Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Da Mario is not the absolute best restaurant in Kensington - but it is our favourite. This is a proper old-school Italian joint in a Venetian-Gothic building that fans of interesting old buildings would get fizzy knickers over. The first thing you notice is that Da Mario’s interior is authentically and charmingly a bit rubbish. And there are a lot of pictures of the late, great Princess Diana on the wall. The food here is homestyle Italian, with big portions of pasta and great pizzas at semi-reasonable prices. This is a place for everybody and worth the short walk to avoid the chain bait restaurants around Gloucester Road station.
32 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Da Mario Kensington
15 Gloucester RdDa Mario is not the absolute best restaurant in Kensington - but it is our favourite. This is a proper old-school Italian joint in a Venetian-Gothic building that fans of interesting old buildings would get fizzy knickers over. The first thing you notice is that Da Mario’s interior is authentically and charmingly a bit rubbish. And there are a lot of pictures of the late, great Princess Diana on the wall. The food here is homestyle Italian, with big portions of pasta and great pizzas at semi-reasonable prices. This is a place for everybody and worth the short walk to avoid the chain bait restaurants around Gloucester Road station.
You may be surprised to hear that one of the best sushi restaurants in London is hiding just off High Street Kensington. Yashin Sushi has a ‘no soy’ policy for sushi, but the soy is substituted with ingredients like truffle flakes, ponzu jelly, and caviar. They have quite a nice lunch deal where you can get five nigiri, a spicy roll, miso soup, and salad for under £18, but overall, this place is not cheap.
26 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Yashin Sushi
1A Argyll RdYou may be surprised to hear that one of the best sushi restaurants in London is hiding just off High Street Kensington. Yashin Sushi has a ‘no soy’ policy for sushi, but the soy is substituted with ingredients like truffle flakes, ponzu jelly, and caviar. They have quite a nice lunch deal where you can get five nigiri, a spicy roll, miso soup, and salad for under £18, but overall, this place is not cheap.
On the scale of things that make a great pub, The Builder’s Arms rates pretty high. An exciting menu of updated British classics for under twenty quid. Check. Six different roast options on their Sunday lunch menu. Check. Outdoor seating for those summer days and drunken evenings. Check. And, that’s without even starting on the hefty wine list, open fireplace, and local craft beer tap takeovers. If it’s your local, we’re jealous. If it’s not, well, the ridiculously tasty £5 scotch egg alone is a good enough reason to risk the Circle line.
62 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
The Builders Arms
13 Britten StOn the scale of things that make a great pub, The Builder’s Arms rates pretty high. An exciting menu of updated British classics for under twenty quid. Check. Six different roast options on their Sunday lunch menu. Check. Outdoor seating for those summer days and drunken evenings. Check. And, that’s without even starting on the hefty wine list, open fireplace, and local craft beer tap takeovers. If it’s your local, we’re jealous. If it’s not, well, the ridiculously tasty £5 scotch egg alone is a good enough reason to risk the Circle line.
When you first walk into Maggie Jones’s you’re not sure if you’ve stumbled on to the set of Poldark, or into the stash house of The Great Rocking Horse Robbery of 1922. As much as we love the nicknacks, it’s the menu of British classics - dishes like the apple sauce smeared roast belly of pork, guinea fowl in white wine sauce, and a grilled rack of English lamb - that keeps us coming back. This is a great date spot, because Maggie Jones, whoever she may be, is a romantic. There’s enough candles, hidden booths and Bordeaux wines on offer, that by the end of the night you won’t care where the rocking horses came from, you’ll just feel like you’ve met an old friend, in restaurant form, and be e
47 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Maggie Jones's Restaurant
6 Old Court PlaceWhen you first walk into Maggie Jones’s you’re not sure if you’ve stumbled on to the set of Poldark, or into the stash house of The Great Rocking Horse Robbery of 1922. As much as we love the nicknacks, it’s the menu of British classics - dishes like the apple sauce smeared roast belly of pork, guinea fowl in white wine sauce, and a grilled rack of English lamb - that keeps us coming back. This is a great date spot, because Maggie Jones, whoever she may be, is a romantic. There’s enough candles, hidden booths and Bordeaux wines on offer, that by the end of the night you won’t care where the rocking horses came from, you’ll just feel like you’ve met an old friend, in restaurant form, and be e
Enoteca Rosso is a stylish Italian wine bar/restaurant on Kensington High Street that’s great with a few of your friends, or that date, or just to get wine drunk while nibbling of a plate of excellent charcuterie. They do serve Italian cuisine here, and while the pasta is nice enough, it will not blow your mind - you’re really here for the wine.
6 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Enoteca Rosso
276-280 Kensington High StEnoteca Rosso is a stylish Italian wine bar/restaurant on Kensington High Street that’s great with a few of your friends, or that date, or just to get wine drunk while nibbling of a plate of excellent charcuterie. They do serve Italian cuisine here, and while the pasta is nice enough, it will not blow your mind - you’re really here for the wine.
Margaux is a relatively casual but still elegant neighbourhood restaurant serving Euro bistro-style food, and they do it well - dishes like the roasted duck breast or venison fillet are very good. It’s one of those restaurants that is good for literally for everyone, so you can be safe in the knowledge that if you were to bring your nan, a random internet date, or your boss here, they would all have a great time. They might find it weird to be sat at dinner with each other though.
17 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Margaux
152 Old Brompton RdMargaux is a relatively casual but still elegant neighbourhood restaurant serving Euro bistro-style food, and they do it well - dishes like the roasted duck breast or venison fillet are very good. It’s one of those restaurants that is good for literally for everyone, so you can be safe in the knowledge that if you were to bring your nan, a random internet date, or your boss here, they would all have a great time. They might find it weird to be sat at dinner with each other though.
Drinks & Nightlife
Sitting pretty above Chelsea's Goat Dine, the Chelsea Prayer Room is a stunning and sophisticated choice for drinks in Kensington. Not only secretive and speakeasy-themed, Chelsea Prayer Room promises a roster of unique regular entertainment and stunning cocktails.
51 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Goat
333 Fulham Rd.Sitting pretty above Chelsea's Goat Dine, the Chelsea Prayer Room is a stunning and sophisticated choice for drinks in Kensington. Not only secretive and speakeasy-themed, Chelsea Prayer Room promises a roster of unique regular entertainment and stunning cocktails.
Balans Soho Society started life as a sandwich bar on Old Compton Street and quickly made a name for itself thanks to its late night opening hours. And then it found its way to Kensington High Street, where you can still find that Soho/boho vibe from breakfast till midnight… The design – which incorporates a tree into the middle of the restaurant – stems from the vision of Simon Costin, who made his name creating outlandish fashion shows for Alexander McQueen. And the cocktails? Thyme for Tea with wild tea-infused Moskovskaya vodka, elderflower liqueur, ginger and thyme, or the Blueberry Banger with Ron Abuelo rum, blueberry, lime and ginger beer. Yup, we have a thing for ginger…
27 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Balans, Kensington
187 Kensington High StreetBalans Soho Society started life as a sandwich bar on Old Compton Street and quickly made a name for itself thanks to its late night opening hours. And then it found its way to Kensington High Street, where you can still find that Soho/boho vibe from breakfast till midnight… The design – which incorporates a tree into the middle of the restaurant – stems from the vision of Simon Costin, who made his name creating outlandish fashion shows for Alexander McQueen. And the cocktails? Thyme for Tea with wild tea-infused Moskovskaya vodka, elderflower liqueur, ginger and thyme, or the Blueberry Banger with Ron Abuelo rum, blueberry, lime and ginger beer. Yup, we have a thing for ginger…
Many come to this secret Chelsea drinking den for the 1920s-themed experience – step through a clandestine entrance to find an intimate, plush-red speakeasy adorned with old paintings and antique lights, bar stools and stuffed animal heads – but, great character aside, the real reason to come is for the killer cocktails. The excellent bartenders can hustle you up a fresh concoction using herbs from the bar’s own garden, or try absinthe poured over sugar cubes for a instant fix. For groups, there are sharing beverages like The Mad Hatter (Russian Standard vodka, spiced berries and apple, topped with Prosecco) and cocktails served from large teapots.
47 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Barts
Sloane AvenueMany come to this secret Chelsea drinking den for the 1920s-themed experience – step through a clandestine entrance to find an intimate, plush-red speakeasy adorned with old paintings and antique lights, bar stools and stuffed animal heads – but, great character aside, the real reason to come is for the killer cocktails. The excellent bartenders can hustle you up a fresh concoction using herbs from the bar’s own garden, or try absinthe poured over sugar cubes for a instant fix. For groups, there are sharing beverages like The Mad Hatter (Russian Standard vodka, spiced berries and apple, topped with Prosecco) and cocktails served from large teapots.
This is the place for a bespoke fruity cocktail on a summer’s afternoon. If you’re yet to taste a jam cocktail – where have you been? – start with the classic Jam Mojito: Bacardi Gold rum stirred with fresh mint, lime and raspberry jam. From here, there’s a wide-ranging menu of interesting mixes to further tantalise your tastebuds. Try the The Damson in a Dress in which the Martini Bianco vermouth cuts through the sweet lime jam sublimely . If you’re eating with drinks, skip dessert for the Peanut Butter and Jelly Time, a heady saccharine mix of vanilla vodka and Baileys with strawberry and peanut butter. It’s also worth taking a peek at the Bloody Mary.
33 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
The Lost Hours
541 King's RdThis is the place for a bespoke fruity cocktail on a summer’s afternoon. If you’re yet to taste a jam cocktail – where have you been? – start with the classic Jam Mojito: Bacardi Gold rum stirred with fresh mint, lime and raspberry jam. From here, there’s a wide-ranging menu of interesting mixes to further tantalise your tastebuds. Try the The Damson in a Dress in which the Martini Bianco vermouth cuts through the sweet lime jam sublimely . If you’re eating with drinks, skip dessert for the Peanut Butter and Jelly Time, a heady saccharine mix of vanilla vodka and Baileys with strawberry and peanut butter. It’s also worth taking a peek at the Bloody Mary.
These are seriously grown-up cocktails for a discerning crowd. Set in a decadent art deco-style venue on Kensington High Street, Kensington Pavilion’s cocktail bar serves an array of traditional and classic cocktails, focused on modern variations with locally-sourced ingredients. Among the old-fashioned sours, Champagne Bellinis and espresso martinis, you’ll find intriguing choices like the Buttered Julep: a mix of brown-buttered bourbon, mint, sage and bitter.
49 คนท้องถิ่นแนะนำ
Piano Kensington
2-24 Kensington High StThese are seriously grown-up cocktails for a discerning crowd. Set in a decadent art deco-style venue on Kensington High Street, Kensington Pavilion’s cocktail bar serves an array of traditional and classic cocktails, focused on modern variations with locally-sourced ingredients. Among the old-fashioned sours, Champagne Bellinis and espresso martinis, you’ll find intriguing choices like the Buttered Julep: a mix of brown-buttered bourbon, mint, sage and bitter.