There may be more bankers than bohemians in Notting Hill these days, but the area still embodies a louche charm that is unmatched by any other neighbourhood in London. A thriving international restaurant scene takes diners from New York to Down Under, where smart interiors and a focus on sustainability come as standard. By day, it’s Instagrammable lattes and Aussie-style brunches; by night it’s sharing plates by candlelight, well-crafted co*cktails and just the right amount of revelry. Here’s our essential guide to the best restaurants in Notting Hill.
The Pelican
Dating back to 1870, The Pelican is a smart pub and the brainchild of co-owners Phil Winser and Richard Squire, and restaurateur James Gummer (whose overhaul of posh Cotswold pub The Bull in Charlbury last year has since become an Instagram sensation). Dubbed as one of the best pubs in West London (if not the capital), The Pelican is effortlessly cool, boasting pared-back interiors, a buzzy atmosphere and seriously good food and tipples – all reserved for those in the know.
Aiming to invest in its neighbourhood as well as being a destination for modern, rustic-style menus, the focus here is on simplicity and sourcing British produce from regenerative farms. The result on the plate is dishes ranging from smoked trout with radish and ox heart with celeriac, to onglet with shallot, hake with parsley and a lobster and monkfish pie to share. For those after more casual fare, decamp to the bar to indulge in Welsh rarebit, spider crab toast and sausage rolls, washed down with pints of ales from Allsopp’s Brewery plus crafty numbers from the likes of Portobello, Deya and Kernel. Trust us when we say you’ll never want to leave.
45 All Saints Road, W11 1HE, visit thepelicanw11.com
The Walmer Castle
Walmer Castle
Having recently reopened after careful restoration and redesign by interior guru Isabella Worsley, The Walmer Castle has been reimagined into a traditional English tavern blending history, charming interiors and great food. Honouring the building’s storied history that dates back to 1845, and its enviable location on Ledbury Road, the independent pub is home to a characterful bar on the ground floor, with dining spaces offered upstairs.
Throughout the establishment, historical maps and references of Notting Hill’s eclectic past sit among antiques sourced from markets and dealers on nearby Portobello Market and Golborne Road. The kitchen is helmed by chef Luaan van der Watt, who has created a menu which is wonderfully simple but satisfying, sourcing produce from London butchers, The Ginger Pig, and exclusive seafood purveyors, Flying Fish. Menu highlights include charcuterie and an array of English cheeses, cured Cornish mackerel tartlet, Somerset pork tomahawk and pub classics such as fish and chips, Wiltshire beef burgers, and Creedy Carver chicken. Dig in.
58 Ledbury Road, W11 2AJ, visit walmercastle-nottinghill.co.uk
Ria’s
Images: Amy Louise Ruse
Wondering what that pared-back, low-lit, Detroit-style pizza restaurant that keeps on cropping up on your Instagram feed is called? We’re willing to bet it’s Ria’s: the brainchild of husband-and-wife team David and Ria Morgan-Ratcliffe. Having caused quite the stir among West London’s foodies, the pizza pies here are made using Cotswold Shipton Mill flour, which is slowly fermented for 72 hours and then baked to create a crisp, chewy crust. Pick from toppings of spicy merguez sausage and pickled chillies, garlic wild mushroom with bechamel and the signature House Pie – slow-cooked marinara sauce, ricotta drizzle with basil and lemon sauce – accompanied by sides of Ria’s haggis pops (our personal favourite), grapefruit salad, and fried potatoes with whipped feta that nod to the founder’s Scottish roots. Book a table to avoid disappointment.
29 All Saints Road, W11 1HE, visit rias.world
Caia
Image: Lateef Photography
The brainchild of Notting Hill locals Rishabh Vir and Tim Lang, Caia has been a hit with both foodies and oenophiles since it opened in 2022. Situated on Golborne Road, walk past Caia on a weekday evening and you’ll find a buzzing atmosphere, wood-fired small plates and a wine list to rival London’s most opulent. Sit upstairs for co*cktails whipped up in front of your eyes at the marble bar, or move downstairs to discover the restaurant’s unbeatable vinyl music programme. On the concise menu, however, we’d recommend choosing a selection of plates to share, including the lamb salami, farinata (Italian chickpea cake) topped with beef ragù, tahini and cornichons, and sweet potato agnolotti in chicken wing butter.
46 Golborne Road, W10 5PR, visit caia.london
Sumi
The laidback younger sibling to White City’s Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda, Sumi offers chef Endo Kazutoshi’s signature fare in a much more unassuming setting, but with the same sensory impact. Sumi’s menu is inspired and driven by Japanese tradition, with highlights including Japanese A4 Wagyu striploin with charred brassica and a yuzu onion sauce, hand-rolled temaki sushi and an extensive selection of nigiri finished ‘aburi style’, with a naked flame, for a crispy, chewy texture and creamy sweetness.
157 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RS, visit sushisumi.com
Granger & Co.
Promising ‘sunshine food and sunny vibes’, Australian all-day dining space Granger & Co. has been a proud fixture of Notting Hill for over a decade, thanks to its scrumptious brunches and easygoing atmosphere. Visit during the day for a taste of the restaurant’s famed ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter, and sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon. Alternatively, stop by in the evening for a feast of small plates, including tuna tartare with nashi pear and green kimchi and Brixham crab toast or larger plates of parmesan crumbed chicken schnitzel with creamed corn and shredded fennel. The beef burger with pickled green chilli, herb mayo and fries is not to be missed.
175 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SB, visit grangerandco.com
Sunday in Brooklyn
Visit Williamsburg by way of Notting Hill at Sunday in Brooklyn. The much-hyped New York restaurant landed in London in 2021, serving a selection of its most popular dinner time dishes, including beef short rib in bone marrow butter and the Sunday smash burger. Brunch majors on all-American staples, including Sunday pancakes with hazelnut maple praline, and brown butter, fully loaded vegetarian or patty burgers, and a Don Reuben omelette with spicy mole sauce, goat’s cheese, roasted mushrooms and butter lettuce salad. The drinks list boasts natural wines and co*cktails, including quite possibly London’s best Bloody Mary.
98 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RU, visit sundayinbk.co.uk
Core by Clare Smyth
Clare Symth remains the only female chef in the UK to be awarded three Michelin stars, as chef-patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea. The Northern Irish chef’s first solo venture, Core by Clare Smyth, was awarded two Michelin stars within its first year of opening, and gained its third in the 2021 guide. Set in a period building on Kensington Park Road, the contemporary restaurant specialises in informal fine dining. Instead of white linen, the light-filled space is furnished with leather-topped tables, brushed brass fixtures and wooden floors. Smyth champions local, British produce, with a focus on low-waste and sustainably sourced ingredients. Diners can either go a la carte or select from two seasonally changing tasting menus.
92 Kensington Park Road, W11 2PN, visit corebyclaresmyth.com
The Oak
This charming pub-turned-Italian osteria serves wood-fired pizzas and Mediterranean dishes, including aubergine parmigiana and apulian burrata with parma ham. Flickering candles and rustic wooden tables create an irresistible ambience in the evening, which is perfect for date nights and group gatherings alike. The Oak operates a no-booking policy, but waiting patrons can enjoy a co*cktail in the upstairs lounge while their table is prepared.
137 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QL, visit theoaklondon.com
Farm Girl
Notting Hill’s Farm Girl cafe gained cult status on Instagram for its picturesque pink lattes, gluten-free granola bowls and vegan pancake stacks, all scattered with pretty flower petals. Opened in 2015 by Australian former fashion publicist Rose Mann and her partner Anthony Hood, the restaurant draws on Melbourne’s health-conscious, colourful brunch scene. Expect round-the-block queues on weekends.
59A Portobello Road, W11 3DB, visit thefarmgirl.co.uk
Casa Cruz
Undoubtedly the most glamorous option on this list, Casa Cruz is owned by Chilean investment banker-turned-restaurateur Juan Santa Cruz. It is where Rita Ora infamously held her forbidden birthday party during lockdown and also counts Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham as high-profile fans. Edging more towards Holland Park, this sexy South American restaurant-come-late-night party spot serves extravagant dishes with Argentinian influences in a glitzy setting. The main restaurant is a dark milieu of mirrors, burnished copper and patterned carpets, suffused with seventies glamour, while the downstairs lounge packs out from 10pm. The real party is on the rooftop smoking terrace, discreetly wrapped in trailing greenery.
123A Clarendon Road, W11 4JG, visit casacruz.london
Beam
Beam began as a neighbourhood hangout in Crouch End before opening in Highbury and then Notting Hill’s fashionable Westbourne Grove. Its Middle Eastern breakfast and brunch offering includes Turkish eggs with garlic yogurt and a kick of spice; gluten-free buttermilk pancakes and a generous vegan spread of mushrooms, bean salsa, dukkah and avocado. With minimalist, mid-century furniture and towering plants, the all-day menu is accompanied by punchy co*cktails and a very warm welcome.
103 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UW, visit cafebeam.co.uk
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