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This Greek-inspired restaurant in Notting Hill is a little pocket of London that feels sunny all year-round. It could be because of the bright and cheerful dining room with baskets of pineapples at the bar, and the late-night drinking den downstairs that doesn’t feel like it belongs on the always-busy streets of W11. Or it could be that the menu is combined with a hint of punchy South American flavours, as this restaurant is from the group behind Peruvian spot Pachamama East. Really, it’s all of the above. Come here for an early dinner when you’d rather be on a tiny island off the Mediterranean, but aren’t in the mood to track your luggage via AirTag. Because Zephyr is a welcome distraction from the grey skies that we have roughly 361 days of the year.
The atmosphere depends on when you visit. Arrive at the beginning of dinner service and you get the open, airy version of Zephyr. The bifold doors give it that half-in-half-out feel, and the lime green chairs, quirky artwork, and candles on each table are all little touches that make it somewhere you’d like to spend a solid couple of hours. There’s a contagious air of calm about the place, it’s spacious enough that you won’t be rushed out of your seat, and the food is laid out in the middle of the table in a casual, inviting way.
Come 8pm, the mood shifts to sleek and intimate. The lights are dimmed, the place fills up, and there’s a low, excited buzz. The kind of buzz that comes from groups of friends catching up over sharing plates like creamy mushroom orzo pasta, or a whole wild sea bass covered in dangerously good amounts of butter. A meal here will involve you discovering that tomatoes can be a main character, and that strawberry and ouzo sorbet could very well be your new favourite ice cream flavour. Dates might begin with truffle-topped, crispy potato terrine and end with a cheeky cocoaiquiri in the moody downstairs cocktail bar. Whatever you do, don’t plan for a quick in-and-out meal—because an evening here is all about taking your time.
On the short menu, you’ll find things like a lemon oil-heavy sea bass carpaccio, a nod to the South American influences, and tzatziki so light and refreshing you’d be silly not to order it. Especially because it’s a good excuse to get a portion of fluffy pitta. Whatever you order, just know that you’ll leave feeling charmed. Whether that’s by the friendly servers, or the fact that after an hour here you’ll feel like you’re closer to a sandy beach than a grey river. A meal at Zephyr isn’t just about fried calamari or taramasalata. It’s about a collective refusal to accept the fact that it’s raining outside.
Food Rundown
Pitta
Tzatziki
Beef Tomatoes
This is one of our Best New Dishes Of 2022. Check out the full guide here.
Aubergine
Mushroom Orzo Pasta
Whole Sea Bass
Loukoumades
Greek Yoghurt Cremeux