The Portobello Star

Crowd

Diverse bag of cocktail connoisseurs, including stylish hipsters, savvy suits, trendy but unpretentious couples, groups of celebratory friends, and tourists fresh from exploring the cornucopia of art galleries, cafés, and homemade crafts at the nearby Portobello Road Market, 20s to mid-30s.

Entertainment / Music

DJs spin an eclectic mix of top hits, indie music, and Motown on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:30pm. Chilled-out background music other nights and during the day.

Food / Miscellaneous

Highly regarded Yorkshire butcher The Ginger Pig provides traditional pork pies, pork and black pudding, and chicken, ham, and apricot pies for those feeling peckish. Selection of British cheeses and shareable platters of cooked and cured meats also available. 

“The Ginstitute” provides lessons from owner and self-taught mixologist Jake Burger on how to make and bottle gin, as well as a tour of a small gin museum upstairs and a whole lot of history on this delectable spirit.

Prices

Ginstitute £100/person. Pies £5.50–£6.50, platters £5.

Beer £4, wine £4.50–£5/glass or £16–£27/bottle, cocktails £7.50–£10 or £15 for the W11 Zombie absinth cocktail, champagne £7–£9.50/glass or £25–£45/bottle. Coffee and tea £2–£2.50 or £5 when spiked with rum.

What to Wear / Dress Code

Casual to trendy: suits, vests, t-shirts, jeans, jumpers, stylish dresses.

Hot Nights / When to Go

Friday and Saturday nights when the DJ keeps the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd bumping, or anytime early in the day for less of a scene and some stellar day-sipping.

Close By

Notting Hill Arts Club (21 Notting Hill Gate) is always a hubbub of activity, with shape-shifting lights illuminating the canvas-like walls, exuberant art exhibits, and a creative crowd as much a part of the display as the art itself.