The Best Restaurants in Notting Hill

Caia is one of those wonderful restaurants where you’re likely to have a fun night out as well as a delicious dinner. Bring some friends and kick the evening off with a cocktail or a glass of wine from their well-chosen list, before sharing a wide selection of wood-fired dishes. There’s a welcome degree of creativity in the cooking, which packs in plenty of flavour too. All of this takes place against the backdrop of some fantastic music, played from the restaurant’s own eclectic vinyl collection.

The thing with an area like Notting Hill is that its neighbourhood restaurants tend to be pretty smart affairs. So it is with Caractère, the home of husband-and-wife Diego Ferrari and Emily Roux, which goes some way to explaining the Italian and French leanings on the menu. They do things a little differently here, offering dishes distinguished by their character: fish may be described as ‘delicate’, for example, while meat is more ‘robust’ and, in a playful touch, desserts are ‘greedy’. It’s all delivered with unfussy yet impressive technical skill.

Sitting at the very top of the UK’s culinary tree, CORE is one of the Notting Hill dining scene’s greatest assets. Despite its success, the restaurant continues to evolve, with the Whiskey & Seaweed Bar a welcome addition in 2023. Clare Smyth is a chef who leads by example, and more often than not you will find her welcoming guests as you pass the open kitchen en-route to your table. The exquisite dishes are impeccably well-honed, showcasing immense attention to detail and ornate presentation that only add to the appeal.

One of the relatively new kids on the Notting Hill block, Dorian began making waves shortly after its opening in 2022. It’s the sort of modern-day brasserie most people would love to have on their street, with a welcoming, laid-back feel and a palpable energy. The skill of the chefs is evident in the way they understand ingredients, showcasing the ‘simpler’ things well and, when it’s called for, blending creativity, technique and an understanding of flavour and texture to produce a real wow factor. The engaging service team just want you to have a great time – and boy do they succeed, especially if you’ve got a seat at the counter.

The owner of the ever-popular Gunpowder restaurants decided to head west within the capital for his most recent opening, which focuses on the northwest of India and the region of Punjab. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the jukebox, which earns its keep playing Bollywood Banger. The brightly decorated room takes its influences from old school curry houses and the menu offers enticing options such as pork cheek vindaloo and wild mushroom biryani. The hardest part is deciding what not to order.

Endo Kazutoshi, better known for his omakase restaurant Endo at the Rotunda, has been proving here that he can do neighbourhood dining rather well too. Sumi, named after his mother, has been a hit since day one, its popularity even necessitating an expansion into the premises next door. The menu is concise yet wholly inviting, mixing a selection of sushi with fish and meats from the robata grill. If you’re going all out, then the A4 Wagyu beef and Kaviari Kristal caviar must surely catch the eye. For dessert, the ‘matcha mille crepe’ is something of a speciality.

For many years, CORE by Clare Smyth was Notting Hill’s only restaurant in the Three Star club. That was until February 2024, when The Ledbury joined the party by receiving our highest honour. It was no less than Chef-Owner Brett Graham and his team deserved, having crafted a truly special dining experience that combines warm, genuine service, a vivacious atmosphere and outstanding cooking. The kitchen takes the very best ingredients and fashions supremely sophisticated dishes with originality and, despite the immense work put into them, a sense of effortlessness.

This old boozer has certainly been given a new lease of life since re-opening, becoming an eminently buzzy spot with terrific cooking to boot. Run with real care and passion, the place has retained its pubby look and vibe, becoming the heart of the local community once more. The menu, with a proudly British focus, oozes appeal and offers great value for money when you consider the care taken and the quality of the sustainably sourced ingredients. Daily specials written on the mirror could include fish cooked in its entirety.