Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote, "'Golden Hour' has a winning formula: semi-rapped verses full of romantic observations and modern music references, boiling into an enormous, crooned-from-the-gut chorus.

Jvke, to his credit, nails the push-pull at the heart of the song—nimble enough to sound nonchalant during the lead-up, then giving his absolute all on the hook — while the racing piano line beneath him is a memorable piece of production that simultaneously doesn't distract from the vocal take."

Other Billboard writers called the song an "incredibly well-crafted, fresh-sounding, lush pop ballad by a prodigious singer-songwriter, with a frantic piano hook, soaring vocals, ornate production, majestic presentation and a sense of orchestral drama.

[2] George Griffiths of the Official Charts Company described the song as a "tender piano ballad with a succinct hip-hop influence, that sees JVKE recount the hopeful blossoming of a relationship.

Remixes were also released by Illenium & Nurko, Jungle, Ruel, Anton Powers, Shirley Setia, Henry Lau, A7S, blond, Leon Leiden, Vertile, Fujii Kaze, minLee, R3HAB, Seven Kayne, and SB19.