The brainy bunch behind Flat Iron Square have opened food and drink hub Goods Way, and it’s high time you visited.
London certainly isn’t short of street food markets, that’s for sure. But not many of them can combine delicious food options with live music, a cracking basement cocktail bar, and Mississippi Delta-influenced vibes that make an evening hangout here about the closest you’ll get to New Orleans in London. We’re talking about Kings Cross hangout Goods Way, one of the hottest new spots in town, albeit one which didn’t get off to the easiest start in life…
Yes, Goods Way had the unfortunate distinction of opening a mere week before London shut down at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and a comeback attempt in October 2020 was similarly stymied by another lockdown and the tier system. That also forced the cancellation of scheduled gigs from Blossoms, Grouplove, Jack Penate, Liz Lawrence, and others, all of which were ready to ably demonstrate the sheer excellence of Goods Way and its live music offerings. Still, what doesn’t kill you simpler makes you stronger, and Goods Way reopened to the public in June, with a determination to bring top cocktails and delicious street food to Kings Cross long-term.
An all-day culinary space that takes “inspiration and influence from the vibrancy and energy of New Orleans”, Goods Way offers a treasure trove of delights – most evidently in the form of Sweetwater, a fantastic saloon-style cocktail bar which channels the easy-livin’, easy-sippin’ lifestyle of the bayou. It was the last part of Goods Way to fully reopen after the pandemic, and we recently got the chance to pop along and check it out.
In short: Sweetwater did not disappoint, bringing Louisiana to life with southern US speakeasy charms, vintage fixings, a cigar bar, and a brilliant menu full of inventive cocktails. The ‘Evening Shade’ – flavoured with whisky, peach puree, and lime – was an early favourite, but by the night’s end, the ‘Watermelon Man’ had captured our hearts, with the smoky-sweet blend of tequila, mescal, and watermelon syrup enough to sway our vote.
Sweetwater and its excellent drinks menu may be the place to make a beeline for, but don’t miss the chance to explore Goods Way properly. Those highly-anticipated music nights are already filling up brand new gig venue Lafayette, with Demae and Guvna B amongst the acts to appear recently. Meanwhile, there are some fantastic food traders in residence to nourish you too. Breddos Tacos and The Duck Truck are strong options, whilst the site also houses New York‘s acclaimed Sushi on Jones, plant-based boffs Temple of Seitan, and British tapas queens Pomelo, from the team behind legendary London restaurant, Lupins.
Following in the footsteps of its sister venue Flat Iron Square, Goods Way hopes to become a popular year-round hub – serving up excellent street food and top drinks. It’s in part the brainchild of Ben Lovett, a founding member of Venue Group and, incidentally, Mumford & Sons. Lovett says of his decision to bring together the worlds of good food and great music: “In a world that seems increasingly obsessed with perception over substance, or digital over analogue, there are few more honest experiences than live music and eating fresh food from a small, independent and passionate operator.” We are, of course, more than willing to give that a try!
Filled as it is with a carefully curated array of music, food, and cocktails, Goods Way is shaping up as a dreamy destination for Londoners looking for nights of NOLA-inspired good times…