Here’s our picks for some of the top pubs & bars in Notting Hill!

The Castle
225 Portobello Road, W11 1LU
Website: www.castleportobello.co.uk
Underground: Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill Gate
There are a number of pubs on Portobello Road that are ideal for having a drink or two after a hard day’s shopping/walking/sightseeing…or just ideal for a having a drink or two…and this is one of my favourites!

The Champion
1 Wellington Terrace, W2 4LW
Website: www.thechampionpub.co.uk
Underground: Notting Hill Gate
A very cosy place, and really easy to get to (it’s actually on the corner of Notting Hill Gate). Good selection of drinks, although service is a little…how shall we say…relaxed. Nevertheless, a good place to get together with a bunch of friends.

The Cow
89 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QH
Website: www.thecowlondon.co.uk
Underground: Royal Oak or Westbourne Park
Perennially popular pub (ooh, catchy phrase!), only a few minutes’ walk from Portobello Road. High praise from all guides, the pub was founded by Tom Conran of Conran family fame. Irish pub with good, reasonably priced food, especially fish and oysters. Afternoons in this place are reasonably quiet; if you go on a summer evening, except to have to fight your way to the bar.

Crazy Homies
125 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QL
Website: www.crazyhomieslondon.co.uk
If tequila’s your tipple of choice, make sure you pay this place a visit for the fairly extensive Mexican-themed drinks menu – plenty of margaritas and other tequila cocktails. (Ever tried a lagerita? Give it a go!) Food served here too.

Earl of Lonsdale
277 – 281 Westbourne Grove, W11 2QA
Underground: Notting Hill Gate
A traditional boozer that’s great for both winter and summer! There’s a large, walled garden to the side of the pub, perfect for evening drinks when the weather’s good, whilst indoors, private little alcoves give the place a lovely, cozy feel.

The Gate
87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ
Website: www.gaterestaurant.co.uk
Underground: Notting Hill Gate
The Gate prides itself on its extensive cocktail selection, from house specials to reliable classics. Relax in one of the hidden corners of the cosy candle lit lounge bar and work your way through the menu, or ask the experienced bar tenders to make something special for you.

The KPH
139 Ladbroke Grove, W10 6HJ
Website: www.thekph.com
Underground: Ladbroke Grove
The KPH is a traditional public house that still retains some of its untouched original features and beautiful Victorian decor. Great food selection of the American diner style variety and a very decent choice for beer and wine, as well as some pretty darn good cocktails. There’s also regular live music and DJ sets to liven things up in the evenings.

The Lonsdale
48 Lonsdale Road, W11 2DE
Website: www.thelonsdale.co.uk
Underground: Notting Hill Gate
Both a bar and a restaurant, the bar section has a very funky, retro decor. Another place with great cocktails, you’ll no doubt end up trying quite a few! This place can get very packed on weekend nights, so a reservation is advisable, although not necessary. Upstairs is a private members bar.

The Mall Tavern
71-73 Palace Gardens Terrace, W8 4RU
Website: www.themalltavern.com
Underground: Notting Hill Gate
The Mall Tavern provides the perfect mix of good drinks and delicious British food, plus friendly service and a relaxed vive. Great for drinks with friends or a meal with the family; this is also the kind of welcoming place that you can pop along to on an afternoon for a coffee and a quiet read. There’s also a small outdoor area for when the weather’s good.

The Metropolitan
60 Great Western Road, W11 1AB
Website: www.themetropolitanw11.co.uk
Underground: Westbourne Park
Great pub with a cosy interior (think leather sofas and an open fire) for cold winter days and a spacious beer garden for summer – as well as a roof terrace! Good selection of drinks, and nice food menu too. Private areas are available for hire upstairs. Very popular on weekends! There’s also a number of great events taking place at the Metropolitan – for example, the Portobello Accoustic Sessions each Thursday showcases the latest singer and songwriting talent.

The Mitre
40 Holland Park Avenue, W11 3QY
Website: www.themitrew11.co.uk
Underground: Ladbroke Grove
With a nice outdoor area at the front of the pub that’s perfect for a summer’s evening, this one is both a pub and proper restaurant. Some delicious options on the food menu, there’s also a very good wine-list.

Montgomery Place
31 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU
Website: www.montgomeryplace.co.uk
Underground: Ladbroke Grove
For when only cocktails will do, this American-style bar definitely hits the spot. Some fabulous concoctions are on the menu (your main problem will be making a choice!), and there’s some great bar food too. A small space (not that this negatively effects the experience) means the bar never gets over-crowded.

The North Pole
13-15 North Pole Road, W10 6QH
Website: www.thenorth-pole.co.uk
Underground: Latimer Road or Ladbroke Grove
So, this place is towards the north of Notting Hill – but the name is surely overkill, right? No, of course! (It’s named after the road.) A welcoming pub with its vast, open room and pleasant decor there’s a good selection of drinks plus a typical pub food menu too.

The Oak
137 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5QL
Website: www.theoaklondon.com
Underground: Royal Oak or Westbourne Park
Stylish place with a restaurant on the ground floor and funky bar on the first, which almost has a private members’ bar feel to it. The downstairs restaurant serves delicious pizzas, whilst upstairs there’s great cocktails and tapas.

The Pelican
45 All Saints Road, W11 1HE
Website: www.thepelicanw11.co.uk
Underground: Ladbroke Grove or Westbourne Park
Rather smart pub occupying a grand space on the corner of All Saints Road, meaning a very light and airy central room. Comfy seats and a decent selection of wines and beers, there’s also a rather extensive food menu – including roasts on Sundays!

The Portobello Star
171 Portobello Road, W11
Website: portobellostarbar.co.uk
Underground: Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill Gate
This place has undergone a makeover not too long ago, so what was once a half-decent boozer has now become trendy bar – but not in an annoying way – that serves up some excellent cocktails! The DJs on some of the nights help crank up the atmosphere too.

Prince Albert
11 Pembridge Road, W11 3HQ
Underground: Notting Hill Gate
You know those times when you get out the tube station, think to yourself “I really can’t be bothered to walk miles just for a drink in a swanky bar” and stumble into the nearest pub? Well this is the pub you should stumble into. And not just because it’s near, but because it’s a very nice pub to boot! Wide selection of draught beers and other drinks, good food and a beer garden at the back. Quite trendy, too.

The Prince Bonaparte
80 Chepstow Road, W2
Website: www.theprincebonapartew2.co.uk
Underground: Royal Oak, Queensway, Bayswater or Notting Hill Gate
Friendly and cosy gastropub occupying this corner space on Chepstow Road (so you can sit by the window and watch the world go by). Gets pretty busy on the weekends.

The Tabernacle
35 Powis Square, off Portobello Road, W11 2AY
Website: www.tabernacleW11.com
Underground: Ladbroke Grove
Great place close to Ladbroke Grove that’s not just a bar serving some rather nice food (with a spacious beer garden to boot) but a local community venue for all sorts of events, from music to comedy to art exhibitions and much, much more. Pop in – you never know what might be on! Fascinating history too…

Trailer Happiness
177 Portobello Road, W11 2DY
Website: www.trailerh.com
Underground: Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill Gate
Eclectic bar, eclectic decor, eclectic cocktails…all in all, quite an experience! This basement bar serves great concoctions – the Tiki cocktails are definitely recommended – as well as snack food. Can get really, really packed on weekend nights, so it is advisable to get here a bit early if want a seat…or even some breathing space. Shuts early, unfortunately.

The Westbourne Tavern
101 Westbourne Park Villas, W2 5ED
Website: thewestbourne.com
Underground: Royal Oak or Westbourne Park
Just across the road from The Cow. Lovely outside seating area at the front, which catches the sun directly. Funky decor inside. Good selection of beer and food. The haunt of many a celeb (apparently).