The Best Bars in Notting Hill, London

A proper Parisian brasserie bar where the focus is on wine and conversation. The bar counter runs the length of the room, banquettes along the windows, and a wine list that skews Burgundy and Bordeaux. Service moves at the pace of the room, never hurried. The sort of place where regulars have preferred tables and staff know their names.

Order: A glass of white Burgundy and the house pâté

A corner bar overlooking Portobello Road's antique market. The wine selection is genuinely curated, with a focus on lesser-known producers and old-world bottles. The crowd is relaxed, mixing regulars with market shoppers, tourists with locals taking a midday break. Daytime good, evening better, atmosphere consistent.

Order: Whatever natural wine they're currently excited about

Named for its purpose, this is a dedicated aperitivo bar with serious vermouth selection and properly made Italian cocktails. The room is styled like Milan: marble-top tables, brass fixtures, and a focus on the pre-dinner hour. The food — cured meats, cheese, small plates — is designed for standing or perching rather than full meals.

Order: A Negroni and the tagliere misto

A basement bar with a whisky focus and cocktail execution. The room is deliberately dark, wood-panelled, designed for concentration rather than scene-making. The bartenders know their bottles and build drinks that showcase spirit rather than conceal it. The crowd is quietly professional, nobody performing.

Order: A Sazerac or a neat dram of their Islay selection

A small hotel bar that functions as a neighbourhood living room. The interior is warmly lit, with comfortable seating and a bartender who actually remembers regulars' preferences. The cocktail list is concise, classically structured, and executed without deviation. Service is the main attraction: thoughtful and unhurried.

Order: Tell them your spirit preference, they'll build something appropriate

A bookshop-bar hybrid where the focus is on reading, conversation, and keeping drinks simple. Craft cocktails with literary themes, but the actual appeal is the setting: walls of books, comfortable corners, a crowd of readers and writers. Works as a café during day, bar from evening onwards.

Order: Whatever seasonal drink they're featuring, and pick a book

A Victorian corner pub that's resisted substantial renovation. Original windows, original bar counter, original crowd. Beer selection is local-focused, cask ales treated with care, and the food is honest pub fare without pretension. The sort of place where three generations of the same family might drink on a given evening.

Order: A local cask ale and whatever pie is ready

A converted church that functions as live music venue and neighbourhood bar. The bar section is separate from the main hall, casual and friendly, with an international crowd. Drinks are honest-priced and the atmosphere shifts from calm early evening to energized once the band starts. The community feeling is the main asset.

Order: A cold beer and check the schedule for tonight's music

A modern pub with serious beer credentials and equally serious food. The draught selection rotates seasonally, focusing on British microbreweries. The interior is designed for lingering: booths, tables spaced for comfort, and an attention to detail that extends from glass cleanliness to food presentation. Works as well for dinner as for drinks.

Order: The house pale ale and the seasonal small plates

A rare West London bar with proper outdoor space. The garden wraps around mature trees, the bar is indoors and out, and the wine and cocktail lists serve both settings equally well. Summer evenings here are genuinely sought-after, winter still comfortable with heaters and blankets. The crowd is relaxed neighbourhood, not rushing anywhere.

Order: A spritz if sitting in the garden, a proper cocktail if inside