Itineraries

Hattie Lloyd 12/06/22


Rooftop Cocktails, Michelin-Starred Street Food & Vintage Shops

Itinerary Location: Ladbroke Grove |  Duration: 6.5 Hours


Fun fact: the phrase “stealing someone’s thunder” actually came from a very literal incident in the 1700s when an unsuccessful playwright found that a theatre had rejected his play, but had nicked his idea for a thunder machine.

Which, in a roundabout way, leads us to the point that for all its unique and eccentric charms, Portobello Road has a tendency to steal thunder from every other street in the area.

Next time you’re in Ladbroke Grove, it’s worth heading off the beaten track to explore Golborne Road, the less-hyped, more chilled out sibling to the world-famous Portobello. Taking in a legendary pastel de nata shop, some iconic architecture and rooftop cocktails along the way, here’s the best way to do it:

➊  PORTOBELLO SCHOOLYARD | 2pm

High on the list of things you never thought you’d do as an adult: (willingly) going to school on a Saturday. But if there’s a reason to do it, it’s the lure of Michelin star-level street food. Once a week, Portobello Schoolyard market sets up shop in the playground of this Spanish school, dreamed up as a kind of foodie alternative to the packed-out antiques market.

Portobello Schoolyard

Given that you’re planning a day out here, it’s probably not a great idea to pick anything up from the fishmongers – but there’s a lot fighting for your attention including homeware, handmade crafts, jewellery and street food. Build yourself the lunch of kings with a bagel by ex-Leroy chef Sam Kamienko, or a little fresh pasta from Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard’s stand, OTTO. There are pop-up bars hawking natural wines and ice-cold beers, and anyone bearing a sweet tooth should stop by HOKO for a tray of their ludicrously good Hong Kong-style French toast before heading left out the market, and swinging a right onto…

GOLBORNE ROAD | 3:30pm

golborne road

Well, here it is: a bustling neighbourhood high street packed with character. There are cafés with tables spilling onto the street alongside fully fledged outdoor restaurants; marquees housing sizzling grills filling the air with aromas of cooking from Morocco to the Caribbean. Here, family-run restaurants and independent businesses like Golborne Deli have been coexisting alongside the occasional big name for a while. Given its proximity to Portobello Road, though, don’t be surprised if Golborne Road starts changing rapidly – Flying Horse Coffee and Le Labo have recently moved in.

Also relatively new is Trove, a furniture store that makes for great window shopping. On Fridays and Saturdays, the street becomes lined with second-hand stalls selling midcentury furnishings; collectibles and bric-a-brac, but pop into the shops too — highlights include L’Etoile (stop here for a great coffee if you need it); Lisboa Patisserie (those people outside are queueing for their famous pasteis de nata) and Fez, a souk stocked with leather slippers, lanterns and tagine pots from owner Omar’s homeland of Morocco.

trellick tower

Victor Huang/iStock

As you walk, look up to take in the divisive majesty of Trellick Tower, a brutalist housing block designed by Ernö Goldfinger (Bond author Ian Fleming is said to have hated it, with obvious consequences).

Head over the bridge at the end of the street, and duck into the old Victorian pub building on your left for…

➌ DRINKS AT CHA CHA | 5pm

Yes, it turns out that this former ye olde tavern is actually a portal to the 1970s. Cha Cha is a Latin American-inspired restaurant decked out with tasselled velvet stools; tasselled velvet lamps; and tasselled velvet empanadas. You’re not here for all that, though — head upstairs to the first floor roof terrace, decked out with banquettes and umbrellas in sunshine hues, and order a couple of Watermelon Mojitos or a Honey Dream (with strawberry cachaca, honey liqueur and tonic).

Before moving on, pop your head into the changing rooms of the Sister Jane boutique on the first floor – they’re basically a free, unticketed version of the sell-out Yayoi Kusama infinity mirror rooms at Tate Modern.

sister jane townhouse

Next, retrace your steps along Golborne Road and head to your final stop of the evening…

➍ DINNER AT CAIA | 6:30pm

This relative newcomer heralded the arrival of a new wave of restaurants in Notting HillStraker’s, Dorian and Kuro have all followed. Locals Tim Lang & Rishabh Vir have opened the antidote to the area’s perfectly preened fine dining spots (though, don’t get us wrong, there’s always a time for them too) with Caia, a paean to live fire cooking.

Caia

Chef Jessica Donovan tosses everything from pork belly to cheesecake onto the custom-made grill, while you sip natural wines, bop your head to the vinyl-praising sound system, and consider starting as you mean to go on by perusing their extensive bitters-led cocktail menu…

Naked and Famous.

 


The Itinerary:

 Portobello Schoolyard | Vicente Cañada Blanch School, 317-318 Portobello Road, London W10 5SZ | Saturdays 10am-4pm

 Golborne Road | Golborne Road, London W10 5NR

Cha Cha | Sister Jane Townhouse, 36 Golborne Road, London W10 5PR

 Caia  | 46 Golborne Road, London W10 5PR | Book a table


Looking for more inspiration? Check out the best bars in Notting Hill.


Golborne Road Itinerary


Starts at Portobello Schoolyard Market, Vicente Cañada Blanch School, 317-318 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W10 5SZ