The Castle (Bar)

The Castle is situated bang in the middle of Portobello Market providing a steady stream of guaranteed punters. Its warm décor and comfy seats means that once you are in, it may be difficult to leave, especially on a cool Autumn afternoon.

The Castle has an open kitchen so you can watch the chef cook your pasta, (there isn’t much else available). Drink wise there is a range of wines, champagnes, bottles, spirits and draft beer on offer, (surprisingly no cocktails).

There is a funky, up beat rhythm to the Castle with its neutral and contrasting maroon colours. It has plenty of modern lights that keep the bar adequately but not over lit. There is plenty of seating and lots of big, slightly tinted windows to gaze through, alongside the oil paintings for sale hanging on the maroon walls. At night there are candles scattered around the bar which add to the ambience.

The Castle is quite a reserved, pleasant place and it does ask for smart dress only, although it does not seem to stick to the dress code too strictly. The bar staff are welcoming but can be abrupt once it gets busy.

This pub is in the perfect location for a civilised dinner or lunch and has tables that are more secluded for intimate gatherings. It is quiet in the early evenings but due to its position it gets busy later on at night.

The clientele include a lot of locals but also those that have chanced upon the place, although it would be hard to miss.

The Castle does not offer anything that cannot be found anywhere else but it does present it professionally and in a very appealing manner. Worth a visit if you are in the area and looking for a nice place with a lively twist....read more