Victorian inspired restaurant and cocktail bar.
Hoxley & Porter
British Restaurant in Islington
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All In London Review
Bar, cocktail room and restaurant done up like Gatsby's lair...
As stated, Hoxley and Porter is stationed on Upper Street and will surely appeal to the well-heeled locals around these parts. It feels somewhat like entering a first class train carriage on the Orient Express when you walk down the narrow corridor entrance. The glass to your side is covered in gold etching and the tables are lined up to give an illusion of luxury living. We like that – but that area is reserved for those who want to sit down and eat. We don’t so we head to into Jay Gatsby’s lush dark lair at the back where indoor foliage, art deco wallpaper, Tiffany lamps and low leather armchairs create a striking look.
Some might accuse the bar-cum-restaurant of pastiche but we’d imagine they would still be happy to recline in the stylish space with cocktail in hand. Which brings us to our only problem with the place. Irritatingly penned prose on cocktail menus seems to be a ‘thing’ in London. Hoxley and Porter try it and it leaves us cringing. A simple list of drinks will do, personality doesn’t need inserting into menus. Still, the drinks are better than their descriptions. We enjoy the Rum Bongo – a daiquiri made with rum, lime, sugar and goji berry juice – as well as the ‘Chipotle off the Old Block’ (see what we mean), which heated us up with its mix of gin, sugar, albumen, lemon juice and chilli bitters.
If you are inclined to sit down and eat – and there is no reason why you shouldn’t in such a sweet little space – then you can expect steak frites, rack of pork and seared venison along with less meaty choices.
It may have dashes of pretentiousness within that menu but we can shrug that off. The style of the place is much more important, which is where it succeeds.
Reviewed by T.A.O
Published on Jul 1, 2014
User Reviews
LondonCityCycling
Jun 18, 2014
I thought this place was going to be extremely pretentious the first time I visited - it wasn't. Great decor - a sort of art deco railway carriage of a place. We had a couple of cocktails and some beers and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Will be back for sure.
the good londoner
Mar 4, 2014
The look is of a colonial first-class railway station waiting room -lots of palms, ziggurat-style tiling, club chairs, that sort of thing.
The cocktail list emphasizes gin and rum, and the drinks are served in expensive-feeling and heavy crystal. I had a ‘Scarab’s Toddy’ with Laphroaig, Benedictine, honey, lemon and stout and an off-menu Old Fashioned, made with Nikka Japanese whisky and H&P’s own homemade bitters. Both were really well done.
The cocktails are really well priced for the quality you get. There’s a large wine list too, and a carefully chosen selection of beers.
The cocktail list emphasizes gin and rum, and the drinks are served in expensive-feeling and heavy crystal. I had a ‘Scarab’s Toddy’ with Laphroaig, Benedictine, honey, lemon and stout and an off-menu Old Fashioned, made with Nikka Japanese whisky and H&P’s own homemade bitters. Both were really well done.
The cocktails are really well priced for the quality you get. There’s a large wine list too, and a carefully chosen selection of beers.
Nigel Hankin
from Crouch End
from Crouch End
Sep 13, 2013
Just popped in for drink while waiting for a table at Ottolenghi and loved the atmosphere, the decor and the service. Will definitely go back to try the food.
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