The best restaurants in Notting Hill, according to a local
Antique sellers, independent shops, market stalls and beautiful buildings, Notting Hill has them all in abundance–but all that touring is hungry work and eventually you'll need to eat.
Whilst many of Notting Hill's most famous haunts are incredibly expensive, there are just as many lesser-known spots where you can tuck into a meal for less than £10 a head. Whether you're after a light lunch, or a special occasion dinner, we've tried and tested all the best restaurants in the area, to help you avoid tourist traps and overpriced, overhyped spots. All that remains is to dig into our guide to the best places to eat in Notting Hill.
20 best restaurants in Notting Hill
1/20Dorian
Cuisine: British seasonal bistro
Price: £££
Go for: Buzzy at both lunch and dinner time
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Location: Notting HillDorian might be a newer venture, but it sits on a site of great heritage. Taking pride of place on Talbot road, the spot, once Raoul’s and before that, Coins Coffee Store, has been a locals' haunt for decades. The brain-child of Chris D'Sylva of Notting Hill Fish + Meat Shop and Supermarket of Dreams fame, it's designed for every day lunches and special occasions alike. The kitchen is headed up by chef Max Coen and features a reasonably priced seasonal menu. If you want to try somewhere that embodies the cool, easy going atmosphere of 90s Notting Hill, this is the place for you.
2/20Canal
Cuisine: Modern European
Price: ££
Go for: Lunch in the sun or dinner with a DJ
Nearest Tube: Westbourne Park
Location: Maida HillCalling the location of Canal ‘Notting Hill’ might be a bit of a stretch, as it's situated slightly north of Westbourne Park tube station, in that indeterminate area on the Grand Union Canal that is almost Maida Vale but not quite. This location does have its advantages, however – it's well off the beaten track for tourists, and is right on the edge of the canal, as the name suggests, with a suntrap of a waterside terrace for warm days. The delightful servers call this the ‘West London Riviera’, and it certainly has an, um, urban charm. The restaurant was set up by Dominic Hamdy, who is the man behind stylish London openings Bar Crispin and Bistro Freddie, and is a collaboration between his group and the coliving space Mason & Fifth, which occupies the rest of the building. Canal has impeccable credentials at every level: chef Adrian Hernandez Farina, comes with experience from Humo, Lchuca and Coal Rooms among others, the grown-up cocktails on tap were designed by East London's A Bar with Shapes for a Name, and the staff outfits were created by fashion designer Nicholas Daley.
The menu revolves around seasonal sharing plates: on our visit we enjoyed a moreish plate of Mangalitza sausage with pickled chilli, a sea bream crudo swimming in cherries and oil, which demanded to be mopped up with sourdough. The ‘table cheeseburger’ is a must – a heavenly little slider that has all the addictive qualities of a McDonalds but with a lot more sophistication. Succulent monkfish in a tomato and caper sauce and tortelli filled with ricotta completed a very satisfying meal.
3/20Holy Carrot
Cuisine: Plant-based
Price: £££
Go for: Long lunches after enjoying the market
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Location: Portobello RoadA relaxed but dazzling experience, Holy Carrot is a vegetarian's dream come true. Set on a corner plot on Portobello Road, Irina Linovich's concept puts restaurants who resort to mushroom risotto as their only veggie option to shame.
The kitchen is headed up by Daniel Watkins, previously of Dalston’s ACME Fire Cult, and the majority of the cooking is done over an open flame. The menu is plant-based, filling and designed to be shared, so go with a big appetite so you can sample more. Top dishes include the coal roasted leeks with corn, almonds and aji chilli, as well as the artichokes in a massaman sauce.
In the summer, diners can sit by the open windows and watch the market's bustle go by, but the setting lends itself to a romantic dinner for two just as well, with candlelight flickering and bouncing off the steel bar.
TARAN WILKHU4/20Dishoom Permit Room Portobello
Cuisine: Indian
Price: ££
Go for: Brunch or dinner
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: Portobello RoadIf you've ever wished you could just stay over after hearty Dishoom feast, you're in luck. London's first Permit Room by Dishoom has opened in the bustling heart of Portobello Road on the site that was once The Portobello Road Distillery, complete with somewhere to stay. The three story ‘boozer’ is a salute to the permit rooms and drinking dens of Bombay; an easygoing all-day bar-café inspired by the city’s seriously tasty eating and drinking culture. The first two floors are for dining – here you'll find many of the regular Dishoom favourites we've grown to know and love (the black daal and the chicken ruby of course) plus a few new dishes like ‘The Permit Room French toast’, a beautiful coconut-ty prawn moilee curry and comforting chilli cheesy garlic naan bites. The drinks are top notch too, with Dishoom-esque twists on cocktail classics, unique local beers (including Kingfisher Beer Towers) and some of the tastiest chai around. The first floor also sees a roster of DJs playing sets in the later half of the week, with a focus on South Asian DJ talent and global sounds of jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop and disco. An ideal way to complete with eat, drink, sleep trifecta is just to book one of the two Permit Room Lodgings on the top floor.
5/20Straker's
Cuisine: Modern European
Price: £££
Go for: A long lunch
Nearest Tube: Westbourne Park
Location: Golborne RoadIf you've heard of Thomas Straker, this restaurant will need no introduction. For the uninitiated, however, here's what you should know: Straker's was started by an Instagram famous chef, who is much loved for his exotic butter creations. Housed in an unassuming but buzzy spot on Golborne Road, Straker's is well worth a visit, provided you can get a booking. That said, it's definitely worth ringing up to see if they've had any cancellations that day.
The menu is a tightly curated selection of things you might see on Thomas's page, from flatbreads to grilled vegetables. It's a small plate concept, as so many are these days, so you do have the opportunity to try most of the offering, which is lucky because you'll probably want to.
Helen Cathcart6/20Walmer Castle
Cuisine: Gastropub cuisine with flair
Price: ££
Go for: Drinks and dinner by a roaring fire
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Location: Westbourne GroveSet on the iconic Ledbury Road, the Walmer Castle - in one form or another - has been a fixture of Notting Hill since 1845. This winter has seen it reopen under the ownership of husband and wife team Jack and Poppy Greenall, publicans and proprietors of Chelsea's The Surprise, debuting a smart new look.
Once a relatively ordinary pub, the Walmer Castle's interiors have been revamped by Isabella Worsley, one of House & Garden's ‘Rising Stars 2022’. The palette is refined and attractive, but relaxed. Described by the team as an ‘egalitarian meeting place where all are welcome’, patrons can expect all the cosiness of a proper pub, but with the slick service and food of an upscale restaurant. Come for lunch or dinner, and then take your glass of wine to sit nearer to the open fires that roar in each of the rooms.
The kitchen is headed up by chef Georgios Loukas, who has curated a menu that's typical of a gastropub, but with unexpected twists here and there.
7/20Empire Empire
Cuisine: Indian
Price: ££
Go for: Dinner
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: All Saints RoadInspired by the hedonistic disco days of the 70s, Empire Empire is as much about the experience as it is about the food. That's not to say this is a gimmicky, themed restaurant–it's far from it. The interiors are lowkey, with sparkly touches and a playlist that makes you want to get up and dance. The menu is mostly based on northwestern cuisines ‘stretching across the old Punjab Empire, from Bihar across to Afghanistan’.
Amy Ruse8/20Ria's
Cuisine: Scottish/Italian
Price: ££
Go for: Dinner
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: All Saints RoadDepending on the time you arrive at Ria's, you can expect a different offering. The morning sees home baked cookies, lunch is focaccia sandwiches, and dinner features deep dish Detroit style pizza and natural wine–what more could you ask for? Top choice for us is the vegan pizza which, whether you're vegan or not is a delicious, slightly lighter version of their deep dish.
9/20Speedboat Bar
Cuisine: Thai
Price: ££
Go for: Fast and spicy food in fun setting
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: Portobello RoadThe second of two Speedboat Bars, the Portobello branch has all the same eccentric atmosphere as the original restaurant in Soho. Inspired by Bangkok’s Chinatown, the vibe at Speedboat is easygoing and energising. Interiors are print heavy, with primary colours and memorabilia drawing from contemporary Thai culture. Dishes like the subtly spiced sweetcorn fritters and minced beef heavily perfumed with Thai basil and topped with a brown-rimmed crispy fried egg make for extra satisfying comfort food. Do not skip the morning glory, in our case, an evening glory - what may appear unassuming is an absolutely delicious bowl of soybean seasoned greenery. Drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike, are also fun and flavourful.
10/20Sino
Cuisine: Ukranian
Price: £££
Go for: Light, delicious food in a pretty setting
Nearest Tube: Westbourne Park
Location: All Saints RoadThe brain-child of founder Polina Sychova and chef Eugene Korolev, Sino is All Saints Road's latest and most exciting opening. The Ukranian duo have come up with a menu that both celebrates and elevate's their nation's cuisine. Top dishes include marinated aubergine with Kyrma cheese bread and turbot served with courgette and smoked mussel sauce.
Interiors are pared-back and warm, suitable for both a quick lunch with friends, as well as a celebratory dinner. Every touchpoint has been considered, from the thin stemmed wine glasses to the beautiful ceramic plates. Top tip? Leave room for dessert. You'll want to try the honey cake.
CAR11/20The Shed
Cuisine: Farm to fork
Price: £££
Go for: Summer lunches on the tiny terrace
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Location: Notting Hill GateFounded by the Gladwin Brothers, The Shed sits on a relatively unassuming street just south of Notting Hill Gate station. Despite being the closest in proximity to the tourist traps at the Kensington end of Notting Hill, The Shed is a serious locals-only spot, largely missed by the masses that flock from Hyde Park and up Portobello. Those that do stop are welcomed by cheerful striped banquets and agriculturally themed artworks that remind diners of the restaurant's farm-to-fork ethos.
In the kitchen, the principle behind the hyper-seasonal menu is “what grows together, goes together." Think nose-to-tail, zero-waste, great quality food done in a new way. Thanks to the ever-changing menu, this is a place you can visit time and time again without eating the same thing twice.
Ingrid Rasmussen12/20Gold
Cuisine: Modern European
Price: ££££
Go for: Late night dinner and cocktails
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Location: Portobello RoadPortobello Road's Gold certainly struck a seam when they opened back in 2019, meeting glowing reviews for their take on great ingredients, prepared simply. Entering at street level, through an ambient bar area, you are met with lush greenery, pale wood furniture, cushioned banquettes and zinc-topped tables. The herringbone brick floor and pale pink plaster walls feel warm and natural with an informal sense of style.
Headed up by ex-River Cafe chef, Theo Hill, dishes are listed in five categories: Raw, Cheese & Charcuterie, Salads, Vegetables and Plates. Diners are encouraged to mix and match, sharing a few plates between many. The dishes are generous and bold - which is not always the case with sharing plates - and the menu changes seasonally, so there's always the opportunity to return. Oh, and make sure to check out the roof terrace in the summer.
Read the full review of Gold here
13/20Caia
Cuisine: Wood fired
Price: ££
Go for: Late night dinner and cocktails
Nearest Tube: Westbourne Park
Location: Golborne RoadLimewashed walls, punchily patterned banquette seating and plush velvet bar stools line the walls of Caia's earthy and comfortable space. It's nestled right at the end of Golborne Road, a perma-haven for creatives, artists and designers alike. The concept at Caia is to eat simply but well. It’s about good wine, open fire cooking and well curated music. The menu is designed to be shared and the offering changes frequently, but on an ad hoc basis. For theatrics and a bit of a spectacle, sit at the bar.
This is one of those interesting restaurants where the thread connecting every dish does not run through the ingredients or food, but the cooking style. Desserts range from Maida Vale chutney and lavash crackers, to fresh lemon granita and verbena tea, and a chocolate eclair served with tonka bean chantilly and créme de cassis cherries. Naturally, we opt for the latter.
The second most important attraction here is the listening bar. Descend the stairs and you’ll find a space that feels at once contemporary and nostalgic. One wall is lined by a dark wood display that plays host to hundreds of records, a Kuzma R record player and Auditorium R-25 speakers (fear not, you won’t be asked to repeat those names later). Choose something from their extensive wine menu (or ask for a classic cocktail) and you'll while away the evening listening to a curated selection of funk, jazz and soul. Caia is a true multi-hyphenate space but the distinction between its twin pillars is clean cut: food might be king upstairs, but music is king down here.
Read the full review of Caia here
14/20The Pelican
Cuisine: Gastropub food
Price: ££
Go for: All day lunches
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: Just off Portobello RoadIn some form or another, this corner of All Saints Road has always been home to a pub. The first iteration of The Pelican opened back in 1870 and has changed hands many times since in picaresque fashion. In 2022, the new version of The Pelican landed in Notting Hill, ruffling the feathers of locals and foodies alike.
At its core is the belief that a good pub is the cornerstone of any local community, bringing people together over good food, in a great setting. The kitchen is headed up by chef Owen Kenworth, with a trim menu of staples, plus a daily changing list of specials. Expect good, fresh produce, cooked without fuss. Inside, the interiors were overhauled by Studio Squire and are a study in pared-back charm.
15/20Akub
Cuisine: Palestinian
Price: ££
Go for: Lunch or dinner, it's great for either
Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Location: Just off Uxbridge StreetHeaded up by Chef Fadi Kattan, Akub is an excellent tonic for the wealth of modern European restaurants Notting Hill has. This is Palestinian cooking made by a creative and contemporary chef, whose inspirations are as broad as the menu.
Walking into the restaurant feels like you've stumbled into a pleasant Middle Eastern courtyard, or sun trap in southern Europe. The Fare Inc interiors are bright, breezy and eminently tranquil, which allows the food to sing. The menu is broken into sections titled, ‘sea’, ‘land’ ‘meat’ and ‘condiments’, which helps to guide your selections. Choose something from each, and you'll end up with a well balanced table. Be sure to save room for the dead sea chocolate cake though–it's not to be missed.
- Belvedere","brand":{"name":""},"id":"667010db86e7f72074e134ee","index":15,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"offersLength":0,"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
16/20Belvedere
Cuisine: Italian
Price: £££
Go for: Dinner
Nearest Tube: Holland Park
Location: Holland ParkFor a dramatic, beautiful setting, look no further than dinner at Belvedere. Nestled in the heart of Holland Park - the actual park, not the area - the building dates back to 1638 and has attracted patrons such as Charles Dickens and William Wordsworth in its time. Inside, exposed brickwork and warm orange and red tones lend the room a warm glow.
The kitchen is headed up by chef Antonio ‘Lello’ Favuzzi formerly of The Wolseley and Mortimer House, and the menu is inspired by his Sardinian heritage. Particular highlights include the beetroot ravioli with smoked burrata and the langoustine carpaccio. Don't miss the oysters.
David Cotsworth17/20The Princess Royal
Cuisine: Mediterranean seafood made with British produce
Price: £££
Go for: Lunch, particularly on the weekend
Nearest Tube: Royal Oak, or Bayswater
Location: BayswaterThe Princess Royal is the latest from chef Ben Tish, formerly of Fitzrovia's Norma. Whilst the latter serves up a Moorish-Sicilian melange; here, Tish has paired up with Georgia Pearman, director of Cubitt House, the mini-chain of half a dozen rather fancy London pubs scattered through Marylebone, Mayfair and Chelsea, to deliver a menu of Mediterranean seafood made with British produce. There's also a large central raw bar to be indulged in.
It's filled with what our Acting Features Editor Thomas Barrie describes as “a visibly West London crowd. Beautiful dogs lie at people’s feet, and everyone looks a little like Claudia Winkleman, or maybe her cousin." Outside, there's a spacious terrace and a garden by Jinny Blom, making it a perfect summer spot for long lunches and slow pints alike.
Read the full review of The Princess Royal here
JORGE FONSECA18/20Portobello 177
Cuisine: Caribbean Japanese barbecue fusion
Price: ££
Go for: Dinner
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: Portobello RoadSlap bang in the middle of the best road in Notting Hill, lies Portobello 177. Having opened its door this autumn, it's a new and exciting venue that's managed to do something different in the saturated foodie heaven of Notting Hill. Sly Augustin, owner of the multi award winning bar, Trailer Happiness, and hospitality consultant Maiko Neill have teamed up with head chef Shay Ola to create a menu that traverses the globe. Think small plates of jerk aubergine with coconut, served alongside citrus cured mackerel and plantain bread. Stop in for a laidback dinner by candlelight, then head downstairs for cocktails.
19/20Secret Sandwich Shop
Cuisine: Sandwiches
Price: £
Go for: A quick lunch
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
Location: Just off Portobello RoadWith a frequently changing menu of around eight sandwiches, the Secret Sandwich Shop is one of Notting Hill's best lunch spots. Based on the Japanese Wanpaku sandwich, the bread used is light shokupan which fills you up without weighing you down. It's set on the ground floor of famed club The Globe and has little to no signage, so keep your eyes open or you might just walk past it.
20/20Julie's
Cuisine: Modern British
Price: £££
Go for: Dinner outdoors in the summer
Nearest Tube: Holland Park
Location: Holland ParkA Holland Park institution famed for their take on modern British cuisine, Julie's is set on a charming back street in west London that oozes cool and makes you feel like you're in an almost undiscovered spot. Since 1969, it's been one of the most elegant terraces in London on which to socialise with loved ones over their utterly lovely food.
Comments
Back to Top
