Bars & Pubs

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Ruby and Sequoia © Scott Wishart

Globe
There’s a dearth of after-hours drinking dens in the west, which is partly what makes this place so special. A relic from a bygone Notting Hill era, it’s remained defiantly unchanged for over 20 years, while everything around it has been yuppified. Push open the large steel door, ignore the rather intimidating grill and make a beeline for the staircase at the back which leads down to the tiny basement bar. Reggae blares out of massive speakers, drinks are dispensed until the early hours and it’s worth it just to see the looks of shock and bemusement on the face of well-groomed locals. A slice of Carnival all year round.
Globe, 103 Talbot Road, W11 2AT (7727 9559). Westbourne Park tube.

Ruby & Sequoia
Located on what was once Notting Hill’s swinging centre, All Saints Road, this funky cocktail bar attracts a chi chi crowd looking to down cocktails and shake a tailfeather or two until 2am on weekends. The stylish basement bar is where it all kicks off as Notting Hillbillies sprawl on brown leather banquettes or flirt around the antique fireplaces. A welcome antidote to the usual Portobello fare.
Ruby & Sequoia, 6-8 All Saints Road, Ladbroke Grove, W11 1HH (7243 6363/www.ruby.uk.com). 6pm-12.30am Mon-Thur, 6pm-2am Fri, 11am-2am Sat, 11am-12.30am Sun. Westbourne Park tube. Feature continues

Harlem
Great for late night drinks and the odd bit of grub, if you’re up for the challenge of digesting slabs of fried chicken after midnight, Arthur Baker’s upmarket diner offers a dose of Big Apple cool. Like most late night Westside venues, the bar is underground – ensuring that all naughtiness is hidden from view. The vibe is refreshingly laidback and the DJ line-ups benefit from Baker’s music industry connections.
Harlem, 78 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, W2 5RT (7985 0900/www.harlemsoulfood.com). 5pm-1.30am Mon, noon-1.30am Tue-Fri, 10am-2am Sat, 10am-10.30pm Sun. Bayswater or Notting Hill Gate tube

Paradise by Way of Kensal Green
Currently west London’s hippest hangout, this funky gastro boozer offers an eclectic array of entertainment from burlesque classes to '80s nights and keeps serving till 2am on weekends. The decor is very Ab Fab, with chandeliers, faux-gilt furniture and cherub statues but the cocktails are good and reasonably priced (£6.50-£8) and if you ignore the odd Ibiza overtone (posh blondes and chaps in panama hats), it’s more than worth the trek to the wild of Harrow Road.
Paradise by Way of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, W10 4AE (8969 0098/www.theparadise.co.uk). 12.30pm-midnight Mon-Wed; 12.30pm-1am Thur; 12.30pm-2am Fri, Sat; noon-11.30pm Sun. Kensal Green tube/Kensal Rise rail

Defector’s Weld
The much-hyped Westfield centre might have brought some decent eateries to the Bush, but the area is still devoid of decent late-night bars. This modish DJ boozer fills the void, but only just. Despite coming from the same stable as Camden’s much-loved Lock Tavern it lacks character and is usually crawling with a weird mix of BBC types and beered-up locals. Drinks are pricey, the music is dull but it’s the only decent place that’s open till 2am so it will just have to do.
Defector’s Weld, 170 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, W12 8AA (8749 0008/www.defectorsweld.com). Noon-midnight Mon-Thur; noon-2am Fri, Sat; noon-11pm Sun. Shepherd's Bush tube

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