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Best bars in W11
By This is London 24.08.06
Ruby & Sequoia oozes decadence
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Dancing around the streets of W11, shaking your maracas whilst dressed in an elaborate carnival costume can be thirsty work but trendy Notting Hill has plenty of choice of you're looking to wet your whistle...
Ruby & Sequoia
6-8 All Saints Road, W11
The basement bar is a glamorous, drop-dead gorgeous den that oozes decadence. It's all low-slung dark leather furnishings, tiled and wooden panelled walls, and shimmering objets d'art. DJs dictate the beat, which increases with the vibe late into the evening.
Babushka
41 Tavistock Crescent, W11
Part of a Russian-inspired vodka chain, this bar boasts a deserved following. Each offshoot has its own look and feel and the Notting Hill site, then a Firkin, featured in the film Withnail & I.
Beach Blanket Babylon
45 Ledbury Rd, W11 2AA
When this Notting Hill bar opened in 1991 it set new standards for London bar interiors. The décor has stood the test of time, and although the crowd is a bit more mainstream than it once was, the atmosphere remains special and inviting.
Portobello Gold
95 Portobello Road, W11
Despite its position in the heart of Notting Hill this gentrified boozer has never attracted the more self-conscious end of the local 'trendies' market. Market traders rub shoulders with tourists in the bar and large dining conservatory, and there's an interesting list of drinks.
Portobello Star
171 Portobello Road, W11
This small Notting Hill pub is a favourite with the local market traders and opens up onto the street on sunny days. Opened in 1838, originally as a 'jug and ale house', it retains an old-fashioned, down-to-earth atmosphere.
The Prince Bonaparte
80 Chepstow Road, W2
This well-known Bayswater boozer used to be at the basic end of trendy gastropubs but it was 'cosied up' with a lick of paint and the addition of moodier lighting and chandeliers. The food is good (the Sunday roast in particular), and a fair array of wine and Belgian beers add interest to the drinks selection.
Walmer Castle
58 Ledbury Road, W11
In another postcode this would just be a nice and trendy-but-traditional boozer but a location at the heart of trendy Notting Hill has boosted its popularity and there's often a pavement-clogging crush outside its front door in the summer. Good cheap Thai food served in the intimate upstairs dining room adds to its appeal.
The Westbourne
Westbourne Park Villas, W2
A great outside terrace helps this trendy Bayswater boozer maintain its position as one of the top posing spots for Portobello drinkers. It also does some very decent food, although it's unlikely to come in any great hurry.
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