The Knowhere Guide

Eating and Drinking in Notting Hill Gate, Greater London*

Notting Hill Gate, Greater London Pubs, Cafes, Coffee Shops and Restaurants

Food

• Mike's Caff down by Finches is like a nice greasy spoon. Nicer than the Anglo nextdoor to Tescos on Portobello Road. And then there's the 192, and Cafe Med etc on Kensington Park Road, or the First Floor Restaurant on Portobello Road, for proper dining. Alastair Little's restaurant "a" on Lancaster Road is nice too. Small food, big plates, though I hear it's closing. Also, don't forget Bibs on All Saints Road.
• lots and lots. books for cooks has a great testing kitchen - but you have to book.
• The Spice Shop off Blenheim Road has an amazing array of world spices and herbs,BUT they are pricey.A 100g packet of yellow mustard seed cost me £1.65.I later saw a fresher packet the same weight in a large supermarket in Southall for only £00.65.Service here by the all women staff can be moody and curt with a fed up /hurry up ambience.
• sunday lunch at the portobello gold - nice, but watch out that you don't get fleeced. items on the menu tend to go missing on the way to your table, and complaints fall on deaf ears. also, watch out for the "optional" service charge. the grove cafe insists on service charge, even though you might have had a bad time - very temperament staff. sausage and mash cafe in ladbrocke grove - great comfort food! new culture revolution [opposite pharmacy] - cheap and filling.
• The Chicken Grill at the Gate is quite good though £7 for a half chicken and veg a bit dear. Otherwise hard pressed to find anywhere.Even Time Out slams The Pharmacy.
• Loads and loads of places to eat in Bayswater too
• Geales fish and chip restaurant is one of the best things about the area. But if you want something that's just as good, but not quite so posh, try Costas just up the road.

Pubs

• The Market Bar, Finches, and Ground Floor Bar (Colville Rose as was) on Portobello Road. I wouldn't bother with the Warwick Castle. Once an old man's pub, always an old man's pub.
• the churchill pub - amazing relics on the wall [and soem even in the pub]. thai restaurant there is always rammed, so arrive early. avoid the place if you don't like insects, as there are stuffed butterflies etc on the wall. who the hell would want to stuff a spider?
• bill clinton had a pint at the portobello gold, not that that is anything to recommend it.
• dont be tempted to go for a drink at Woodys bar in Westbourne Park. drinks are heavily overpriced, no room to move and rude bouncers make for a bad time. if you are hoping to starspot, forget it - they are all in the private members bar. you're better off going to Babushkas [round the corner from the tube]- cheaper, friendlier, and infinately more hip - leave the posing to the fashion victims and trustos!
• Teh duke of wellington...finche's

Cafes and Coffee Shops

• 3 starbucks within 10 minutes walk? is it necessary? shame that there are no independent coffee shops - they're all neros, coffee republic or starbucks.
• Lazy Daisy Cafe in Portobello Road is excellent value and a lovely place to stop in during the week - incredibly busy on Saturdays but the staff are always v friendly and helpful. Good healthy lunches and delicious puddings and cakes.
• coffee republic in portobello road - notorious for being where hugh split flourescent orange juice over julia.
• PHARAMACY CAFE

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Credits

Last updated: 2007-06-17