were, the staff were really rude and made our drinks incorrectly then refused to make us new ones. Shame because it would have been a great place apart from this. read more

Appalling service. I recently visited the stablishment and noticed that the price that was being charged consistently for drinks was not the price marked on the drinks menu. I mentioned that to the waiter and indicated that legally they are bound to charge the customer only the price as marked on the menu. To that he replied that those prices were only a 'guideline' and that the increased VAT was not included in the price. I mentioned that there is no such reference to that on the menu and that they should either charge the price as marked or update the menu. I did manage to pay the price as marked once but was subsequently refused service due to my complaints about the price. Aside from the refusal of service, the charging higher prices than those advertised on menus, the service and treatment I received was appalling and as such I would not visit it again. Avoid. read more

cocktails here are some of the best i've ever had. the earl grey martini is the highlight - magical.