To many travellers, London isn’t only England’s capital city, it’s the heart of the nation’s food and drink industry. With at least 83 of the city’s over 15,000 restaurants carrying at least one Michelin star, there’s quality all over London, but some districts hold their own unique charm.
Photo by Bethany Opler
Notting Hill, perhaps best known for its annual carnival, bustling markets and (of course) the beloved 1999 rom-com of the same name, is just one of these spots. With so many amazing restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from, it’s easy for visitors to miss out on some of the area’s best eateries, that is, without a little inside information from your own personal guide.
So, if you’re planning to visit London and fancy a trip to the quaint and colourful Notting Hill, below are some unmissable restaurants you can book now on OpenTable in no time at all.
What’s OpenTable
First things first – what’s OpenTable and why should I use it? OpenTable is a handy digital restaurant reservation service you can access from your phone or computer. It’s a great tool for travellers who want to not only find the best restaurants in Notting Hill (or across over 80 participating countries) but also reserve tables far in advance to cut hassle during your visit.
Photo by bady abbas
5 Unmissable Restaurants in Notting Hill to Book on OpenTable
Notting Hill is one of London’s most vibrant, multicultural districts, so it’s only fitting that the area is home to so many amazing restaurants serving up dishes filled with flavours from all over the world. Here are the 5 best eateries in Notting Hill you can book now on OpenTable.
1. Tavernaki – Greek
Tavernaki is an authentic Greek casual dining restaurant that sits right next to Notting Hill’s famous Portobello Road Market. Beyond its hard-to-miss brilliant-blue facade, you’ll find a cosy, warmly-lit dining area decorated with Mediterranean tidbits; the perfect spot for a date!
While the atmosphere is great, Tavernaki’s food is the real draw. Enjoy classic, traditional Greek dishes like chicken gyros, moussaka and kleftiko, alongside fresh seafood dishes like grilled octopus and seabass. If you’re lucky, you may even catch some live Greek folk music.
2. Ukai – Japanese
Just down the street from our last spot sits Ukai, an elegant Japanese restaurant that’s hard to miss below a spectacular street-art mural. Inside, you’ll find a vibrant bar and dining area that seems plucked right out of Tokyo, and some of the friendliest staff across all of London.
Ukai serves a wide variety of traditional Japanese dishes, including all manner of sushi, as well as both seafood and vegetable tempura. They also serve a few meat dishes like Korean lamb chops and flat iron steak, alongside a brilliant cocktail menu filled with signature drinks.
3. Los Mochis – Mexican/Japanese Fusion
Los Mochis is perhaps the most interesting spot on our list, boasting a menu that somehow blends Mexican and Japanese flavours into something entirely unique. You’ll find Los Mochis just off Farmer St across from Notting Hill Gate station, just search for the Aztec robot mural!
Food-wise, Los Mochis boasts a giant menu filled with Mexican and Japanese staples, both of which borrow from each culture. Memory-makers include cucumber avocado maki packed with jalapeño salsa verde and Mochis’ yakiniku steak tacos drizzled with chilli-ginger honey.
4. Erev – Mediterranean
Erev is a warm and welcoming Mediterranean restaurant nestled on a quieter street just a short walk from Portobello Road Market. It’s the perfect place to dip away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy some fresh flavours from across the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Erev’s menu strikes a great balance between vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes, with small and large plates able to be mixed-and-matched to form almost a Mediterranean tapas scenario. Standouts include baby roasted cauliflower, seabream carpaccio and sack de coq.
Photo by Dương Nhân
5. Akoya – Lebanese
Our final unmissable Noting Hill restaurant (for now) is Akoya, a quaint and bright Lebanese restaurant with a gorgeous rooftop terrace that’s ideal for summer evening drinks. Like many of the area’s best spots, Akoya sits on Portobello Rd, just opposite Ukai as a matter of fact.
Akoya’s menu boasts a wide selection of traditional Lebanese dishes like kibbeh, arayes and kasteleta, as well as some more anglicised options like burgers and fries. To make the most of Akoya, try sampling the mezze menu while chilling on the roof terrace with a few cocktails.
So that’s that, these are the 5 best restaurants in Notting Hill we think you should try on your next visit. As with many eateries in London, tables can fill up pretty fast, so hop over to OpenTable where you can reserve a spot at the best Notting Hill restaurants way in advance.
