LDNGuide
The 22 Best Restaurants In Notting Hill
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
A day in Notting Hill can mean a wander around Portobello Road Market, a box of oxtail, rice, and peas in the park, or a pub crawl that later has you stumbling into one of its many swish and excellent restaurants. This part of west London can sometimes feel like an advert into how the other half lives, but it also has a brilliant array of restaurants, wine bars, pubs, takeaways, and more that show off the best of London. And if you’re specifically looking for brunch spots in Notting Hill, we’ve got a guide for that too.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
The Counter, a low-lit, moody spot, does Turkish food with exciting twists that work: babaganoush has white chocolate in it and tzatziki has a nice tang from pickles. While dishes like the dry-aged beef sirloin are perfectly cooked, we think the starters and small plates are the best part. So bring a date who’s down to split a bunch of quirky dishes, or a couple of close friends and order the clotted cream, pickled tzatziki, and cheese saganaki. Despite the restaurant's name, we’re fans of the lower seating where it feels like you’re part of the action without it being chaotic.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Al Waha is a Lebanese spot that gives classy holiday vibes, with its big white walls, hanging foliage, and rattan light shades. The food matches the white tablecloths and gentle music by being elegant and tasty. There are herby, refreshing fattoush and feta salads, moist falafel with hummus that’s heavy on tahini, and juicy pieces of charred chicken. It’s a refined and peaceful spot to have up your sleeve for mixed grill-based emergencies.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
If the Peaky Blinders made a real go of their bar and stopped having fights and piss-ups there, it’d be The Pelican. True, there are less flat caps and double-breasted overcoats, and more floppy hair and Adidas Gazelles. But the old-English pub aesthetic is alive and well. Think caramel-brown leather banquettes, antique-looking tables, and cheese-dusted mince on toast. Well-dressed Notting Hill locals pour in after work and families book out the semi-circle booth in the dining room for casual weeknight meals that are anything but casual.
Open since 1967 and responsible for thousands, if not millions, of paracetamol the following day, this yodelling, beer boot-pouring, bratwurst-grilling Austrian cavern on Westbourne Grove knows how to have a good time. Sure, the goulash is mediocre but who cares when Josef, the elderly owner in lederhosen, is playing the cowbells like he’s on the Pyramid Stage. In fact, don’t be surprised if someone is crowd surfing by the time the karaoke mic comes out. Come with friends, make more, and pray that sausage selection lines your stomach by the time tomorrow comes.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Idyllic coffee shop by day, neighbourhood wine bar and pizza spot by night, Ria’s does it all. The intimate, sky blue dining room is filled with quiet chatter, as friends lean back on the cushioned oak benches—pét nat in hand, whipped ricotta and tomato slice on the mind. The roasted king prawn number is the real standout. Prawns, marinated in fiery salsa macha, are placed on top of an airy, light base, and topped with slow-cooked marinara and a creamy parmesan drizzle. The Detroit-style pizzas are excellent and it’s got that indescribable quality that makes it feel like it’s been around forever, perfect for a third date or a catch-up with friends.
photo credit: Koray Firat
If Notting Hill is a bubble, then Tsiakkos & Charcoal exists in its own ouzo-fuelled world. The Greek spot feels like the kind of restaurant where plates should smash, not least because its covered courtyard is a riot of birthday sing-songs and gooey slow burnt pork shoulder. Inside things are endearingly hectic, as smoke from the grill wafts over tables of cheersing families or boozy dates, while the stylish offspring of the Notting Hill set escape for a cigarette out front. At £35 a head for the entire menu, it’s also one of the best big group dinner spots around.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
This Portuguese social club on Elkstone Road turns into an unmissable vinho verde and beer-fuelled sing-a-long on Friday and Saturday nights. Piri-piri chicken and freshly grilled fish line every one of the long banquet tables at Sporting Clube De Londres, as the disco lights swirl and someone belts out Frank Sinatra on stage. It's a fun, familial, and fantastic-value night out. That said, if a quiet bowl of cataplana (Portuguese fish stew) bobbing with squid, fish, prawns, and mussels is more your pace, then swing by for lunch or bingo on a Sunday.
A pub-cum-bar with a Lynchian scarlet dining room upstairs, The Cow has been a favourite among Notting Hill locals, celebs, and those seeking a pint of Guinness with half a dozen oysters for years. The seafood-focused menu suits the moody saloon bar to a tee—where you’ll find groups of mates or solo regulars tucking into a bowl of their fiery fish stew—while upstairs is tailor-made for long lunches and burgundy-fuelled dinners. It’s on the Westbourne Park side but, if you’re 20 minutes the other way, don’t let a walk put you off.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
This spot has bright OTT walls, black plastic booths that encourage efficiency, and a menu with 10 hefty sandwiches. Aesthetically pleasing, perfectly formed blocks, with the perfect ratio of filling—whether that’s tuna mayo and lettuce, or the T.L.T (turkey, lettuce, tomato)—that Paul Hollywood would dish out a handshake for. There are fun toppings like bacon crumb, or crispy shallots that you can add as well—our favourite combination is the tuna mayo with salt and vinegar McCoys crisps. It’s one of the best lunch options in the area, and one of the best sandwich spots in London.
photo credit: Maramia
Coming for a romantic dinner is the move at Maramia Cafe. The candles, single roses hanging from the ceiling, and menu of Palestinian mezze and traditional dishes will all significantly improve your chances of charming someone special. That is, until it hits 9pm on a weekend, when the dining room becomes a dancing on tables, singing loudly, and accidentally knocking chilli sauce off the table kind of night. Whether you’re here to have a conversation or let your hair down, the chicken mousakhan—fresh za'atar-dusted taboon bread filled with pulled chicken breast, caramelised onions, and a generous amount of sumac—is a must-order.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
This Persian restaurant on Hereford Road has a quirky interior, with hanging cutlery, bookshelf benches, and layered photo frames, and yet that’s still not the most interesting thing about Hafez. We’re always here for the dips. From refreshing mast o khair—cool yoghurt laced with cucumber and herbs—to creamy salad-e olivieh, generous with chicken and potatoes, to smoky aubergine kashk-e bademjan. You’ll find yourself eagerly scooping up the lot with freshly baked taftoon bread. There are usually a couple of tables available on a Saturday night, making it an excellent last-minute option in the area.
photo credit: Sunday In Brooklyn
However high and thick you think these pancakes look in photos, they’re higher and thicker in real life. Seriously, the XXL triple-tier stack at Sunday In Brooklyn could pass as a respectable birthday cake. Now that we’ve given that disclaimer, you should order the single, or the double if you’re not getting much else. This all-day cafe and restaurant serves brunch until around 5pm. There’s also shakshuka and cheese and egg sandwiches on the menu, as well as ‘proper’ food like roast chicken and beef burgers. But really, you should be here for brunch and those pancakes.
Sumi is a high-end sushi spot, but instead of dressing stuff up with truffle shavings or melted mozzarella, it lets the top-quality fish speak for itself. The single-sheet menu is mostly nigiri, sashimi, and hand rolls, with an excellent seaweed salad here, and a £70 wagyu steak there. But you’re mostly here for the nigiri and temaki. Because no matter where you’d put yourself on the sushi-eating spectrum, this spot is up there with the best sushi experiences you can have in London. Friendly warning: you will be ordering a second round of the hotate nigiri, so come prepared to spend.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
In between Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove tube stations is Jay Dees—a Caribbean spot that you really want to know about. You don’t need to spend much to get a lot here. For around a tenner you can get a takeaway box packed to the brim with charred jerk chicken, rice and peas, cabbage, beans, and carrots, covered in a perfectly spicy and fruity sauce. It’s as delicious as it is generous, and there’s lots more on the menu as well, from curried goat to saltfish patties. If the weather’s right, walk up the road to Tavistock Gardens, find yourself a spot, and get stuck in.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
There are some restaurants that you walk into and, whether it’s a Saturday night or a Tuesday lunchtime, you think “right, a bottle of wine is in order”. Mazi is one of those restaurants. This Greek spot just behind Notting Hill Gate station has rustic wooden tables, faux shutters on the walls, and a charming outdoor terrace. And it’s equally as perfect for dinner with the family, the most romantic alfresco date this side of Santorini, or a laid-back birthday involving a whole lot of tzatziki.
photo credit: Jade Nina Sarkhel
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Suzi Tros, a Greek spot on Hillgate Street, is two doors down from its big sister, Mazi. Think of this place as the younger, carefree sibling that really appreciates a good, strong cocktail and knows how to have a laugh. This spot takes booking but keeps space for walk-ins, which is very handy when it feels like the whole of London has decided to descend on Notting Hill on a Saturday night. There’s a tiny bar downstairs, super friendly service, and if you come here without trying the meatballs and a couple of cocktails, then you’re doing it wrong.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
No matter if it’s your first or 27th visit to Sinuhe, a little Persian spot off Westbourne Grove, you’ll feel like you’ve been coming here forever. Cosy, with Great Little Place energy, this is a restaurant equally perfect for an intimate third date or a low-key celebratory meal. However you choose to use this restaurant, you should know there are some excellent dips, grilled classics, and homely stews. Our go-to order consists of both of the aubergine dips, the mast-o-khair, and a mixed grill to share. The servers are friendly and helpful, and when they gently nudge you to order two bread baskets instead of one, you should listen.
Core is a British fine dining restaurant inside a fancy townhouse. It’s where we’ve eaten the best carrot of our lives and tested our phone’s storage capacity by going full stage mom over a perfect scallop tartare plated in a shell. Course after course is excellent, and the experience itself is formal but doesn’t feel too stuffy. Dishes like mini lobster rolls and homemade wine gums will make even the most hardened of adults feel giddy.
photo credit: Beam
The phrase “this is nice isn’t it” is guaranteed to be said by at least one member of your group if you head to Beam on Westbourne Grove. Maybe they’re referring to the hanging lights or the exposed brick. Or maybe it’s the spaciousness of it all, or the brunch menu that includes shakshuka, a halal full English, and Nutella-filled doughnuts. We’ll tell you—it’s all of the above. This cafe is walk-in only and open until 6pm every day, so plan accordingly.
photo credit: Six Portland Road
If you’re discrete, calm, and confident about everything you do, then you’ll be perfectly at home at Six Portland Road. It’s a casual spot on a quiet street at the edge of Notting Hill, serving elegant, unfussy modern European food to well-to-do locals. A dinner here isn’t going to be a cheap one, but you won’t regret it for dishes like grilled courgette with preserved lemon and pecorino, or plaice with sea aster and cider butter. An excellent lunch set menu (£28 for three courses) makes it a perfect, intimate, and inexpensive spot for a quiet daytime date.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Saporitalia serves some of the best Italian food in west London, in an unpretentious, friendly, family-run space. It’s the kind of old-school Italian spot that has garlands of dried chillies hanging above the bar and checkerboard floors, and where birthdays are celebrated with a round of fountain candles stuck in tiramisu. The troughs of pasta are great, and classic dishes like parmigiana di melanzane are comforting. When the weather’s nice, the big sliding doors open on to the glorious Portobello Garden Arcade, and the quaint outdoor terrace is a lovely place to be.
photo credit: Koray Firat
This huge three-storey pub and dining room in Notting Hill might not have a Gary Kemp lookalike serving its seasonal small plates, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t excellent. Although you’re looking at bigger prices than your average pub situation, dishes like wood-roasted whole sea bream and chargrilled squid are worth the extra spend. The upstairs dining room is all exposed brick and linen banquette seating, but the downstairs area with its palm trees and glass ceiling is where you really want to be.
