Notting Hill is in full swing again, with a new generation of restaurants bringing fire, flavour, and flair to W2. From live-flame dining and Neo-Nikkei artistry to soulful Russian plates, tacos with attitude, and a modern tavern made for long evenings, the neighbourhood’s culinary scene has never felt more alive. Here are five new openings turning Notting Hill into London’s most exciting place to eat right now.
Nela
Amsterdam’s acclaimed live-fire restaurant has landed in Bayswater, lighting up The Whiteley with smoke, flame, and finesse. Helmed by chefs Hari Shetty and Ori Geller – alumni of Nobu and The Duchess – Nela celebrates purity in every form: honest ingredients, elemental cooking, and design rooted in natural materials. Add a 360-degree bar, striking terrace, and the signature tiramisu served in a tin, and you’ve got London’s hottest new spark.
Zima
Soho’s cult Russian street-food spot has found a new home in Notting Hill, taking over the old Buvette site on Blenheim Crescent. The look is intimate and art-filled – folk pieces meet modern canvases – while the menu draws deep from Eastern Europe’s comfort canon: streaming bowls of borsch, golden chicken Kyiv, and delicate pelmeni dumplings. It’s soulful, surprising, and unlike anything else in the neighbourhood.
Fan
Straight from Lima to Chepstow Road, Fan brings its Neo-Nikkei flair – a vibrant fusion of Japanese precision and Peruvian soul – to Notting Hill. Founded by childhood friends Romania, Santiago, and chef Coco, the restaurant reimagines Nikkei cooking with a London twist. Expect plates that dance between fire and freshness: prawn and truffle gyoza, tuna tempura tacos, and scallop crispy rice with squash. The space is intimate, low-lit, and quietly confident – a little slice of Lima energy in W2, where omakase meets easy elegance.
Two Twins Tacos
Born in Brixton Village and now shaking up Portobello Road, Two Twins Tacos brings true Mexican street-food spirit to West London. Expect handmade corn tortillas piled with bold, soulful flavours – from birria beef and anchiote lamb to smoky jackfruit for the plant-based crowd. It’s loud, laid-back, and full of heart, with cold beers, classic margaritas, and a £3 Taco Tuesday that’s already the stuff of local legend.
The Good Oak
Notting Hill’s newest modern tavern, The Good Oak, blends the ease of a neighbourhood pub with the polish of a cocktail bar. Downstairs, it’s all about Italian-American small plates and good company – think bold, shareable dishes alongside crisp pints and thoughtful wines. Upstairs, the lights drop and the rhythm shifts, with craft cocktails, low-lit corners, and live acoustic sets that turn dinner into an evening. Warm, stylish, and full of charm, it’s the kind of place that makes you stay for “just one more.”
