While Hugh Grant’s door may be gone – long auctioned off to charity – there’s still a blue door on Westbourne Park Road and it still draws a crowd, most of them for selfies. Funny what a film can do. Rhys Ifans isn’t still hanging around in his underpants, though. Still, long before Richard Curtis got Julia Roberts to introduce the place to America, Notting Hill was already famous.
G. K. Chesterton did his bit for the Victorians, with the Napoleon of Notting Hill, Michael Bond did it in the 50s with A Bear Called Paddington and from the mid-60s, the Carnival has provided an annual publicity boost.
Notting Hill has its headline acts – Portobello Road market, the multi-coloured houses on multi-coloured streets – but much of it is sadly overlooked. The politicians in the Notting Hill ‘set’ are among those who’ve long kept the money flowing through the place and it’s a long time since the area had a freewheeling, free-spirited reputation, so it’s rarely brought up as somewhere bustling with new openings and must-sees.
This is partly unfair. The area is a beautiful one, an upmarket suburb of dream homes and private gardens, and is best enjoyed by just wandering around. That said, many of the local pubs are the cosy kind and there’s a handful of restaurants that are as good as any across the city. Notting Hill can take a little work, but it rewards.
Main attractions
It’s only once a year but Notting Hill Carnival, always held on the August Bank Holiday, is a huge draw. It began as a way to draw a divided community together and to celebrate Caribbean culture, and now contributes upwards of £90 million a year to the London economy. Carnival’s can be overwhelming with literally millions of people in attendance, but on the other hand, it’s tremendous fun, a rum-soaked weekend of dance and glorious smelling food. Try it.
Paddington Bear was right to love Portobello Road market; some of what’s on sale is silly money but in between the tourist bait there are gems too; after all, it’s the world’s largest antiques market. The road is beautiful, and always busy. Markets are daily, excluding Sundays, but Saturday is the main attraction.
The Electric is the W11’s best cinema; like all the Electrics, it’s extremely comfortable, with plush, sinking seats and sofas, including cashmere blankets to snuggle under. At the front, there are double beds – behave.
Notting Hill is only a vague handwave of an area, so we’re including Holland Park as being part of the area. It’s one of London’s loveliest, full of wildlife. The highlight is the once secret, now famous Kyoto Garden, a Japanese den of peacefulness.
Food
108 Garage is widely regarded as one of the very best restaurants in Notting Hill. Its terrific menu is inventive and regularly changing, served within pleasantly casual surroundings. The wine is superb, too, and it all comes at a relatively wallet-friendly price.
The fine dining option comes courtesy of The Ledbury — it’s got two Michelin stars and when you delve into its menu, focused on the best of British food, it’s not hard to see why it receives all the accolades. Just be prepared to dig into your bank account for the bill. Another champion of British produce comes in the form of Core by Clare Smyth, which uses the best seasonal produce to create an exceptionally tasty menu. Six Portland Road is a tiny place that revels in simplicity — its flavours are mostly British, but there is a dash of Mediterranean flair to be found there, too.
The Shed is the perfect place to sit when the weather’s nice and enjoy a bottle of white wine. The menu changes regularly, but the seafood is always superb here.
There are a few good options for pizza in the area — Pizza East does a lovely slice, with bases that are distinctly bready and nothing like pizzas sold in Naples, but none the worse for it, while Da Maria is authentic as they come, and very reasonably priced. Further Neapolitan delights can be find a few doors down at Farina. Try the burratina pizza if you know what's good for you (and are partial to a massive great dollop of fresh burrata on top of your pizza). The best Japanese food, meanwhile, comes courtesy of Tonkotsu. The pork ramen cannot be beaten.
Yotam Ottolenghi is the best known name on the London restaurant scene, renowned for his personal take on Middle Eastern cuisine. He’s got restaurants all over the city now, but it was in Notting Hill where he opened his first deli, 16 years ago. There’s a table at the back which seats 10 people, but there aren’t any reservations, so you’ll need a fair bit of luck to secure it.
Farmacy divides opinion, but for the health-conscious it’s worth a visit. It caters for vegans and vegetarians with a menu that is free from all on-trend no-nos: dairy, refined sugar and any additives or chemicals.
The Hayden has recently undergone a full makeover and is now as chic as it is buzzy. Wood-panelled walls, red leather banquettes, decorative tin ceilings and large statement mirrors make for a characterful environment that locals are lapping up. The menu is new too. It is centred around British classics. Dishes are served in generous portions with fresh, seasonal ingredients
From classics such as fish and chips or burgers with skin-on chips to the jumbo short rib of beef, the attention to presentation and flavour is impressive. The cocktails are very moreish and they are served alongside an extensive wine list and craft brews. Look out for some great offers including weekday discounts on food and two for one cocktails earlier in the evenings. The friendly team will make you feel very at home in this stylish and welcoming Westbourne Grove pub.
Eggslut is the outrageously named LA sensation, recently landed in the capital with a variety of egg-based delights on offer. The signature dish — no-less-scandalously named as The Slut — comprises coddled egg on top of potato puree and served with baguette slices. Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find plenty of brioche buns stuffed with suitably eggy fillings.
Under the leadership of chef-patron Jackson Boxer, Orasay brings a taste of the Outer Hebrides to west London with a menu focused on fish and seafood. The Isle of Mull diver scallop with shiitake and vin jaune is a highlight, while the fried bread with spring anchovies is a must-eat snack to nibble on the side.
In a past life, the Portobello Gold pub would host the likes of Motorhead and the Sex Pistols. It’s since had a makeover, though, thanks to Mahiki founder Nick House — and is now simply known as Gold. If the sun is out, head to the airy, plant-laden Garden Room at the back of the building. It’s the best place to enjoy the hearty, seasonal dishes cooked by former River Cafe chef Theo Hill.
Caractere might not look like much from the outside, but inside is a restaurant full of glamour and imagination. Run by married duo Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari, the menu is an intriguing prospect, split into sections: Curious, Subtle, Delicate, Robust, Strong and Greedy. They cover nibbles, starters, fish, meat, cheese and pudding, with dishes elegantly presented and full of innovative flavours.
Drink
Notting Hill’s pubs are a wholly pleasant affair, none more so than the Churchill Arms. Kensington might claim it as its own, situated as it is in the ill-defined middle zone between the two areas, but we had to include it in our list. Its exterior is covered in hanging plants, bursting with colour — it’s got to be one of the most attractive boozers in London. Inside, it’s extremely cosy, with low ceilings and various knick-knacks covering the walls. The Duke of Wellington is a smart place to go for a drink, with a good selection of beer, ale and wine. The Ladbroke Arms is a luxurious gastropub, popular with an older crowd, while the Mall Tavern also does a tasty bite to eat. Food is the focus over at The Mitre, too — a comfortable place to enjoy a laid-back afternoon with friends. It’s got around 20 beers on tap and 100 bottled options, too, so you’ll never be left thirsty. The Hillgate has a regularly changing selection of real ales and some lovely wines.
The Distillery is a drinking institution — it’s got its own working distillery on-site, crafting Portobello Road Gin, which is a must-try if ever you visit. Portobello Star straddles the line between pub and bar, excellent for craft beers but with a formidable cocktail list too. Trailer Happiness pays tribute to rum — try its Super Sonic Tiki Tonic, which uses the spirit to give a twist on the traditional G&T. Negozio Classica is a haven of Italian wines, complemented by the small plates on offer. Redemption cuts the booze out completely — there’s not a drop of alcohol in any of its drinks, and its food is vegan, as well as free from sugar and wheat. Fear not, though, because the drinks go down a treat and the grub is delicious.
Coffee shops and cafes
Gail’s Bakery is popping up with branches all over London now. It’s the bread you want to visit for, but it’s a great place to sit for a relaxed coffee and cake. Biscuiteers supplies a range of delicious goods — biscuits, cakes, tarts and a number of hot drinks — but to be honest, it’s the ridiculously Instagrammable facade that makes this place really worth the visit. Likewise, take a picture at the beautifully decorated Farm Girl and you’ll be sure to draw a few likes. Watch them roll in as you enjoy one of the various lattes, which are infused by everything from hibiscus to lavender. Granger & Co is ideal for a coffee over breakfast — the dishes are healthy but don’t scrimp on any of the flavours, starting your day the right way. Coffee Plant serves coffee that is fair-trade and organic. Its freshly baked pastries are divine, too.
Nightlife and music
West London isn’t exactly known for its nightlife — it seems content to let north, south and east take care of that — and Notting Hill is hardly an exception to the rule. Its bars and pubs are lively and stay open fairly late, but for proper wee-hour venues, there isn’t a great deal.
That said, there are a couple of venues doing their bit for the late-night revellers. Notting Hill Arts Club is a great independent venue, hosting the best local talent and regularly putting on lively DJ nights. During the day, there’s a solid programme of art exhibitions, too. The Globe has been doing its thing since the 60s, and these days is a popular spot among locals for an easy-going, late-night boogie. Expect a lot of old-school hip-hop and reggae.
Arts
Gate Theatre is one of the best theatres in London, one which manages to put on an top-notch programme of international, cerebral theatre without being off-putting and pretentious. The Print Room, meanwhile, is a proper old-school theatre that can be counted on for a lot of good readings and one-off festivals. The Tabernacle has a diverse programming — sometimes it’ll put on live music, sometimes it will host talks from experts, and sometimes it’ll put on latin dance workshops. The Museum of Brands is something of a must see, too: inside are more than 12,000 pieces of packaging and promo, which provide a fascinating insight into 20th century taste, trends and consumerism.
Most Instagrammable spots
Maddox Gallery
Codrington Mews
Farm Girl
Biscuiteers
Alice’s Portobello
How to get there
Tube: Notting Hill Gate, Holland Park (Central line), Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park (Circle, Hammersmith & City lines)
Bus: 27, 52, 452, 328, 28
