There is much to be said for exploring fashionable Notting Hill. One is spoilt for choice on a day out in this leafy West London area. It’s best known for its vibrant festival at the end of August (the world’s second largest carnival after the Mardi Gras in Rio).
The area is infamous for its many film locations, including of course the famous blue door in ‘Notting Hill.’ However, all year round one can enjoy this fun and diverse area, with its brilliant Portobello market, great independent shops, fabulous delis and restaurants and gorgeous eclectic streets and squares.
If you can, include some gentle wandering around Notting Hill on a day out, there is so much to see and experience. To help, we have given you a variety of eateries and shops to sustain you through the day!
Eating in Notting Hill
Breakfast:
Farm Girl Cafe: a small and delicious eatery close to Portobello. A perfect start to a day of shopping. Be prepared to queue if you are not there early.
Jusu Brothers: This eatery is light and airy with a choice of delicious all-day food. I love the juices too – you can always pick up something to go.
Egg Break: Near the tube, this is a tiny cafe serving delicious, healthy breakfast and brunch.
Bodyism Cafe: in Westbourne Grove, this is the epitome of healthy. Whether you’re paleo, vegan, gluten-free of just want super-foods, this is the place to go.
Coffee Break
Day Rooms Cafe : in Kensington Park Road. Small, charming and delicious food.202 (Westbourne Grove). Relaxed, airy and cool with great brunches and lunch. Fab (but expensive) boutique downstairs:
Lunch:
Farmacy : Vegan eatery except for eggs, but don’t let that put you off, we had a delicious meal. Boys & girls…
Taqueria : Mexican Street food – totally yummy
Pizza East : At the very top of Portobello Road, worth the walk.
Chipping Forecast : Fish & chips on All Saints Road
Andina Picanteria: casual Peruvian with delicious piscos and ceviches.
Gold on Portobello Road. Blog post
Tea:
Daylesford: for a cake or two – all day cafe/deli.
Ottolenghi: for totally indulgent and delicious moments. No more said.
Sundowners:
Duke of Wellington: (Portobello Road)
The Distillery. If you like gin, look no further……
The Castle: Traditional British pub opposite ‘that’ door!
Evenings
Gold: eclectic, artistic, seasonal and laid back. See our blog about this fabulous restaurant.
Casa Cruz: Cool Mexican restaurant on Clarendon Road
The Shed: bringing countryside to the city – small, yummy food.
Granger and Co: Eat either early or late as no booking. Great though.
The Ledbury and Core by Clare Smyth: Both well-known and rather special Michelin star restaurants.
Other than food…
The Electric cinema for brunch and a movie with the best cinema seats in London.
The Distillery: Home of the now renowned Portobello Road Gin, this has a cool bar, restaurant, rooms and even a museum dedicated to gin in the basement – the Ginstitute! Clearly if you’re a gin fan, it’s a must…
Shopping :
So many shops; high-fashion, high street fashion, antiques, health and beauty, home-wares, antiques…..just too many goodies to list – this is the wandering bit! However areas to focus on: Westbourne Grove, Pembroke Villas, Goldborne Road, Elgin Crescent, Kensington Park Road, Blenheim Crescent, Clarendon Road, Ledbury. Obviously don’t forget the unmissable Portobello Market on fridays and saturdays.
Culture Vulture:
Take a walk around some of the iconic film locations; St Lukes Mews for some Love Actually, The Notting Hill Bookshop at 13-15 Blenheim Crescent was William Thacker’s bookshop in Notting Hill and his flat with that famous blue door is located at 280 Westbourne Park Road. Books for Cooks on Blenheim Crescent, 25 Powis Square is where the cult film Performance was filmed with Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg and James Fox. 75 Pottery Lane is where the 1966 film Blow Up is where David Bailey had his studio. Portobello market was taken apart by the cars in The Italian Job.
Fresh Air :
Holland Park. The Japanese Garden is beautiful. Don’t forget to see the gorgeous Dahlia garden at the end of the summer near the Orangery. Kensington Gardens isn’t far either, and you have Kensington Palace for culture right there.
Verdicts:
She said: “I love the shopping in Notting Hill, and the healthy eating options”
He said : “Portobello for some good street food & rummaging through some vintage stalls, then a movie & a snooze”
Teens said “Loved the vintage clothes shopping, cool photos, and delicious pizza!”
