Oh all right - not that palace, so there's no need to break out the tiaras just yet. But the Tea Palace in Notting Hill serves what may be the hippest afternoon [more...]

It's not often I find myself recommending a loo. And I'm not now, not really. But a loo is where Wild At Heart started - in a shop attached to the designer loos on the 'Turquoise Island' in Notting Hill. Now they have three locations [more...]

Legendary - or maybe iconic - record shop with a history that goes back 30 years and a stock that covers just about every musical genre. Find them in Notting Hill or at their big new store near Brick Lane.

Rough Trade.

Find beautiful pottery from across the world at Ceramica Blue. Whether your taste runs from brightly coloured to restrained elegance, and no matter if you want a [more...]

Mouthwatering cheese, sausage, pate and so on - plus dips and marinades, chutneys and jams, along with a selection of bread and rolls to put it on. There are sandwiches to eat as you wander around Portobello Market and [more...]

Is The Portobello Gold a bar? Is it a restaurant? A music venue? An art gallery? An internet cafe? Answer yes to all of these and you've still left out 'hotel' - [more...]

Don't be fooled - Books for Cooks in Portobello Road may look like any other [more...]

The Gate Cinema in Notting Hill might look a bit bland from the outside but inside it's gorgeous - the plasterwork is grade-II listed. Comfortable, too - there's [more...]

Check out one of London's largest farmer's markets, with a good range of organic produce. Notting Hill Farmer's Market is tucked away in the carpark behind [more...]

Montgomery Place is a cool little bar on Kensington Park road. It's not too loud or crowded, the cocktails are ace (some modelled on the great list at the Pegu Club in NYC; I think there is a connection between the joints) and the food [more...]

It looks a little stiff from the outside, but the Ledbury is actually as warm and friendly as a local bistro. The food is unfailingly superb - full of global surpises but never too fussy, pretentious or frightening. Haute Cuisine is [more...]

A gorgeous independent local cinema showing first run films in lovely surroundings. Perfect date fodder - but if you're on a tight budget check out Half Price Tuesdays. Half price for students on Monday nights, too!
Notting Hill Coronet

Why settle for holding your date's hand at the movies when you can go to the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road and have a leather sofa all to yourselves? [more...]