Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Farm Girl goes all in on the Australian healthy-eating thing, right down to the coconut ‘bacon’, macadamia butter, and optional sprinklings of superfoods. If you want to roll your eyes, by all means, go for it. But you should also know that the whole health thing here actually comes with some very good food attached. Sandwiches and salads are great, and so are the drinks. ‘Liquid Gold’ - lime juice, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, astragalus, and honey - would be worth drinking even if it weren’t allegedly good for you. The location guarantees a mob scene on Saturdays, but you’re just as likely to queue on Monday.
56 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Farm Girl Notting Hill
59A Portobello RdFarm Girl goes all in on the Australian healthy-eating thing, right down to the coconut ‘bacon’, macadamia butter, and optional sprinklings of superfoods. If you want to roll your eyes, by all means, go for it. But you should also know that the whole health thing here actually comes with some very good food attached. Sandwiches and salads are great, and so are the drinks. ‘Liquid Gold’ - lime juice, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, astragalus, and honey - would be worth drinking even if it weren’t allegedly good for you. The location guarantees a mob scene on Saturdays, but you’re just as likely to queue on Monday.
Granger and Co. runs three Australian restaurants in London, and the Notting Hill location is the smallest of the three. The menu’s the same as at the other two venues, and it’s full of the kind of fresh salads, sandwiches, small plates and main dishes that you’d find at a cool cafe in Sydney - think shrimp burgers, ricotta hotcakes, and plenty of stuff with avocado. The small size and quality food means getting a table might be the hardest thing you’ve done since you tried to walk down Oxford Street on December 23rd, so be sure to book if you’re going at peak times.
306 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Granger and Co.
175 Westbourne GroveGranger and Co. runs three Australian restaurants in London, and the Notting Hill location is the smallest of the three. The menu’s the same as at the other two venues, and it’s full of the kind of fresh salads, sandwiches, small plates and main dishes that you’d find at a cool cafe in Sydney - think shrimp burgers, ricotta hotcakes, and plenty of stuff with avocado. The small size and quality food means getting a table might be the hardest thing you’ve done since you tried to walk down Oxford Street on December 23rd, so be sure to book if you’re going at peak times.
Originally a Protestant chapel, now a community centre, The Tab is a Notting Hill institution. You can join the locals and come here for exhibitions, for yoga or dance classes, or for a drink or a meal in the café/restaurant right at the front of the building. The food has a West Indian bent but there are also burgers and breakfasts. This is not a place for a date: you’re eating in what’s essentially the foyer of a public building. But the local vibe, all ages and all races, makes the Tab a great place to hang.
47 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Табернакль
34-35 Powis SquareOriginally a Protestant chapel, now a community centre, The Tab is a Notting Hill institution. You can join the locals and come here for exhibitions, for yoga or dance classes, or for a drink or a meal in the café/restaurant right at the front of the building. The food has a West Indian bent but there are also burgers and breakfasts. This is not a place for a date: you’re eating in what’s essentially the foyer of a public building. But the local vibe, all ages and all races, makes the Tab a great place to hang.
Books for Cooks is a cookbook shop that also runs a café at lunchtime. The dishes all come from recipes in books they’re testing, so the no-choice menu changes every day. Check their Twitter feed to find out what’s cooking, and bring a bottle – there’s no alcohol license. Book-buying is optional but recommended: they have the biggest selection in the country.
45 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Books for Cooks
4 Blenheim CresBooks for Cooks is a cookbook shop that also runs a café at lunchtime. The dishes all come from recipes in books they’re testing, so the no-choice menu changes every day. Check their Twitter feed to find out what’s cooking, and bring a bottle – there’s no alcohol license. Book-buying is optional but recommended: they have the biggest selection in the country.
Saporitalia serves some of the best Italian food in west London, in an unpretentious, friendly, family-run space. Get the mixed antipasto or soup to start, and then pasta or a grilled veal chop to follow. Or one of the pizzas, best of all. The crusts are thin and light, toppings are mostly simple. At lunch there’s a cheap set menu. In the evenings, take advantage of the well priced wine list. Walk-ins are a breeze during the week, but you definitely need to book at the weekend. And when you get there, remember: looks aren’t everything.
35 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Saporitalia
271 Portobello RdSaporitalia serves some of the best Italian food in west London, in an unpretentious, friendly, family-run space. Get the mixed antipasto or soup to start, and then pasta or a grilled veal chop to follow. Or one of the pizzas, best of all. The crusts are thin and light, toppings are mostly simple. At lunch there’s a cheap set menu. In the evenings, take advantage of the well priced wine list. Walk-ins are a breeze during the week, but you definitely need to book at the weekend. And when you get there, remember: looks aren’t everything.
Drinks & Nightlife
If you like gin, you’ll really like Portobello Star, where they not only serve gin but also teach classes about it and distill their own (though not on the premises). This is a very popular cocktail bar, a local hangout that also happens to make great drinks. Health and safety warning: if you need to use the facilities after sinking a couple of Brambles, be careful. You’ll be climbing (and then descending) a near-vertical staircase.
99 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Portobello Star
171 Portobello RdIf you like gin, you’ll really like Portobello Star, where they not only serve gin but also teach classes about it and distill their own (though not on the premises). This is a very popular cocktail bar, a local hangout that also happens to make great drinks. Health and safety warning: if you need to use the facilities after sinking a couple of Brambles, be careful. You’ll be climbing (and then descending) a near-vertical staircase.
This basement bar looks like it was decorated by someone who went drunk shopping on the Hawaiian Décor website. That’s one reason we enjoy it so much. The other is the excellent rum-heavy drinks list. The snacks are good too, and essential if you’re staying for multiple drinks. Or even one Zombie. This is Notting Hill’s number-one venue for a rowdy night out - or for finishing your evening with a rum-fuelled bang. W11 weekends start here (and so do hangovers.)
109 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Trailer Happiness
177 Portobello RdThis basement bar looks like it was decorated by someone who went drunk shopping on the Hawaiian Décor website. That’s one reason we enjoy it so much. The other is the excellent rum-heavy drinks list. The snacks are good too, and essential if you’re staying for multiple drinks. Or even one Zombie. This is Notting Hill’s number-one venue for a rowdy night out - or for finishing your evening with a rum-fuelled bang. W11 weekends start here (and so do hangovers.)
Rum Kitchen is decked out to look like a Jamaican beachside bar, but the impact isn’t at all rosy-tinted or theme-parky. Our favorite way to use this place is to come at happy hour and drink daquiris, but you’ll also enjoy having a casual dinner in the clubby basement room. In either case, soak up the alcohol with some sweetcorn fritters or sweet potato fries.
92 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Rum Kitchen Notting Hill
Rum Kitchen is decked out to look like a Jamaican beachside bar, but the impact isn’t at all rosy-tinted or theme-parky. Our favorite way to use this place is to come at happy hour and drink daquiris, but you’ll also enjoy having a casual dinner in the clubby basement room. In either case, soak up the alcohol with some sweetcorn fritters or sweet potato fries.
The Castle has remained largely unspoiled by the changes in the area, and that’s enough to make us love it. That, plus the big windows – great for watching the crowds struggle by on market day. And the good selection of cask ales. Probably more of a place for drinking than eating, but what’s wrong with drinking?
42 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Castle
100 Holland Park AveThe Castle has remained largely unspoiled by the changes in the area, and that’s enough to make us love it. That, plus the big windows – great for watching the crowds struggle by on market day. And the good selection of cask ales. Probably more of a place for drinking than eating, but what’s wrong with drinking?