Five amazing places worth visiting on Portobello Road

Recommending Portobello Road for quirky shopping is like recommending Columbia Road for excellent floristry – it’s hardly a hidden gem. And sure, it’s a notoriously busy spot on weekends, but you’ve just got to know where to look. 295, which stands proudly painted pink on the more tranquil northern chunk of the street, is just the place to start. This wacky little spot is packed wall to wall with a super retro collection that contains ace pieces that you have room to browse – just beware of the owner, he is not a fan of cameras.

Sally Clarke, one of the two bakeries stemming from Clarke’s restaurant in Kensington, is a cracking little spot for a caffeine and sugar hit. Settled on the corner of Westbourne Grove, it offers up scones, truffles, pastries and cakes to passers-by from 8am, and the coffee served there is top quality. There are obviously lovely cafés dotted all the way down Portobello, but few are as woven into west London’s DNA like this one. What’s more, the branch opened in September 2020 – any business that withstands launching during the pandemic is well worth the fuss.

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Franklin’s has pretty much everything you could ask for from a wine bar – great snacks, cute places to sit and people-watch and, of course, an expertly curated wine list. But don’t be overwhelmed by the endless rows of bottles tucked onto the shelves behind the bar. The team is well-equipped to guide you through it and the offerings rotate seasonally to showcase a bunch of brilliant wines. They’re also pretty good at whipping up a nice cocktail or spritz, with the signature Franklin’s Fizz a zesty standout out on a hot day.

Portobello Road Market exudes a warming waft of some killer cuisines, but you don’t necessarily need to perch awkwardly on the street to enjoy some hearty, authentic cooking. Take a stroll down Westbourne Park Road to this tucked-away spot on Chepstow Road, where the decor is as colourful as the food. Med Salleh Viet is well-adored among the locals for its immaculately executed menu – the staff are lovely, the pho is flavoursome and moreish and the spring rolls are as crispy as they come. It’s a charmingly relaxed alternative to the prim and proper restaurants throughout Notting Hill.

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Solid beer selection and tasty, hearty food? Comfy seats and a sun-trap terrace? An award-winning roster of hanging baskets? There’s not a lot more any punter could ask for. But seriously, The Ladbroke Arms is a reliable all-rounder. This pub is a magnet for locals and tourists, but it’s hidden away enough to rarely be overrun. The food menu, which is a mishmash of classic pub grub with a few Mediterranean twists, is arguably the biggest draw, and they do an absolutely knockout roast on Sundays with a Bloody Mary to match.

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