Westbourne Grove is an upscale retail road in the heart of Notting Hill. Running right through Portobello Road, you can explore this part of the neighborhood during your trip to the famed Portobello Market. Westbourne Grove provides a nice balance to the Portobello Road’s heavy market crowds and lower-end fashion stalls and street food booths. I like to wander through the market on a Saturday with my coffee from Coffee Plant, but ultimately land on Westbourne Grove to eat and do some proper shopping.
One of the many shops on Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill
The west end of Westbourne Grove is really the focus of this review. After the Chepstow Road intersection, you head to a more practical end of the street, with simpler restaurants and stores for home improvements and weekend errands. But ahh, the west end. The sun-facing restaurants with outdoor tables, the candy colored buildings, the high-end boutiques, and the side streets that lead to even more temptations.
The Colors of Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill
The shops include Club Monaco, Jigsaw, Weekend MaxMara, to name a few, and are surrounded by modern cafes, such as 202–a clothing retailer/restaurant hybrid. There is a Daylesford organic grocery store with inside dining and shopping, but if it’s a nice sunny day, I often purchase a salmon fillet and one of their prepared salads to take outdoors. If the tables out front are unavailable, I will head to the community benches on the large center island that holds the Boris bikes and The Flowered Corner florist.
Heading to Westbourne Grove makes for a nice, sunny lunch after spin class, a great place to catch up with a friend over coffee, or an impressive place to take out-of-town guests. For guests, I usually start the adventure with brunch at Granger, but I’ll get into that another day…
As for today, it looks like it’s going to be a sunny one. A perfect time to head to Westbourne Grove with a book for a coffee, and maybe even to find a new pair of shoes. Anything to make Monday seem a little more tolerable!
Oxford Street is sort of a food desert. You really have to hunt to not fall into a tourist trap or a fast-food chain restaurant. I have always had to search down side streets to find lunch-worthy spots, but haven’t found too many that I would visit a second time. Well, today my luck changed. Wandering out of Selfridges and heading north, we headed away from the busy crowded Oxford Street for a little shopping break and for some peace and quiet. After a short walk, we stumbled upon The Ivy Cafe in Marylebone.
Awesome art at The Ivy Cafe
The Ivy Cafe was everything I needed in that moment. It was on a beautiful, quiet street. It was bustling but had tables available. It was warm and sunny inside. The menu had something for me craving my Sunday cheat meal and my husband who has been dabbling in a low-carb lifestyle. And boy was it pretty. The wall hangings were eclectic but refined. The tableware was clean and sophisticated, like a country club back at home. I was very content to be there and to settle into a corner booth with my hair-of-the-dog mimosa.
My husband enjoyed his low-carb swordfish and broccoli dish and I stuffed my face with eggs benedict, chips, and ketchup. We weren’t exactly in sync today, but we both enjoyed the different meals that were put in front of us. The chips were some of the best I have had in this country, actually (the actual best being up north in Derbyshire). They had a perfect crispy outside with a creamy potato filling. Just heaven!
The menu at The Ivy Cafe
Just what the doctor ordered at The Ivy Cafe
But, in true UK fashion, while so many things were on point, the service here fell flat. I think there are two important lessons The Ivy Cafe could stand to learn. One is to always “check back on your table within either two minutes or two bites” after a meal has been delivered. The other is to “never let glasses get less than half full.” If the servers were more attentive and followed these golden rules, I would have had ketchup for my fries sooner and would have been a lot happier. I would have also gotten a second mimosa and been a lot happier and the restaurant would have made more money. Win, win. These simple service adjustments could make a world of a difference to a patron and an establishment. And I just have to add…your salt shakers are silly. The one small hole lets one grain at a time come out after shaking it like I’m bringing it back to life. Some times function needs to outweigh or at least meet fashion.
There, I’ve said my peace, but please do not let a couple criticisms overshadow the truly wonderful restaurant that is The Ivy Cafe. It is a sunny, darling restaurant with a dapper bar and crowd to match. It is a perfect escape from Oxford Street to get full and happy before heading back to Selfridges to spend your life savings.
I wanted to be able to offer Kouzu, the grand Japanese restaurant on the busy corner of Grosvenor Gardens, a spot on the must-do list, I really did. So many elements needed for a successful restaurant were right there, at Kouzu’s disposal. I saw the potential right from the beginning of the night, but then slowly watched it go from very high to very low.
The ambiance at Kouzu is nice. The amazing lighting suspended from the high ceiling that spans the two levels is truly a work of art. It’s also what drove me to Kouzu in the first place. After driving past the location numerous times when heading towards Hyde Park, my eye was always caught by the twinkling confections that were just beyond Kouzu’s glass door. I added it to my personal must-do list, only to eventually be able to spare you by listing it as a don’t.
The grand lights at KouzuThe interesting location and light led to a split-level restaurant. What was once a grand building with high ceilings has been modified to allow for an entry level bar area, as well as a make-shift upper dining section. A staircase was built to lead to a platform and short walls to nestle within the existing walls of the main building. It is actually quite interesting the way they were able to make this loft without offending the beauty of the existing structure and its floor-to-ceiling windows. Sure, there were a couple things that they could have changed. The sushi bar lighting was so much brighter than the tables 5 feet away that it almost gave me a headache. I felt like I was eating in the dark watching an illuminated stage. Keeping the entire restaurant at an even level and allowing the sushi chefs to see with lower lights would have been much more pleasant. And I get butterflies are their thing, but the sparkly artificial butterflies perching on the window-treatments was overkill, and frankly a little cheesy. But all in all, the restaurant had clean lines and a fine degree of decorative awareness.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the host that led us upstairs to our table. Our table wobbled, like some do, and the host picked up on it without being asked. After fitting the base with a business card, he politely left us to peruse the menus. After noticing that no one had yet come to our table after a couple minutes, he came over and brought us some water. I was so impressed with how attentive this man was. I later realized he was probably constantly working overtime to make up for a very poor staff. If he was our server, I bet our experience would have been very different. After the host left the upper-level, I watched the servers stand around the computer area, not even glancing in our direction. My husband and I had time to pick our cocktails, our appetizers, our entrees, presidential candidates, fantasy football teams, the names of our unborn children, and the way to achieve world peace. Then still, no one came over. Eventually we were served, but that is not an ideal way to start a dining experience.
The drinks came quickly, which I appreciated, and the food was not far behind. Our starters included salted edamame and wild mushrooms in honey butter. I had also ordered a spicy California roll to start with, but that was not included in that first round. I figured the server was spacing out the dishes to include another round, otherwise known as wishful thinking. The starters and drinks were delicious and went down quickly, and I guess too quickly for the slow waitstaff. By the time that same slow waitress came back over to us, we had empty appetizer plates, empty cocktail glasses, and empty water glasses. We ordered two more drinks and waited for our next round of food. The spicy California roll came along with my husbands over-sized sashimi entree. I was very confused. Did this mean that my grilled salmon entree that I was meant to eat alongside my husband was not coming or that I would be eating alone when my meal arrived 20 minutes later. The latter is what happened. After reminding the woman a couple more times that we needed some water and that our cocktails were once again empty, she cleared my husbands empty plate (I insisted he start without me) and the plate that had held what was supposed to be a sushi roll appetizer.
Sashimi platter at KouzuAfter asking a couple times, and being faced with unapologetic responses, my grilled salmon finally showed up. So there I sat, eating alone, with my full husband watching me and feeling bad that a £200 dinner was such a fiasco. We then waited forever again for the plates to be cleared. We ordered desserts which came pretty quickly and were even given two complementary glasses of dessert wine. I am not sure if they recognized our frustrations or the restaurant does that for its patrons, but it was too little too late at that point. I had already decided I was never coming back and that fact is what lands a restaurant on the don’t list.
The saddest part about a story like this is that the food was actually delicious. Almost incredible. But even if you have the best intentions for your establishment, employing an incompetent manager and staff will overshadow whatever cuisine you serve. Such a shame.
Coffee Plant in West London is hands down my favorite place to take away a delicious flat white, latte or cappuccino. I know that is a bold statement, but my affinity for Coffee Plant has grown so much that I actually started purchasing their espresso beans for the cappuccino machine in my home. The taste is just right. A smooth, rich and dark roast blended with perfectly steamed milk. Too often, at other establishments, I get a “warm” latte. Does anyone ever want a “warm” latte? No, you want it hot. Steam your milk longer please.
While the decor in Coffee Plant is not very inviting, playing on more of a minimalist, hipster vibe, their location is great. They are located right at the center of Portobello Road and its weekly market. So, next time you are wandering the market and find its too early to start drinking alcohol, step into Coffee Plant for a standard flat white before you continue your stroll through the neighborhood!
Sizes and Prices at Coffee Plant, Notting Hill
Coffee Plant
180 Portobello Road
London W11 2EB
Portobello Market can fit into every visitors must-do list! Spanning the full distance of Portobello Road, the busy market attracts tens of thousands of visitors each week. Gaining popularity from films, such as Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Notting Hill, and being the central focus of the Notting Hill Carnival, the Portobello Market has earned the spot as a top tourist destination. The market is at its best on Saturdays in the summer months, but even during the week you can find some fresh vegetable stands and musicians earning their supper.
The market begins with an antiques section that leads right to the souvenir shop that was the setting for Hugh Grant’s bookstore in the movie Notting Hill. From there you will pass dozens of food stalls offering everything from prepared paella, cheeseburgers, and falafels to fresh fruit and vegetable stands.
Pastries at the Portobello Market The Beginning of an Amazing Cheese Plate on Portobello Road
You can also pick up gourmet olive oils, cheeses, and raw and cured meats. Along the path of continuous snacks, treats, t-shirts and tchotchkes, you will find the famous Blue Door. The Blue Door was used as the setting for Hugh Grant’s home in Notting Hill. Be prepared, you may have to wait in line for pictures! Close to the Blue Door is the Notting Hill Bookshop. This bookshop is made to look similar to Hugh’s shop in the movie, but filming did not actually take place there. Even still, the bench out front makes for a cute photo op.
A Crafty Booth on Portobello Road
Keep making your way through the market and you will get to the fashion stalls. This area of the market, just under the Westway Flyover, is a thrift store enthusiast’s dream. It is comprised of rows and rows of each type of every used, retro, vintage piece of clothing and accesssories imaginable.
Just across the way from the fashion booths is the Acklam Village. This area off of the market has high energy with music blasting to entertain the crowd indulging in the street food stalls. Through the village of tasty treats, you will find a bar and even a “beach”! Real sand is brought in during the summer months to allow Londoners a place to chill out in a lounge chair with a cold drink in their hands!
Acklam Village off of Portobello Road
The last section of the market takes you through stalls of home furnishings. This includes everything from chairs to cattle skulls. It truly is a treasure hunt and some days you may get very lucky with an amazing find.
Housewares at the Portobello Market
This is just the basic outline of the Portobello Market. There are many items to be discovered and a lot of side streets to wander down once you find yourself on Portobello Road. I take every visitor to the market and embrace the energy, culture, and colors that is Notting Hill.
I have to admit something. I am a cat person. And I may just borderline on being a Crazy Cat Lady. I am okay with this and my husband pats himself on the back for marrying me and saving me from fully earning that cat-obsessed title. I love all animals, but cats have a special place in my heart, so when I heard about Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium–a cafe where you could have an afternoon tea surrounded by cats–I booked the first date they had available.
Lady Dinah’s concept is ingenious. They offer an afternoon tea experience with all of the accoutrements traditionally offered at a proper English tea, but with a twist. Some people say “If you’ve been to one tea, you’ve been to them all.” Well, Lady Dinah’s is truly the exception. Lady Dinah’s made going to another tea seem not only exciting, but brand new.
Located in Shoreditch, I expected more of a relaxed cafe vibe, and less of a posh tea setting, but I was unprepared for what I was faced with. For Seinfeld fans, the term Bizarro World pops into my head. The waitstaff were hyper and cat-obsessed, and jumped into any conversation we were having to talk about the cats. I made a comment to my girlfriends about one cat on the floor, and out of nowhere, the waitress popped her head into our circle and decided to give us the entire rundown of where Mr. Whiskers likes to be tickled and which cat is his girlfriend and what he likes to do with his Sunday afternoons. It was really freaking weird. We all were taking bets on if we were surrounded by people on uppers or if we were actually on the inside of a cult. No. Exaggerations.
A Relaxed Cat at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium
The cats themselves is what brought the weirdness to a whole new level. There are clearly defined rules around the cafe which are in place for good reasons. You can’t enter without having first washed your hands. You cannot wake or touch a sleeping cat. You can’t give any of them food. All reasonable requests that protect the safety and wellbeing of the creatures. Still, after all of the precautions taken to protect these cats, I still couldn’t help but think something was wrong with them. Never in my 31 years of living and growing up around cats have I seen so many of them in one room with no energy whatsoever. Most were asleep and oblivious to the people around them, but even the ones that were awake seemed to have no awareness of the situation. It seemed completely unnatural and unlike any experience with cats I have ever had. Our entire table was confused and questioned again if we were in some strange cat cult or, if while the waitstaff was possibly on uppers, that perhaps the cats were on downers. It just did not add up.
By all means, feel free to try the cafe and let me know if your experience is any different. I actually hope it is. The idea is special and great, and they actually provided nice quality food and drink with adorable touches. Just look at the tea sandwiches! But, at the end of the experience, no amount of cute little cat buns could make up for the awkward feeling I had when I walked out the cafe doors.
Tea Sandwiches at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium
Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium
152-154 Benthal Green Road
Shoreditch
London E26DG
From the same masterminds that brought us Soho House, the Electric Diner, and Pizza East (just to name a few), is a low-fuss rotisserie joint called Chicken Shop. I paid a visit to their Kentish Town location and had an awesome experience. The restaurant aims to serve consistent, high-quality organic chicken, and doesn’t disappoint. Nor do they fuss around with anything else. The menu is chicken and chicken only. You can get a quarter, whole or half bird, right off the rotisserie spit. Nicely seasoned and salted, it’s served with a few side sauces and a wedge of lemon. The only variety on the menu are a few tasty sides and of course a nice selection of beers.
My husband and I headed there on a weeknight, totally relaxed in jeans and sneaks, and bellied up to their oversized bar that doubled as a kitchen island. We had a front row seat of the open kitchen and were mesmerized by the cooks effortless flow of frying, salting, plating, and chopping. We had a couple beers, a whole chicken (which provided leftovers), a side of fries, and an order of corn on the cob. Everything was great. I did have a huge craving for a side of corn bread when I was there, but maybe that was just the American in me and the similarities between Chicken Shop and a U.S. BBQ joint.
(Simple fare at Chicken Shop in Kentish Town)
My corn bread craving was actually satisfied when we got to dessert. Their limited list of desserts offered one of the best apple pies I have ever had in my life. Although it was nothing similar to a traditional apple pie, I am still daydreaming about the dish. Your typical pie is to have a light, flaky, golden crust. This was more of an apple grunt (or a type of cobble) that was served deep dish, scooped tableside onto your plate, and had a cakey moist topping. This cake topping is what cured my corn bread needs and put the apple pie on my all-time favorite dessert list.
So, head to Chicken Shop for a chill night and delicious versions of basic staples. Beer, chicken, and pie. What more do we really need?
Chicken Shop
Downstairs
79 Highgate Road
London NW5 ITL
Great Mexican is hard to find in London. In the U.S., authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex style restaurants are a staple to most neighborhoods. Here, the Mexican population is much smaller than the states, as is the Mexican restaurant community. According to a recent U.K. census, only about 10,000 Mexicans are living in the U.K., compared to the 35 million residing in the U.S. Therefore, it is not surprising why finding delicious Mexican cuisine is a challenge. Being at the top of my favorite fare, I try any Mexican restaurant I come across, and have a long list of which ones hit the mark and which ones do not. I can say that Santo, at the top of Portobello Road in Notting Hill, does not disappoint.
Santo is a relaxed hotspot, perfect for any day of the week. I have been visiting the restaurant since I first came to London, for weekend dinners with friends and last-minute weeknight meals when I didn’t feel like cooking. Reservations are an absolute must. They can usually squeeze you in on the weeknights, but you might have to be flexible for them to accommodate you on the weekends. So why is Santo always so packed?
The atmosphere is great. Super chill. The roadside outdoor seating is perfect for people watching, and the inside tables are close to the giant open windows that you get to feel the best of both worlds. The back room is colorful and the entire restaurant buzzes with the energy of a full house.
Margaritas at Santo, Notting Hill
The drinks and food are delicious. I always opt for a jalapeño margarita (or two, maybe three) and an assortment of tacos. Unfortunately, the price is a little steep for a Mexican joint. Santo is really more of a tapas place, with their tiny delicious tacos and quesadillas that you can gobble up in two bites. It has the menu of a cool, hipster food-truck, but at premium prices. An impromptu weeknight meal usually runs us about £80.00. But we keep coming back for more. We all do.
So, go check it out and see why their tables are filled every Tuesday-Saturday, next time you’re on the famed Portobello Road. On market days, they expand their hours to open for lunch which can make for a great day out.
The Exterior of Santo, Notting Hill
Santo
299 Portobello Road
London W10 5TD
English people genuinely love tea. Like really love tea. In kind of a “you have to see it to believe it” sort of way. I am often exploring the north and south of the county (outside of the London bubble) and believe me, English people love tea. I get offered tea multiple times per day and see teacups and tea trays and tea towels all over the place. It’s like the American coffee addiction on steroids that are made of politeness. So, it comes as no surprise that afternoon and cream teas are offered absolutely everywhere. Experiencing one is almost a Rite of Passage. I have, and many, and unfortunately put the tea at The Ritz towards the bottom of my list.
The afternoon tea at The Ritz is held in their Palm Court. Now I’ve been to many a Ritz and many a Palm Court, so I can honestly say, this one is nothing special. Sure, it has a posh location, is set by the park, and was featured in the movie, Notting Hill, but following a recent visit to the Palm Court at The Plaza in Manhattan, this one just fell flat.
The Ritz’s Palm Court is sort of awkward. It is extremely bright, and not in a sunny screened-in porch sort of way, but more like a really uncomfortable office. The tea itself comes at the hefty price of £66 per person. This includes a glass of champagne, the usual assortment of cakes, scones, and tea sandwiches, and of course tea. The beverages were fine, but the edibles were almost inedible. I took nibbles of each so each one got a fair shot, but that was that. At the end of the meal, the servers come around with a beautiful “Celebration Cake” and offer slices along with an additional charge of £11. I thought the whole idea of the “Celebration Cake” was a little tacky and decided to quit while I was ahead–or at least before I got too far behind.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a lovely hotel with a charming staff, but London just has too many amazing afternoon teas out there to be able to place this one on a must-do list. Stay tuned to find out which ones actually make the cut, and don’t fall for The Ritz simply because, well, it’s The Ritz.
Marylebone’s The Cavendish restaurant is the right amount of everything. It’s a hip gastropub for a Happy Hour cocktail, a smart lounge for a nightcap, and an elegant spot for a special meal. I particularly recommend it for a sunny, afternoon. If you find yourself wandering the Marylebone High Street shops around lunchtime, stop into The Cavendish for one of the most impressive lunch specials around. At just £18.00, the gourmet chefs prepare you two over-sized courses. You leave full and happy which is pretty rare for a discounted lunch deal.
We did not have a reservation, but they had plenty of room to accommodate us for our impromptu business lunch. We sat upstairs at a bright and warm table by a window. The boutique decor and finishing touches were very impressive. The waitstaff was polite and always available, yet not over-bearing. The food was delicious.
(Beautiful butter at The Cavendish)
Now, here comes the caveat. The Cavendish has a reputation of being over-priced. This is why I am highlighting their lunch specials because it really is a great value. Previously, I wasn’t as impressed due to the price, and also the amount of unneeded fuss that goes into justifying those prices. While finishing a scampi dish tableside is a cool novelty, is it really necessary? Once, I was feeling a little down for missing the stateside Kentucky Derby. In true Derby fashion, I ordered a Mint Julep at the bar. They casually asked if I wanted the premium version which I accepted, not realizing that it came with a premium price tag of £20.00! That over-priced Julep ended up taking twice as long to make. I’ve expressed my frustrations with waiting for craft cocktails before, but I thought paying more was supposed to get you things faster? Not here.
But, aside from those small grievances, The Cavendish is still a cool restaurant in a great area. I will be back for their lunch offer with colleagues, in for cocktails with friends, and there for dinner with my husband. Maybe I’ll see you there.
(Green never looked so good at The Cavendish)
(A few of my favorite things at The Cavendish)
The Cavendish
35 New Cavendish Street
London W1G 9TR
(Simple fare at Chicken Shop in Kentish Town)
(Beautiful butter at The Cavendish)
(Green never looked so good at The Cavendish)
(A few of my favorite things at The Cavendish)
The London Checklist 