A Foodies’ Guide to Restaurants in Kensington

We love Kensington, packed as it is with great shops from high street brands like M&S to higher end clothing stores and even more bespoke independents if you take a wander up Church Street towards Notting Hill. It’s got everything except the crowds that are stuck shuffling up and down Oxford Street.

But where’s a girl to stop when she drops after shopping round here? There’s actually a vast number and variety of restaurants ideal for any type of sojourn, lazy lunch, gourmet dinner or impromptu party!

Quick bites

After work (shopping – that’s work isn’t it!) there’s a multitude of the usual chain-suspects from Byron, Cote and Strada to Bills, Spaghetti House and Wagamama but for those who like a chain without the chain feel, try Aubaine. We think it offers more interesting salads and their trademark patisserie and bakery goods for mid-morning breaks or their a la carte and set menus are ideal for the ladies who lunch (2 courses just £13.50). Dishes to make the mouth water include poached salmon and pomegranate salad with lentil dressing, hazelnut crusted goats cheese with grilled peach salad and don’t miss the Superfood salad – packed with goodies like Quinoa, beetroot, roast butternut squash, mung beans, alfalfa, broccoli, spinach, peas, pomegranate, mixed nuts & seeds – it’s a steal at just £6 for a hearty starter portion.

Uptown Funk It Up

For local workers who fancy an after work party with a difference, there are plenty of options but don’t confuse your body parts! Seriously…Dirty Bones doesn’t mix with Bone Daddies but whatever you do, don’t forget to enjoy those Sticky Fingers… No! W’ve not gone mad, they are all in fact local restaurants! From the retro-chic Dirty Bones with legendary hot dogs, ‘bone’ selection and chicken stacks to South American-themed Sticky Fingers and Japanese-inspired Bone Daddies, they’re ideal for a post work party, birthday celebration or quick bite. We say quick, but Dirty Bones is definitely the type of place you go to for one beer and a quick dog in the back private room and end up leaving in the wee hours. With party DJs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and a relaxed chill out feel, it’s the perfect subterranean hangout.

Proper Pub grub

Who doesn’t love proper pub grub? Whether it’s a Friday night drink at the bar or friends gathering for a weekend pub lunch, Kensington has its fair share of remodelled old drinking dens, lovingly restored into bright friendly spaces that families, women, old and young can all enjoy. Try the Builders Arms or Abingdon or the Princess Victoria – Winner of TripAdvisor Award of Excellence 2014 – which even has a first floor dining room perfect for parties and larger get-togethers.

Food with a View

Residents round here like to keep these ones quiet but we’re going to spill the beans. For fine dining with great views you can’t do better than Babylon Roof Gardens – with its own terrace overlooking the London skyline or Min Jiang at the Royal Garden Hotel with stunning views of Hyde Park.

Timeless Favourites

And we must just also slip in a mention of Launceston Place. Hidden in the back streets of West Kensington it was one of the late Princess Diana’s favourite haunts and is still pumping out incredible Michelin-starred food courtesy of head chef Tim Allen. Clarke’s – which has been going for 31 years and still makes’ passers-by mouth’s water just by looking through the window is another all-time classic, as is quintessentially quirky Maggie Jones – with its winding creaking nooks and crannies, baskets, beams and other objet d’art – its 40 year history is testament to its enduring popularity.