From a rustic getaway for London’s artists to a world-famous rom-com setting, Notting Hill boasts a uniquely comely appeal. Plush cobbled streets, upscale stucco residences, famed pastel doors, and quaint marketplaces suffuse the neighbourhood with an old-world romance.
As such, nothing is as elegant as sipping on a cappuccino with a little snack at one of Notting Hill’s cafes. Besides being an incredibly Instagrammable affair, the rosiness of the locale’s air is delightfully soothing. Read on to discover 10 amazing cafes in Notting Hill .
1. Guillam
Guillam is known for its gourmet coffee beans, mouth-watering lattes, and aesthetic decor. Wooden flooring, copper-stemmed furniture, handsome couches, tiled tabletops, and splashes of greenery come together to create a natty cafe.
Guillam’s branded coffee beans are sourced from different parts of the world, oozing pristine quality and transforming into fragrant lattes. The venue was recognised as one of the city’s “Notable New Cafés” at the London Coffee Festival in 2022.
Their croissants, salads, and eggs Benedict are popular among visitors. Guillam’s premium coffee beans are also on sale, possessing fascinating flavour hints such as dark chocolate, grapefruit, and strawberry.
2. Beam
Beam is a picturesque brunch spot in Notting Hill. The cafe’s tasteful interiors are created with an exposed brick wall, arched niches hosting lamps aglow in amber, orange cushions, and terracotta tiles. The central bar is built with oak wood and a marble countertop. Contemporary light pendants are scattered about the ceiling.
The scrumptious Mediterranean fare includes gems such as Turkish-style eggs served on rosemary focaccia, halloumi salad, and kofte wrap. Beam also serves the quintessential English breakfast, much loved by the locals. Smoothies, herbal teas, and cappuccinos are also a big flavour on the menu. For a more risque day out, Beam takes pride in its perfect mimosas.
3. Farm Girl
A boho-chic and canine-friendly cafe, visitors throng Farm Girl with their paw pals for frothy coffees and creamy pastries. Iconic hot-pink doors swing open into an ambient space, boasting Californian coastal vibrance. Turquoise-tiled walls bear sleek steel lamps. The rustic wooden flooring, minimalist olive green furniture, and bamboo screens are highly evocative of a laid-back beach house. The place is equipped with a gorgeous pink La Marzocco machine, which churns out the famously delicious coffees.
At Farm Girl, visitors can tuck into their range of pancakes, or sample a juicy BLT sandwich. The cafe is equipped with an extensive list of libations, including a variety of coffees, smoothies, and iced teas. Pastries curated by Le Cordon Bleu alum Sally Clarke are also on the roster.
4. Tab X Tab
Tab X Tab is an independent cafe tucked away in the heart of Westbourne Grove. The interiors are swathed in a cool grey and black colour palette, which evokes an appealing industrial vibe. A sleek bar takes centre stage and pairs with symmetrical panel pendant lights and simplistic furniture.
Tab X Tab headlines with the promise of “coffee, brunch, and other small pleasures.” Intricate shamrocks on flavourful coffees and the sumptuous brunch menu bear testimony to the cafe’s sheer quality. Their vegan pancakes and chicken katsu sandos are most appealing. Crowning the meal with the dessert of the day and the famous Tab X Tab flat white is a great way to transition into the evening.
5. Flying Horse Coffee
Flying Horse is a humble little establishment with a significant fanbase, located on Golborne Road. A small space with sparkling white walls, the colossal pastry display is in the limelight. A few dark blue velvet couches provide limited seating, while slim open shelves hosting coffee beans and plants create minimalistically chic interiors. Flying Horse serves coffee made with freshly roasted beans along with buttery pastries. Their espresso capsules and coffee beans are sold online.
6. Conscience Kitchen
As evidenced by its bold name, Conscience Kitchen takes pride in being a “sustainable and ethical” Egyptian cafe and restaurant. Posh minimalism and bold greenery define the interiors, with generous outdoor seating adorned with lively creepers reflecting the cafe’s eco-appreciation. Devoid of architectural frills, nature truly is Conscience Kitchen’s soul.
The cafe is committed to supporting local producers and small-scale farmers who have been tremendously affected by climate change and ruthless trade. In addition to fresh produce, low-carbon-footprint meals are on the menu. The cafe’s most staggering characteristic, however, remains its truly innovative plant-forward meals. Their Egyptian brunch featuring slow-roasted tomatoes, halloumi, and avo sauce with rustic eggs is a timeless favourite with guests. Surprise additions are often woven into the menu as well, based on the available produce. With utterly unique blends from different parts of the world, coffee fiends are in for a treat at Conscience Kitchen – at the time of writing, their El Salvador roasts in particular, have been lauded.
7. Fabrique
Fabrique is the mecca for boujee cafe-goers, with creamy coffees and artisanal pastries. With white-tiled interiors, massive pastry displays, and vintage tiles, the little cafe bears a beauteous bucolic charm. The owners, David and Charlotta, founded Fabrique in Stockholm in 2008, fostering a shared love for baked goods. The impeccable pastry quality led to the brand branching out into London and New York.
Fabrique’s standout feature is every single item on the menu is being patiently handcrafted with select ingredients and traditional methods. An antiquated stone oven is Fabrique’s signature tool, and as such, even the basics – the ever-popular oat latte with a butter croissant – taste absolutely marvellous.
8. Amoret Coffee
Residing on Portobello Road, Amoret Coffee proudly showcases its range of single-origin Arabica coffees. Sleek industrial interiors completely defy the clamorous graffiti-ornamented military green frontage. As a specialty joint, the brews possess distinct flavours that have won the hearts of coffee fiends for a decade. Along with the cream pies and sourdoughs, guests can unwind with a piccolo or a rare Indonesian Mount Koerintji brew. From chocolate and grape to wine and berries, these bespoke brews tango with the most eccentric flavour notes.
Fortunately, the cafe's enviable collection of beans is available for purchase, and while they cost a pretty penny, the handsome blends are worth the hype. The Ethiopian beans are a best-seller.
9. Kuro Coffee
Kuro Coffee lies amidst the colourful residences of Notting Hill, on Hillgate Street. A Japanese name, it literally translates to “black,” alluding to the absence of colour. The interior’s exposed bricks are engulfed in an uninterrupted blanket of white paint. Small arched niches, untreated wooden furniture, and the absence of ornamentation underscore the influence of Japanese minimalism. Visitors can expect decadent cookies, brownies, and pastries courtesy of the sister Kuro Bakery. Their iced chais and matcha lattes have been highly rated.
10. Coffee Plant
Situated on Portobello Road, the Coffee Plant is an independent roastery with over 25 blends of free-trade, organic coffee. An unassuming little cafe, open shelves brimming with coffee beans imbue the establishment with a gorgeous bouquet of chicory and toasted beans. Coffee Plant is always packed to capacity, with locals and tourists thronging the cafe for peerless espresso and coffee beans. They roast their beans in a small factory a few yards from the cafe, so exceptional freshness is guaranteed.
Their hot lattes, cappuccinos, and chais, though simple, possess a full-bodied flavour-profile of fine arabicas. It is quite an immersive affair, to sip and relish a fresh brew made with coffee beans roasted on-site. Paired with a warm chocolate muffin, one coffee at this roastery will set you right for the day.
A tapestry of artistic legacy and incurable romance, a day out in Notting Hill, would not be complete without atmospheric cafes and specialty coffees, as a celebration of life’s simple pleasures. It’s time to unwind in one of Notting Hill’s treasured cafes – basking in the locale’s rosy glory, sipping on a mighty sedulously crafted brew.
