Updated: March 2026
The Best Restaurants and Pubs in Notting Hill: A Local’s Guide for 2026
Notting Hill has become one of the most serious restaurant neighbourhoods in London. The area around Portobello Road, Westbourne Grove, Kensington Park Road and All Saints Road is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants, a Good Food Guide award-winning pub, and a dining scene that has added significant new openings across 2024 and 2025. This guide covers the best restaurants and pubs in Notting Hill as of 2026, from the fine dining institutions to the new neighbourhood spots worth knowing about.
The area covered in this guide stretches from Notting Hill Gate and Kensington Park Road in the south to Golborne Road and Westbourne Park in the north. For restaurants, that means everything from three-Michelin-star tasting menus to good Ukrainian bistros and excellent Guinness and oysters. For pubs, Notting Hill is genuinely one of the best areas in London. If you are planning time in the neighbourhood, we also have short term lets Notting Hill available for anyone wanting to stay close to everything covered here.
Fine Dining and Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Notting Hill
Core by Clare Smyth at 92 Kensington Park Road is the flagship restaurant of chef Clare Smyth, who was head chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before opening her own. Core holds three Michelin stars, making it one of only a small number of restaurants in London at that level. The cooking is rooted in British ingredients and technique, with dishes that are technically precise but never cold or theatrical. The tasting menu changes with the season. Booking is competitive and should be made well in advance.
The Ledbury at 127 Ledbury Road has been a Notting Hill institution for twenty years. Chef Brett Graham won three Michelin stars in 2024 after returning from a two-year closure, having also installed an in-house fungarium to grow his own mushrooms. The eight-course tasting menu at dinner showcases produce sourced from Graham’s own farm animals, including deer, Jersey cows and Iberian pigs. The Ledbury is among the most serious and accomplished restaurants in London and the experience is worth the investment.
Dorian at 18 Hillgate Street was awarded its first Michelin star in 2024. Chef Max Coen cooks over an open wood fire using produce from top British suppliers including Cornish butchers Phillip Warren. The restaurant has white tablecloths and a classic feel but the cooking is modern and the crowd tends to be local rather than tourist. It is one of the most interesting restaurants to open in west London in recent years.
Caractere on Westbourne Grove is an independent Michelin-starred restaurant from husband-and-wife team Diego Ferrari and Emily Roux, daughter of Michel Roux Jr. The cooking draws on both Italian and French traditions. The dining room is intimate, the service is warm and it is one of the better value Michelin-starred options in the neighbourhood.
The Best Neighbourhood Restaurants in Notting Hill
Dove at 31 Kensington Park Road opened in January 2025 when chef Jackson Boxer rebranded his long-running Notting Hill restaurant Orasay. The new Dove is less formal, a neighbourhood bistro built around dishes Boxer wants to cook at any given time. The burger has become one of the most talked about in London. Other signatures include truffle lasagne, roast chicken with Cafe de Paris butter and grenades of lasagna stuffed with deep-fried taleggio. It is good fun and books up quickly.
Akub on Uxbridge Street is chef Fadi Kattan’s Palestinian restaurant, one of the most distinctive dining experiences in Notting Hill. The room is warm and beautifully put together, with olive branches, arabesque William Morris pomegranates and a menu drawing on Palestinian recipes and ingredients including Zaytoun Fairtrade spices. Dishes include shish barak, dagga ghazzawieh and arak-cured sea bass. It is worth booking.
Speedboat Bar opened its second London location on Portobello Road in 2025 in the former Electric Diner site. The original is in Chinatown and is one of London’s best Thai restaurants. The Notting Hill version carries the same Bangkok-inspired menu with the same commitment to spice and flavour. The chicken salad with green mango kerabu is a must-order.
Sino on Pembridge Road opened in May 2025. Chef Eugene Korolev and restaurateur Polina Sychova opened this Ukrainian bistro as a love letter to their home country. Crayfish is folded in cabbage leaves and served in a tomato velouté. Glazed chicken comes with zubrowka mash. The ceramics are handcrafted by Ukrainian artisans and the staff are largely Ukrainian. It is one of the more interesting openings the neighbourhood has seen.
Los Mochis on Farmer Street blends Japanese and Mexican cooking in a dining room with Day of the Dead interiors and what many consider the best spicy mezcalita in London. The crab tostaditos, chicken tacos and spicy salmon on crispy rice are the dishes to order. Good for groups and reliably buzzy in the evenings.
Gold at 95-97 Portobello Road is a large three-storey pub and dining room with an open-flame kitchen run by ex-River Cafe chef Theo Hill. The modern European menu changes regularly and the courtyard is one of the better al fresco options in the area. It works as both a casual drink and a proper dinner.
Permit Room Portobello on Portobello Road is a Dishoom side project that opened in a Victorian pub, running as an all-day Bombay cafe. It is a different, more casual format than a full Dishoom restaurant, with a menu focused on breakfast and lunch dishes from the original Bombay cafe tradition. No bookings taken, queue-based entry.
The Best Pubs in Notting Hill
Notting Hill has one of the strongest pub scenes in London. The pubs here are not interchangeable. Each one has its own character and the best are worth seeking out specifically.
The Pelican at 45 All Saints Road was named the best pub in London by the Good Food Guide in 2025, which is the most credible accolade a British pub can receive. Restaurateur James Gummer took over what had been a run-down boozer in 2022, stripped it back and installed a kitchen that produces genuinely exceptional food: lobster and monkfish pie for two, lobster and spider crab toast as bar snacks, ales from local independent breweries. The interior is pale wood, raw plaster and good lighting. It is a serious pub that also happens to be very enjoyable to drink in.
The Cow at 89 Westbourne Park Road is run by Tom Conran and has been a Notting Hill institution for decades. It specialises in oysters and Guinness, and the combination is as good as it sounds. The Deluxe Seafood Platter is the thing to order if you want to settle in properly. Upstairs is a small dining room serving a fish-focused menu. The atmosphere is convivial and it attracts a loyal mix of locals and regulars from further afield.
The Churchill Arms at 119 Kensington Church Street is one of the most photographed pubs in London, covered in hanging baskets and window boxes that burst with colour for most of the year. Inside is an extraordinary accumulation of Churchill memorabilia, antiques and knick-knacks that rewards a slow look around. The Thai restaurant at the back has been serving excellent curries and noodle dishes for nearly 25 years and is an unlikely but genuine reason to visit. The beer garden is good in summer.
The Ladbroke Arms at 54 Ladbroke Road is the kind of pub that locals quietly guard. It is on a residential street away from the main routes, has a proper garden, an excellent Sunday roast and the sort of relaxed atmosphere that can be hard to find in central London. It tends to fill up with neighbourhood regulars on weekend afternoons and is one of the most comfortable pubs in the area.
The Walmer Castle at 58 Ledbury Road is a Victorian pub that has been running since 1845. The kitchen sources from The Ginger Pig and Flying Fish and the menu has a genuinely good British pub cooking feel, from ceviche and charcuterie to fish and chips and a proper beef burger. The private dining rooms upstairs make it a useful option for groups.
The Windsor Castle at 114 Campden Hill Road is a Victorian pub that has maintained much of its original character, with wooden floors, wall panelling and small private booths that you access by ducking through tiny doorways. It has one of the better beer gardens in Notting Hill and is the kind of place that feels genuinely historic rather than restored-to-look-historic.
The Streets Worth Knowing for Food and Drink in Notting Hill
Portobello Road is the main artery and has the widest variety, from market food stalls on Saturday mornings to proper restaurants in the evening. Gold, Speedboat Bar and Permit Room Portobello are all here.
Westbourne Grove runs east to west and has a good mix of mid-range restaurants and cafes alongside some of the neighbourhood’s smarter independent shops. The Cow is on the Westbourne Park Road end.
Kensington Park Road has the highest concentration of fine dining in the neighbourhood. Core by Clare Smyth and Dove are both here.
All Saints Road is a short street lined with good independent businesses and has The Pelican at one end. It is one of the most pleasant streets in Notting Hill to spend an afternoon on.
Golborne Road at the northern end of Portobello is worth the walk. It has Portuguese cafes, North African bakeries and a more local, less tourist-facing feel than the southern end. Caia wine bar and restaurant is on Golborne Road.
Staying in Notting Hill
Notting Hill is one of the most attractive parts of London to stay in. The streets are genuinely beautiful, the food and drink options are among the best in the city, and the neighbourhood has a residential feel that is hard to replicate in more central areas. Portobello Road Market runs on Fridays and Saturdays. Holland Park is a short walk west. Notting Hill Gate station is on the Central and Circle lines.
Luxury London Listings has a selection of serviced apartments and properties in Notting Hill for short stays and longer visits. If you would like to find out what is available for your dates, browse the Notting Hill properties on the Luxury London Listings website or contact the team to discuss requirements.
Notting Hill Food and Drink: Quick Reference
- Three Michelin-starred restaurants: Core by Clare Smyth (92 Kensington Park Road) and The Ledbury (127 Ledbury Road)
- Other Michelin-starred restaurants: Dorian (18 Hillgate Street) and Caractere (Westbourne Grove)
- Good Food Guide best pub in London 2025: The Pelican, 45 All Saints Road
- Best for oysters and Guinness: The Cow, 89 Westbourne Park Road
- Best for a classic London pub: The Churchill Arms, 119 Kensington Church Street
- Most notable 2025 openings: Dove (formerly Orasay), Speedboat Bar Notting Hill, Sino, Permit Room Portobello
- Portobello Road Market: Fridays for antiques and vintage, Saturdays for the full market including food stalls
- Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate (Central and Circle lines), Ladbroke Grove (Circle and Hammersmith and City lines)
For the full case on why this part of London is worth choosing, see why Notting Hill is one of London’s best luxury stays.
Frequently Asked Questions About Notting Hill Restaurants and Pubs
Does Notting Hill have Michelin-starred restaurants?
Yes. Notting Hill has four Michelin-starred restaurants as of 2026. Core by Clare Smyth on Kensington Park Road and The Ledbury on Ledbury Road both hold three Michelin stars, making them two of the most decorated restaurants in the UK. Dorian on Hillgate Street and Caractere on Westbourne Grove each hold one Michelin star. Having four Michelin-starred restaurants in a single neighbourhood is exceptional for London.
What are the best pubs in Notting Hill?
The Pelican on All Saints Road was named the best pub in London by the Good Food Guide in 2025 and is the standout recommendation. The Cow on Westbourne Park Road is a long-running institution best known for oysters and Guinness. The Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street is one of the most distinctive-looking pubs in London, famous for its floral exterior and a very good Thai restaurant at the back. The Ladbroke Arms on Ladbroke Road is the best option for a quiet afternoon drink or an excellent Sunday roast. The Windsor Castle on Campden Hill Road has the best beer garden in the neighbourhood.
Is Notting Hill a good area for food?
Yes, Notting Hill is one of London’s strongest food neighbourhoods. The area has a higher concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants than most parts of the city, alongside a diverse range of mid-price restaurants covering Palestinian, Ukrainian, Thai, Japanese-Mexican, Greek and Italian cooking. The Saturday Portobello Road Market also has a good selection of food stalls and producers. All Saints Road and Westbourne Grove are the streets with the most variety for a casual afternoon eating and drinking.
What are the best restaurants near Portobello Road Market?
The best restaurants near Portobello Road Market in 2026 include Gold at 95-97 Portobello Road for modern European open-fire cooking, Speedboat Bar in the former Electric Diner site for Bangkok-inspired Thai food, and Permit Room Portobello on Portobello Road for an all-day Bombay cafe menu. Los Mochis on Farmer Street is a short walk away for Japanese-Mexican fusion. For a drink after the market, The Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street and The Walmer Castle on Ledbury Road are both within walking distance.
How do I book Core by Clare Smyth or The Ledbury in Notting Hill?
Both Core by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury are three-Michelin-starred restaurants and require booking well in advance, typically weeks to months ahead depending on the time of year. Core by Clare Smyth at 92 Kensington Park Road takes reservations through their website at corebyclaresmyth.com. The Ledbury at 127 Ledbury Road takes bookings through theledbury.com. Both restaurants are tasting menu only at dinner. Lunch services are sometimes easier to book than dinner and offer shorter menu options at lower prices.
What are the newest restaurants in Notting Hill?
The most significant restaurant openings in Notting Hill in 2024 and 2025 include Dove, which is Jackson Boxer’s reimagined bistro on Kensington Park Road that replaced his former restaurant Orasay in January 2025; Speedboat Bar, the second London location of the acclaimed Thai restaurant, which opened on Portobello Road in 2025; Sino, a Ukrainian bistro from chef Eugene Korolev and Polina Sychova that opened in May 2025; and Permit Room Portobello, a Dishoom all-day Bombay cafe that opened in a converted Victorian pub on Portobello Road.
