Abida Mian's Blog
An outlier that's living, learning and being myself…Archive for Notting Hill
The Prince Bonaparte, Westbourne Park, W2
This could be one of my favourite pubs, not pretentious. Mix of bat**** crazy Notting Hiller’s. Second time I’ve been here for a Sunday roast. Delicious food. The barman came and chatted to us, gave me and my bestie a free dessert and randomly kissed the top of my head. Very friendly bunch!
Highly recommend. Supposed to be working but slacking off for once, now back to my spreadsheets 😦
The Commander Porterhouse & Oyster Bar, 47 Hereford Road
The second time we’ve had our office Christmas party at The Commander on Hereford Road. Both times we’ve had a general knowledge quiz, with everyone putting money in, both times, the winners were great sports and put it towards our food & drinks bill at the end of the night.
In the heart of Notting Hill, this bar is somewhere I feel suits me well. I’m not into crowded noisy bars/pubs, and whilst this undoubtedly gets busy, it’s still comfortable enough to relax in. The Commander has a private room, which we rented out for the evening, it’s always beautifully decorated. There are glass doors which we can shut so as not to disturb the rest of the bar goers when we start to get rowdy over who’s cheated on the quiz 😉 The food and service was excellent.
This year our party also doubled up as a leaving do for my colleague Big Baby (James). The evening was both happy and sad, Big Baby (nickname just stuck) I’ve worked with for over five years. In that time, we’ve never argued or got on each other’s nerves. Not a mean feat given how small the office is. In nearly 11 years I’ve been there, I’ve worked with some many wonderful people. Big Baby though is my all time favourite.
When the end of our party drew near, Big Baby and I had a bit of a deep conversation. He said it always struck him that he wanted to help me with work, but I would say I’m fine. Instead he would see when I was stressed and run across the road to get me a snack, or drive to my favourite chip shop, Georges on Portobello Road, and bring it back for us to eat. He did that he said because the office couldnt cope without me, it was nice to hear his words of respect. I will miss my little brother…
Over all, the night was a success, enjoyed by all. I would highly recommend this bar.
Electric Cinema
Electric Cinema, originally uploaded by kensingtonabida.
Located on the trendy Portobello Road, The Electric Cinema is a cool place to visit, and even great for a casual date (food is good).
Notting Hill Brasserie – Kensington Park Road
Address: 92 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2PNÂ Â | Tel. 020 7229 4481Â | http://www.nottinghillbrasserie.com
I recently dined here with friends and had a really lovely time. Located in the heart of Notting Hill, this chic restaurant has a romantic feel to it. The decor is neutral, ceilings high, and opposite our table there was a man playing on the piano. The service was excellent, I didn’t order a starter as I wanted to save space for a dessert 🙂
I had the Chicken main course Рroast breast with wild mushroom risotto and artichoke pur̩e Рit was absolutely delicious. Followed by my favourite dessert combination: Fondant Рwarm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream. One word Рyummy!
I wasn’t sure what to wear but opted for smart casual, as this is Notting Hill! I wore my high-waisted J Brand Doll jeans with a silk floral blouse and heels. Everyone looked smartly dressed – men in trousers and shirt, and quite a few women were wearing cocktail style dresses, but it was a Saturday night. There was no pretentious feel to this place.
Location: It’s within walking distance from Notting Hill Gate Underground Station (approx 10 mins), or I hitched a lift from my friend as they have a K&C parking permit, so we ended up parking just opposite the restaurant.
Check out my review of Notting Hill Brasserie – I am kensingtonabida – on Qype
Paul Rhodes Bakery, Notting Hill Gate
Bakeries are my weakness, I love anything sweet like cakes 🙂 Inside the decor is modern, you can buy from a selection of fresh bread, pastries and cakes. I bought a medium slice of pizza and a warm croissant, both delicious, a friend had one of their sandwichs, but although he conceded it was a little pricey, he said it was delicious.
Although there isn’t much space for sitting inside, the premises has been cleverly designed with a small mezzanine level where there are a few tables and chairs, and outside on the street there are a few tables.
The only downside is that it can take a while to get served, it’s not the best in terms of service, but it’s certainly a yummy place to go to if you’re in the area.
Denbigh Terrace, W11
I pass Denbigh Terrace when I walk along Portobello Road. Very pretty street, pastel-coloured houses, and the pink rose bush on the corner caught my attention on a recent trip to Cath Kidston.
The Mall Tavern in Notting Hill
London – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Pubs
Quietly tucked away in one of Kensington’s premier tree-lined streets (just off Kensington Church Street/Notting Hill Gate), sits a rather cosy pub called The Mall Tavern.
Although I don’t really frequent pubs that often (I don’t drink for a start!), this is the one that I usually end up in for after work drinks.
The Mall Tavern isn’t particularly big but I’ve always managed to get a seat. The decor inside is modern and toilets upstairs are clean (important when us girls need a touch up!), and there is a separate eating area and the food is pretty good. Even if you decide not to eat here, this is still a good place to have a few cheeky drinks before heading off to the many restaurants in Notting Hill (I recommend Kensington Place, which is just across the road from The Mall Tavern).
This pub is located on Palace Gardens Terrace, which is one of Notting Hill’s most prestigious roads. If you need to get home via public transport then there is a bus stop on the opposite side of the road whilst Notting Hill Gate (Central, District & Circle Lines) Underground Station is just a short stroll away, and when the weather is good (providing you don’t spend all night in the pub!), you can go for a romantic stroll in Kensington Gardens 🙂
Check out my review of The Mall Tavern – I am kensingtonabida – on Qype
Seventeen Restaurant in Notting Hill Gate
- Seventeen
I recently had a Christmas party in this newly opened restaurant on Notting Hill Gate (this used to be an Italian restaurant for many years before it was sold). I have to admit that I rarely eat Chinese food, which is why I wanted to write a review on this place. I went with an open-mind and have to say the food was spot-on! Instead of opting for a rather ‘boring’ stick to the safe option of choosing from the menu, as there were seven of us, we decided to let the restaurant choose the dishes and we all payed roughly £50 per person (including drinks). Each time a dish was served there was an element of surprise, I eat everything that was given to me (which doesn’t happen that often) and by the end of it all, was stuffed! I particularly enjoyed the scallops and crispy duck – superb! The decor was modern and sleek, and the women that served us were friendly & engaging. Ok, so it was slightly expensive, but worth the money and I would recommend to give it a try, perhaps as a venue for a date 🙂
 Address: 17 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11
- Notting Hill Gate
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