A 1930s Lloyds bank in Notting Hill Gate has been converted into an all-day Lebanese brasserie with a dramatic triple-height dining room. Opening on 1st June, it is called Kinz – appropriately, ‘treasure’ in Arabic.
The team behind the project includes Rasha Khouri Bruzzo (co-owner of the highly regarded Palestinian restaurant Akub, around the corner in cute Hillgate Village) and brothers Jad and Karim Lahoud.
Kinz incorporates a deli for house-made spice mixes, olive oil and pastrieso, and the former bank vault is transformed into a dedicated wine room with snug dining nooks and tasting tables. Above a canopied cocktail bar, there’s an arched mezzanine where diners can look down over the room, and there is an intimate private dining area on the upper level.
Rasha says: “We’re incredibly excited to bring KINZ to life in Notting Hill Gate. The project is rooted in the food and traditions I grew up with – the small details, rituals and flavours that are passed down at home rather than written down. KINZ takes its name from the Arabic word for ‘treasure’ and is our tribute to those treasures: cherished recipes, generous cooking and the spirit of Lebanese food as it’s meant to be shared today. It’s a place designed to feel as natural for everyday visits as it does for long, lingering meals.”
Jad Lahoud adds: “Growing up in London, Karim and I were surrounded by a strong Lebanese community and the food that defines it. With parents who were both chefs, those flavours shaped how we eat and cook today. KINZ is our way of bringing the spirit of Lebanon to London, not just through the food, but through the atmosphere, the design and every considered detail.”
The Lebanon-heavy wine list has been put together by regional wine expert Nicolas Angelina, sourced primarily from independent wineries and priced from £8 per glass and £30 per bottle.