Category Archives: Food & Dining

food, Food & Dining, Food & Dining, Reviews

Top 10 New Notting Hill Restaurants

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I was thrilled to see that not one, but four Notting Hill restaurants made the Top 50 Restaurants in the UK at the National Restaurants Awards 2025:

Number 3: The Ledbury

Number 10: Dorian

Number 27: Canteen

Number 38: Core by Clare Smyth

Since Covid, the Notting Hill restaurant scene has been booming. So many great restaurants have opened in the neighborhood, that there is really no reason to leave anymore.

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In no particular order, Top 10 new Notting Hill Restaurants:

  1. Dorian: Excellent, except if you’re vegetarian, it won its first Michelin star after one year.
  2. Gold: Not so new anymore, but really a Notting Hill institution, with plenty for the vegetarians.
  3. Zephyr: Dressed up Greek restaurant, it is as elegant as any Mayfair restaurant with Greek salad, raw fish and meat offerings.
  4. Straker’s: Opened by an internet chef sensation, it is actually very good.
  5. SUMI: Simple, yet, good quality sushi. It’s a favourite of Julianne Moore when she’s staying in London.
  6. The Barbary: The second Barbary, after the one in Neal’s Yard, it is a sleek and cool North African restaurant serving sharing plates. Sadly one of their best dishes, the artichokes, has come off their menu. But rest assured, the food is still good.
  7. Los Mochis: Mexican food? Japanese food? Both? What’s not to love? The salmon crispy rice and cauliflower tacos are worth going to on their own (or on Deliveroo).
  8. Chez Lui: New concept from the Bagatelle group, the food is actually good: the cauliflower and the veal escalopes are both great.
  9. Nela: Coming straight from Amsterdam, the open fire concept is a roaring hit in the new Whiteley building.
  10. Canteen: Opened by the guys behind the Pelican, it surprised all of us by its arrival on the National Restaurants Awards. Just shame there is a no-reservations policy.

There are plenty more, like Julie’s, which has had a great revamp, Fan for sushi, ACRE across Straker’s, and all the new pizza places (Alley Cats and Slayer’s). Notting Hill is really becoming a foodie destination.

Enjoy!

xx

NHYM

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Food & Dining, Food & Dining, Travel

Top Terraces & Gardens in London for Outdoor Dining

After months of lockdown hibernation and as soon as ‘Outdoor Dining’ was announced, I was on my phone as fast as a thirsty Bedouin who finally sees an oasis in the middle of the desert. With assiduous determination, I booked the top gardens and terraces in London. But I wasn’t going to compromise on my sartorial style – all these were carefully picked for their strong heaters and covers, so you can go rain or shine.

Here are my top picks:

Annabels Garden

Best For: Ladies who Lunch and Celeb Spotting.

Ah Annabels… Call it a circus or a zoo, I don’t care, but its garden is one of my favourite in the city: you could be in Miami, Paris or Rome; it transports you out of London and somewhere sunny and happy. Elizabeth Hurley and her ‘little brother’ (son) made for perfect people watching.

Harry’s Bar

Best For: Old Style Glamour, Dolce Vita Style

The terrace of Harry’s Bar Mayfair is absolutely lovely. With good food and an old school vibe, be prepared to be treated royally.

180 House

Best For: The Young & Hip Crowd.

The newest offering of Soho House, it has a very cool rooftop wraparound terrace and rooftop pool, New York Style. Even though we were definitely the oldest, least cool table there, we managed to get one of the few tables with a parasol and heaters.

Arts Club

Best For: The Older Crowd Foodies When it Rains.

It was pouring rain the night we came, but it has such a great cover that we didn’t even notice. The food is, as always, excellent.

Nobu Portman Square

Best For: Sushi Lovers looking for a Hot Terrace.

Their terrace is big and has great heaters, I was actually sweating and really didn’t need my thermals, fur or blanket!

Chiltern Firehouse

Best For: A Great Breakfast on a Sunny Day.

A beautiful garden, Chiltern is my favourite for breakfast after the school run.

The River Cafe

Best For: An Italian Feast by the River

Date night or Couples night, The River Cafe is always a pleaser and they’ve made their terrace especially nice this year.

The Ivy Chelsea Garden

BEST FOR: A Family Affair

Bring the kids for lunch and let them run around. It’s a perfect place on the weekends.

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