Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Situated a stone's throw from Gloucester Road station, Umami (a pleasant savoury taste in Japanese) offers pan-Asian dishes to the west London masses.
Sat amongst calming, earthy tones, diners can enjoy tastes of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and a few specials from the chef that change monthly. If you can't decide between options such as lychee tempura and pandan chicken, Umami offer sharing sized portions, so that your group can have a little of everything.
Palate cleansing teas are available to complement the range of spices, as well as cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Umami
98 Cromwell RdSituated a stone's throw from Gloucester Road station, Umami (a pleasant savoury taste in Japanese) offers pan-Asian dishes to the west London masses.
Sat amongst calming, earthy tones, diners can enjoy tastes of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and a few specials from the chef that change monthly. If you can't decide between options such as lychee tempura and pandan chicken, Umami offer sharing sized portions, so that your group can have a little of everything.
Palate cleansing teas are available to complement the range of spices, as well as cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks.
Fresh and clean, fun and colourful, and undoubtedly Eastern Mediterranean – when it comes to this cute little Levantine diner nestled just off Old Brompton Road, those adjectives could either be describing the food, the decor or the staff. A bustling open kitchen is the first thing you see when you go in, but the eye quickly shifts to the brightly coloured walls, clashing with dizzily patterned furniture.
The clientele seems to be a mix of tourists and locals, but all are given the same merry reception, as if they’ve just come back for the third night running. Ceru promises the best of an area covering Turkey to Syria to Israel (and everything in between).
10 recommandé par les habitants
Ceru
7-9 Bute StFresh and clean, fun and colourful, and undoubtedly Eastern Mediterranean – when it comes to this cute little Levantine diner nestled just off Old Brompton Road, those adjectives could either be describing the food, the decor or the staff. A bustling open kitchen is the first thing you see when you go in, but the eye quickly shifts to the brightly coloured walls, clashing with dizzily patterned furniture.
The clientele seems to be a mix of tourists and locals, but all are given the same merry reception, as if they’ve just come back for the third night running. Ceru promises the best of an area covering Turkey to Syria to Israel (and everything in between).
Located within a boutique townhouse, Kensington Hotel’s aptly named Town House restaurant is a casual affair, albeit one with a strong focus on quality food. The period rooms, wood panelling, parquet flooring and bay windows create an air of sophistication, without the pomp.
The food menu has been put together by executive head chef, Adi Mandokhot. Dishes range from caesar salad, grilled asparagus with fresh crab and cress, and smoked salmon served with Guinness brown bread to poshed-up fish and chips, seared sirloin steak with watercress and horseradish, and whole sea bass with lemon and herbs, cooked on the grill.
11 recommandé par les habitants
Town House Kensington
109-113 Queen's GateLocated within a boutique townhouse, Kensington Hotel’s aptly named Town House restaurant is a casual affair, albeit one with a strong focus on quality food. The period rooms, wood panelling, parquet flooring and bay windows create an air of sophistication, without the pomp.
The food menu has been put together by executive head chef, Adi Mandokhot. Dishes range from caesar salad, grilled asparagus with fresh crab and cress, and smoked salmon served with Guinness brown bread to poshed-up fish and chips, seared sirloin steak with watercress and horseradish, and whole sea bass with lemon and herbs, cooked on the grill.
Walking into Four Winters was a little like stepping into a walk-in fridge, which I suppose isn’t inappropriate for an ice cream shop, especially one that has its very own patented machine that freezes ice cream to order using a blast of liquid nitrogen. It’s what I’d imagine Heston Blumenthal has for a KitchenAid. The staff at the Chelsea shop, despite its frosty aesthetic, offered a warm welcome and eagerly talked new customers through the array of toppings and flavours they have laid out behind the counter like a brain-freeze buffet. Your chosen combination is then poured from a bottle into the scientific mixer and served rather beautifully in a little plastic tub.
Four Winters
Walking into Four Winters was a little like stepping into a walk-in fridge, which I suppose isn’t inappropriate for an ice cream shop, especially one that has its very own patented machine that freezes ice cream to order using a blast of liquid nitrogen. It’s what I’d imagine Heston Blumenthal has for a KitchenAid. The staff at the Chelsea shop, despite its frosty aesthetic, offered a warm welcome and eagerly talked new customers through the array of toppings and flavours they have laid out behind the counter like a brain-freeze buffet. Your chosen combination is then poured from a bottle into the scientific mixer and served rather beautifully in a little plastic tub.
Recently opened patisserie Maître Choux is dedicated to choux pastry – éclairs, profiteroles and the baked sugar-crusted buns known as chouquettes.
Master pâtissier Joakim Prat is from Biarritz in south-west France, and has a career that sounds as much of a sugar rush as the pastries he now sells. His puddings previously graced plates at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon.
Prat can perform miracles with a piping bag. He doesn’t do big fat éclairs of the kind that strain at the seams with gallons of whipped cream. The ones sold here, about a dozen varieties, are slender pastry fingers, notable for their couture good looks and fabulous fillings, which include blush-pink raspberry cream.
Maitre Choux South Kensington
15 Harrington RdRecently opened patisserie Maître Choux is dedicated to choux pastry – éclairs, profiteroles and the baked sugar-crusted buns known as chouquettes.
Master pâtissier Joakim Prat is from Biarritz in south-west France, and has a career that sounds as much of a sugar rush as the pastries he now sells. His puddings previously graced plates at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon.
Prat can perform miracles with a piping bag. He doesn’t do big fat éclairs of the kind that strain at the seams with gallons of whipped cream. The ones sold here, about a dozen varieties, are slender pastry fingers, notable for their couture good looks and fabulous fillings, which include blush-pink raspberry cream.
Drinks & Nightlife
Styled as a basement ‘dive and dog bar’ – hot dogs, that is – this Dirty Bones branch is pretty cool for Kensington. The lighting is flatteringly set to drinking-den low, and the music is at ‘party loud’. Match pimped fast food with cocktails with cute doggy puns for names – try the Mutt's Nuts.
18 recommandé par les habitants
Dirty Bones Kensington
20 Kensington Church StStyled as a basement ‘dive and dog bar’ – hot dogs, that is – this Dirty Bones branch is pretty cool for Kensington. The lighting is flatteringly set to drinking-den low, and the music is at ‘party loud’. Match pimped fast food with cocktails with cute doggy puns for names – try the Mutt's Nuts.
A popular bar in South Kensington, located downstairs in a townhouse on Old Brompton Road, Janet’s was recently named the best place to drink in the area in the Time Out Love City awards. It’s got the local seal of approval, and that’s probably got something to do with its down-to-earth vibe.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Janet's Bar
30 Old Brompton RdA popular bar in South Kensington, located downstairs in a townhouse on Old Brompton Road, Janet’s was recently named the best place to drink in the area in the Time Out Love City awards. It’s got the local seal of approval, and that’s probably got something to do with its down-to-earth vibe.
Top-notch drinks and table service is as good as you’d expect from a quality hotel, with oak-panelled walls and a marble-topped bar adding to the air of opulence. Cocktails are competitively priced and expertly mixed, and for the nightcap crowd, there’s even a menu of dessert drinks.
11 recommandé par les habitants
K Bar
109-113 Queen's GateTop-notch drinks and table service is as good as you’d expect from a quality hotel, with oak-panelled walls and a marble-topped bar adding to the air of opulence. Cocktails are competitively priced and expertly mixed, and for the nightcap crowd, there’s even a menu of dessert drinks.
An Austrain-themed apres ski bar and nightspot, Bodo's Schloss is a stone's throw from Kensington Palace and attracts the young, rich and beautiful crowd that inhabit the area. With Kaiser Rolls and Austrian beer available as well as other quirky touches, including a host of blonde lederhosen wearing waitresses and a DJ deck set up in an old ski lift - Bodo's has the cool edge to drive Kensington wild.
14 recommandé par les habitants
Bodo's Schloss
2A Kensington High StreetAn Austrain-themed apres ski bar and nightspot, Bodo's Schloss is a stone's throw from Kensington Palace and attracts the young, rich and beautiful crowd that inhabit the area. With Kaiser Rolls and Austrian beer available as well as other quirky touches, including a host of blonde lederhosen wearing waitresses and a DJ deck set up in an old ski lift - Bodo's has the cool edge to drive Kensington wild.
This fantastic Kensington cocktail bar serves up the creme de la creme of food and drinks and is popular for its acclaimed DJs. This fun time party venue is famous for its 'eclipse' watermelon martini, and is a must. This is a great place to go if you're looking for a good party, as this late night venue is open until 3 am at the weekend. For a fun filled stylish night out in the Kensington area, this one if for you.
106 recommandé par les habitants
Eclipse
158 Old Brompton RdThis fantastic Kensington cocktail bar serves up the creme de la creme of food and drinks and is popular for its acclaimed DJs. This fun time party venue is famous for its 'eclipse' watermelon martini, and is a must. This is a great place to go if you're looking for a good party, as this late night venue is open until 3 am at the weekend. For a fun filled stylish night out in the Kensington area, this one if for you.