Beach Blanket Babylon
Famous for its wildly gothic interior, this bar serves coffee and snacks during the day, and becomes a swanky cocktail lounge in the evenings. A good place to mingle with the fashionable Notting Hill crowd.
45 Ledbury Road W11
Churchill Arms
Filled with intriguing bric-à-brac and Churchill memorabilia, this is a large, friendly Victorian pub. Inexpensive Thai food is served in the conservatory at lunchtime and for dinner until 9:30pm.
119 Kensington Church Street W8
The Orangery Tea Rooms
Open for tea, coffee and lunch, this delightful café is located in a pretty conservatory overlooking Kensington Gardens (see Kensington on Foot).
Kensington Palace W8
Portobello Gold
This trendy bar, used by local antique dealers, has a suitably alternative atmosphere and an upstairs Internet bar. There is also a conservatory restaurant.
95–97 Portobello Road W11
Nag’s Head
A short walk from Hyde Park is this little gem serving Adnams beer and quality pub food. The low ceilings and wood panelling add to the cosy, village-like atmosphere here.
53 Kinnerton Street SW1
Paxton’s Head
A popular watering hole for both locals and visitors, this old pub caters for all tastes, with cocktails and flavoured vodkas as well as real ales.
153 Knightsbridge SW1
Morelli’s Gelato
Freshly made in Harrod’s kitchens, traditional ice cream and sorbet is made with the freshest ingredients. Have your own bespoke flavour created within 24 hours.
Knightsbridge SW1
Fifth Floor Café
Open all day for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.
Harvey Nichols, 67 Brompton Road SW3
Market Bar
This atmospheric pub is popular with locals.
240A Portobello Road W11
Portobello Stalls
Along the market there are stalls offering ethnic food of every kind. The area also has a good choice of cafes around Portobello Green.
Portobello Road W11
Tube Westbourne Park
Clarke’s
The menu consists of whatever chef Sally Clarke decides to cook for the evening meal. Whatever it is will be excellent.
124 Kensington Church Street W8
020 7221 9225
Belvedere
The restaurant’s romantic setting in Holland Park is enhanced by its good European food. From the patio in summer, you may hear distant opera from the park’s open-air theatre.
Holland Park W8
020 7602 1238
L-Restaurant & Bar
Experience classy contemporary Spanish cooking at this stylish two-floor glasshouse. Service is solicitous.
2 Abingdon Road W8
020 7795 6969
Amaya
Amaya’s dishes take modern Indian cuisine to a new level. Flash-grilled scallops, charcoal-grilled aubergine and tandoori duck are served up in a rosewood-panelled dining room.
Halkin Arcade, 19 Motcomb Street SW1
020 7823 1166
Disabled access
O Fado
Friendly staff serve authentic Portuguese delights, including bacalau (salt cod). There’s also live fado – Portuguese folk music – at the oldest Portuguese restaurant in London.
49–50 Beauchamp Place SW3
020 7589 3002
Royal China
A tempting variety of dim sum, including delicious char siu buns, are the main attraction here.
13 Queensway W2
020 7221 2535
Magic Wok
The menu offers an exciting range of Cantonese dishes.
100 Queensway W2
020 7792 9767
No disabled access
Wódka
Vodka comes in carafes at this leading East European restaurant. Try the smoked salmon and caviar blinis.
12 St Albans Grove W8
020 7937 6513
Disabled access (except toilets)
Racine
Expect quality French cooking, including offal and plenty of garlic, in a wonderfully “Parisian” atmosphere.
239 Brompton Road SW3
020 7584 4477
Mr Chow
You’ll find authentic Chinese dishes such as drunken fish in this long-established and fashionable restaurant.
151 Knightsbridge SW1
020 7589 7347
