London – Around Town : Kensington and Knightsbridge (part 3) – Pubs and Cafés, Restaurants

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Pubs and Cafés




  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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




  8. Fifth Floor Café

    Open all day for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.

    • Harvey Nichols, 67 Brompton Road SW3




    Harvey Nichols

  9. Market Bar

    This atmospheric pub is popular with locals.

    • 240A Portobello Road W11

  10. 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


Restaurants




  1. 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




  2. 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

  3. L-Restaurant & Bar

    Experience classy contemporary Spanish cooking at this stylish two-floor glasshouse. Service is solicitous.

    • 2 Abingdon Road W8

    • 020 7795 6969

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Royal China

    A tempting variety of dim sum, including delicious char siu buns, are the main attraction here.

    • 13 Queensway W2

    • 020 7221 2535

  7. Magic Wok

    The menu offers an exciting range of Cantonese dishes.

    • 100 Queensway W2

    • 020 7792 9767

    • No disabled access

  8. 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)

  9. Racine

    Expect quality French cooking, including offal and plenty of garlic, in a wonderfully “Parisian” atmosphere.

    • 239 Brompton Road SW3

    • 020 7584 4477

  10. 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