Keith's Notting Hill Guidebook
Food scene
Ladbroke Arms
54 Ladbroke RoadGreat food / great pub / book early for Sunday roast
Electric Cinema
191 Portobello RdGreat breakfast / great food / best cinema in London !
Mike's Cafe
12 Blenheim CresGreat breakfast - Notting Hill institution.
Ottolenghi
Best cakes in London / great food …
The River Café
Rainville RoadOne of the best restaurants in West London … on the Thames
OXO Tower Restaurant
Barge House StreetOne of the best restaurants in London with a view !!
Julies Restaurant
Notting Hill institution. Great food and atmosphere.
The Pelican is a pub founded by friends Phil Winser, James Gummer, Ritchie Squire and chef Owen Kenworthy. The Pelican is fast gaining a reputation for serving up the best of British produce. It really is a warm-hearted local treasure. There is also a great private room upstairs with a roaring fire where popular game nights are held. Their signature starters, roasted bone-marrow mince on toast and potted shrimps are properly delicious. The chicken and mushroom pie with a side of smoky chips is perfect. By the time you get round to dessert, baked plums in custard and a salty chocolate mousse, you’ll already be planning your next visit.
The Pelican
The Pelican is a pub founded by friends Phil Winser, James Gummer, Ritchie Squire and chef Owen Kenworthy. The Pelican is fast gaining a reputation for serving up the best of British produce. It really is a warm-hearted local treasure. There is also a great private room upstairs with a roaring fire where popular game nights are held. Their signature starters, roasted bone-marrow mince on toast and potted shrimps are properly delicious. The chicken and mushroom pie with a side of smoky chips is perfect. By the time you get round to dessert, baked plums in custard and a salty chocolate mousse, you’ll already be planning your next visit.
Dorian by Chris D’Sylva is a neighbourhood bistro on the lesser-known Talbot Road, serving “the kind of accessible real food you want to eat”. Dorian offers “British bistro food” – steaks, sea bass, chicken-liver parfait, guinea fowl, duck, grouse, oysters – which are prepared on an open grill. D’Sylva says he named his restaurant Dorian because, like its namesake in Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray, it will be “a little bit naughty”.
Dorian Restaurant
Dorian by Chris D’Sylva is a neighbourhood bistro on the lesser-known Talbot Road, serving “the kind of accessible real food you want to eat”. Dorian offers “British bistro food” – steaks, sea bass, chicken-liver parfait, guinea fowl, duck, grouse, oysters – which are prepared on an open grill. D’Sylva says he named his restaurant Dorian because, like its namesake in Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray, it will be “a little bit naughty”.
Secret Sandwich Shop, is a nightclub by night, by day it sells Japanese wanpaku sandwiches - a tiny gem hidden behind the green, red and gold façade of The Globe. One of London’s longest-running clubs, it was opened in the ’60s by Roy Stewart, a Jamaican actor and bodybuilder. It has since undergone many incarnations. In the ’90s Fergus Henderson cooked from a tiny stove for regulars like Lucian Freud and his daughters. Today sees it in the stylish hands of Robie Uniacke. While still a nightclub by night, by day it sells Japanese wanpaku sandwiches. Uniacke lived for a time in Japan; he and his wife, the creative director Lowell Delaney, became obsessed by the light-as-a-feather, fluffy Japanese shokupan bread – fermented for three days – that never left them feeling heavy. By chance they discovered a Japanese master baker in Shepherd’s Bush and the result is another pandemic-born success story. The sandwiches are enormous. My personal favourite is the Crispy Greens, made from layers of French beans, avocado, pickles and cucumber, with a layer of salt and vinegar McCoys crisps and a topping of crispy shallots, all dressed in a house basil mayo. It’s unbelievably delicious.
Secret Sandwich Shop
Secret Sandwich Shop, is a nightclub by night, by day it sells Japanese wanpaku sandwiches - a tiny gem hidden behind the green, red and gold façade of The Globe. One of London’s longest-running clubs, it was opened in the ’60s by Roy Stewart, a Jamaican actor and bodybuilder. It has since undergone many incarnations. In the ’90s Fergus Henderson cooked from a tiny stove for regulars like Lucian Freud and his daughters. Today sees it in the stylish hands of Robie Uniacke. While still a nightclub by night, by day it sells Japanese wanpaku sandwiches. Uniacke lived for a time in Japan; he and his wife, the creative director Lowell Delaney, became obsessed by the light-as-a-feather, fluffy Japanese shokupan bread – fermented for three days – that never left them feeling heavy. By chance they discovered a Japanese master baker in Shepherd’s Bush and the result is another pandemic-born success story. The sandwiches are enormous. My personal favourite is the Crispy Greens, made from layers of French beans, avocado, pickles and cucumber, with a layer of salt and vinegar McCoys crisps and a topping of crispy shallots, all dressed in a house basil mayo. It’s unbelievably delicious.
Layla Bakery, is a one-minute walk from Golborne Road just beside Portobello market. Founded by Tessa Faulkner, it has an airy Brooklyn vibe with white walls and wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, and, outside on the wide pavement, a bank of trestle tables. Everything is made on site in an open kitchen filled with friendly young bakers preparing croissants topped with a perfect crisp, cinnamon- and cardamom-spiced babka and unctuous cheese toasties. The produce invariably sells out, so get there before lunchtime. Expect to find a dusting of young screenwriters and novelists cradling their locally roasted coffees and tapping at their laptops.
Layla on Portobello Road is a particular favourite for its pistachio pain au chocolats. Tourists have been known to base trips to London around sampling his charred flatbreads and freshly fried donuts.
Layla Bakery
332 Portobello RdLayla Bakery, is a one-minute walk from Golborne Road just beside Portobello market. Founded by Tessa Faulkner, it has an airy Brooklyn vibe with white walls and wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, and, outside on the wide pavement, a bank of trestle tables. Everything is made on site in an open kitchen filled with friendly young bakers preparing croissants topped with a perfect crisp, cinnamon- and cardamom-spiced babka and unctuous cheese toasties. The produce invariably sells out, so get there before lunchtime. Expect to find a dusting of young screenwriters and novelists cradling their locally roasted coffees and tapping at their laptops.
Layla on Portobello Road is a particular favourite for its pistachio pain au chocolats. Tourists have been known to base trips to London around sampling his charred flatbreads and freshly fried donuts.
A five-minute walk away, at the foot of the Trellick Tower, alongside the popular Moroccan food stalls that are an integral part of the market, are another two spots that are worth a visit. Caia, a wine bar, music venue and restaurant, opened earlier this year to great reviews and it’s a good spot to enjoy a selection of wines and sharing plates such as crispy chicken skin with preserved lemon and nori emulsion.
Wine bar, live music venue and open-fire restaurant, plus cocktails 46 Golborne Road, London W10;
caia.london
Caia
A five-minute walk away, at the foot of the Trellick Tower, alongside the popular Moroccan food stalls that are an integral part of the market, are another two spots that are worth a visit. Caia, a wine bar, music venue and restaurant, opened earlier this year to great reviews and it’s a good spot to enjoy a selection of wines and sharing plates such as crispy chicken skin with preserved lemon and nori emulsion.
Wine bar, live music venue and open-fire restaurant, plus cocktails 46 Golborne Road, London W10;
caia.london
Thomas Straker – the former Casa Cruz and Elystan Street chef with over 800,000 followers – has opened his much-anticipated restaurant Straker’s. Here he’s serving up steaming plates of clams with nduja and basil, alongside grilled asparagus and burrata and raw artichoke dressed with parmesan and lemon.
Neighbourhood local with seasonal ingredients.
91 Golborne Road, London W10
STRAKER'S
Thomas Straker – the former Casa Cruz and Elystan Street chef with over 800,000 followers – has opened his much-anticipated restaurant Straker’s. Here he’s serving up steaming plates of clams with nduja and basil, alongside grilled asparagus and burrata and raw artichoke dressed with parmesan and lemon.
Neighbourhood local with seasonal ingredients.
91 Golborne Road, London W10
Burnt was opened on a post-Covid government grant by Honor Powley (sister of actress Bel) and her talented partner, the chef Finlay Logan. The little space is light, with Scandinavian-inspired woodwork and white walls; vases of flowers from a neighbouring florist offer a cheery welcome from breakfast to dinner (the latter just Thursdays and Fridays for now) on each of the tables. The clientele is as stylish as the menu – nduja toast with miso aioli and tomato jam, cheddar, cauliflower and kimchi croque madame, honey-truffled ricotta toast. Breads and pastries imported from east London’s Dusty Knuckle Bakery are a big crowd-pleaser.
Burnt
Brunch and dinner menus with Italian, north African, Korean and Japanese influences. Fresh pastries.
163 Askew Road, London W12
Burnt
Burnt was opened on a post-Covid government grant by Honor Powley (sister of actress Bel) and her talented partner, the chef Finlay Logan. The little space is light, with Scandinavian-inspired woodwork and white walls; vases of flowers from a neighbouring florist offer a cheery welcome from breakfast to dinner (the latter just Thursdays and Fridays for now) on each of the tables. The clientele is as stylish as the menu – nduja toast with miso aioli and tomato jam, cheddar, cauliflower and kimchi croque madame, honey-truffled ricotta toast. Breads and pastries imported from east London’s Dusty Knuckle Bakery are a big crowd-pleaser.
Burnt
Brunch and dinner menus with Italian, north African, Korean and Japanese influences. Fresh pastries.
163 Askew Road, London W12
Orasay
31 Kensington Park Rd seafood specialist Orasay (try the haddock bun)
Fadi Kattan, chef at new Palestinian restaurant Akub. “Rather, there are pioneers all over the area with very good food and excellent coffee. We love the neighbourhood’s convivial feel.”
Akub Restaurant
Fadi Kattan, chef at new Palestinian restaurant Akub. “Rather, there are pioneers all over the area with very good food and excellent coffee. We love the neighbourhood’s convivial feel.”
Eyal Shani, chef and founder of pita chain Miznon, says he chose Notting Hill for his second London outpost due to its “mysterious streets and eccentric people” – a possible reference to former residents like Bjork.
Miznon
Eyal Shani, chef and founder of pita chain Miznon, says he chose Notting Hill for his second London outpost due to its “mysterious streets and eccentric people” – a possible reference to former residents like Bjork.
KURO EATERY
Kricket White City
101 Wood LnWhite City House
101 Wood Lndrinks on the roof at Soho House White City
Adriana's Café & Eatery
55 St Helens GardensWild Notting Hill
This is THE place to eat out in Notting Hill right now! Dec 2023 …
Dancing !!
Next Door Records for dancing
Next Door Records (record shop)
Pubs
The Pelican pub has stood stoically on Notting Hill’s All Saints Road since 1872. It has seen the area go from impoverished to 90s ‘Cool Britannia’ hotspot to filled with the wealthy but dull. Carnival revellers have danced past its doors and it has endured while surrounding businesses have been set up and subsequently priced out.
The pub itself has lived many lives, from rough-and-ready boozer to its latest incarnation: flogging small plates and smokey old fashioned cocktails. With its ethically sourced menu and earthy decor, it feels straight out of Hackney. No wonder that of-the-moment stars like Dua Lipa have been spotted propping up the bar.
“It’s heaving with hipsters who probably used to head to Peckham or east London for their kicks,” says Jo Barnes, co-founder of food-focused PR company Sauce, which has been based in nearby Shepherd’s Bush for 20 years.
The Pelican
The Pelican pub has stood stoically on Notting Hill’s All Saints Road since 1872. It has seen the area go from impoverished to 90s ‘Cool Britannia’ hotspot to filled with the wealthy but dull. Carnival revellers have danced past its doors and it has endured while surrounding businesses have been set up and subsequently priced out.
The pub itself has lived many lives, from rough-and-ready boozer to its latest incarnation: flogging small plates and smokey old fashioned cocktails. With its ethically sourced menu and earthy decor, it feels straight out of Hackney. No wonder that of-the-moment stars like Dua Lipa have been spotted propping up the bar.
“It’s heaving with hipsters who probably used to head to Peckham or east London for their kicks,” says Jo Barnes, co-founder of food-focused PR company Sauce, which has been based in nearby Shepherd’s Bush for 20 years.
The Cow
89 Westbourne Park Rdthecowlondon
Great Local Pub - but gets busy ….
The Westbourne
101 Westbourne Park VillasWalmer Castle
Cocktails
Chet's
A typical Shepherd’s Bush night out starts with “cocktails at Chet’s at the Hoxton