I like to start our day at the Danish-inspired Hjem in Kensington. It’s the perfect pitstop for your morning coffee and watching passers-by, plus they do the best pastries.

On Portobello Road’s corner, Layla Bakery serves some of West London’s finest pastries and sandwiches—an essential stop.

A great option for brunch — that might turn into lunch — is the Golborne Deli, it’s one of the best delicatessens in west London with an incredible sustainable wine selection. I order the Eggs Hemingway or their pies and quiches for lunch.

Just a few doors down and a recent addition on Golborne Road scene is Klear Labs. This design-led café and juice bar offers cold-pressed juices, functional lattes, and health-forward bites.

It’s both a wellness hub and a creative hangout—ideal after a breathwork or yoga class at nearby Love Supreme.

Canteen, the newest from the team behind The Pelican, serves up excellent food with a daily-changing menu crafted by Jessica Filbey (ex-River Cafe) and Lauren Joseph (ex-Dorian). Book early—you don’t want to miss it.

A hole-in-the-wall sandwich spot beloved by insiders, offering inventive, crave-worthy sandwiches—and some seriously cool merch to match.

And if sushi’s more your style, Sumi on Westbourne Grove serves the best in Notting Hill.

"On Golborne Road by famed British chef Thomas Straker is well worth a visit for a long lunch – if you can get in."

My favorite dining spot is Dorian on Talbot Road. It's hard to get a booking. The atmosphere is lively and cool, the food exceptional, and it proudly earned its first Michelin star in 2024. If you can’t snag a spot, pop over to Eel, a minimalist seafront counter from the same team, offering the freshest sushi and razor-sharp sake pairings in an intimate setting.

Reopened after some rather extensive renovations on the most picturesque square in Holland Park, Julie’s has been a neighborhood classic since the 1960s. Chef Patron Owen Kenworthy (previously The Pelican) oversees a regularly changing, all-day carte of Modern French brasserie cooking.

The former Orasay has reopened as Dove, maintaining its excellent reputation. Known for standout seafood and a legendary burger that’s limited in number each day—so get there early if you want to try it.

This Moorish-leaning new outpost of toThe Barbary offers punchy North African-inspired dishes and a perfect stool at the counter—ideal for solo dining or a vibey date night.

I can never resist a good wine bar, and Notting Hill’s Cépage is one of the best. Small but perfectly formed, it’s perfect for a date.

The Pelican on All Saints Road remains a W11 institution. Ask for the table right in front of the fireplace and settle in for an evening of brilliant simplicity.

For proper British pub vibes, head to the Ladbroke Arms in Holland Park. It’s tiny but serves incredible food, plus a beautiful terrace for sunny days.

Come for the sound system, stay for the small plates—Caia mixes elevated bar bites with vinyl DJ sets in a sultry, music-led space on Golborne Road.

Just north of Hyde Park, Sol’s is a stylish all‑day deli‑meets‑wine‑bar, serving Mediterranean‑leaning small plates alongside a thoughtfully curated wine list—perfect for coffee at 10 am or a glass of vino at 10 pm.

One of the oldest bookstores in London, Daunts is a wonderful place to simply hang out on a Saturday afternoon. You’ll find me in the travel section.

Carnivores should head to C. Lidgate on Holland Park Avenue, which is an absolute institution. And if you’re lucky, you might bump into David Beckham on a Saturday morning — he lives across the street.

Supermarket of Dreams in Holland Park feels more like being in a nightclub than a food store. Embrace the incredible design and don’t look at the price tags.

Right next to Julie’s on Clarendon Cross, you’ll find Myriad, which carries a great selection of rustic antiques from the countryside.

A quirky café-meets-currency-exchange from the same team behind Sol's, serving top-notch coffee alongside a curated selection of boutique news publications. Housed in a retro-styled former bureau de change, Foreign Exchange News is a one-of-a-kind local gem where you can sip espresso while checking live FX rates.

Run by Sicilian couple Giuseppe and Caterina Di Matteo, Panella serves simple, unfussy Sicilian street food—you order at the counter, grab a seat, and enjoy focaccia, arancini, and fresh cannoli. It’s earned a quiet cult following among locals and Italians, with queues regularly snaking around the corner at lunch.

"The Princess Royal in Notting Hill is my new favorite pub with rooms in W11. Tastefully restored and ablaze with vibrant spaces including a light-flooded conservatory, grand private feasting rooms, four boutique bedrooms, and two splendid terraces by Jinny Blom. The food offering is inspired by the gloriously sun-drenched Mediterranean way of life, as well as a focus on seasonality and bountiful British produce."

For something more homey, The Portobello Hotel sits right in Notting Hill’s heart. With bohemian charm, eclectic rooms filled with antiques, murals, and modern touches, it’s a true local gem.

Mason & Fifth’s Westbourne Park outpost is a stylish addition to West London’s hospitality scene, set along the canal in the former London Taxi Drivers’ HQ. Perfect for short or long-term stays, it blends flexible living with a creative coworking space, a sleek wellness area featuring a sauna, gym, and pool, plus Canal—a new waterside hangout from the team behind Bistro Freddie and Crispin.