THE PORTOBELLO
Original rock 'n' roll hotel in bohemian Notting Hill
NOTTING HILL IS THE PERFECT SETTING for London’s original boutique townhouse hotel. Favoured haunt of models, actors and creatives, The Portobello epitomises the area's raffish boho-chic.
Overlooking a pretty garden square, it's a white neo-classical townhouse flanked by sculpted box trees. Inside, The Portobello flaunts its eccentricities – both among the guests (Kate Moss and then boyfriend Johnny Depp reportedly filled a bath with champagne here) and in the exotic and wickedly themed bedrooms. The mood is very much rock chic retro – and Notting Hillbillies will love it.
From basement boudoirs with private courtyards to intimate attic eyries, rooms at The Portobello are an extravaganza of rich and moody colours, arty antiques, colourful Edwardiana, decadent clawfoot baths and diverting objets trouvés. Expect the unconventional in this hip London hideaway.
Hit the Spot
A tranquil townhouse terrace in Notting Hill.
Bedtime
Plenty of Wow here. For detailed descriptions of The Portobello's highly individual rooms, select dates and see our booking pages.
Be Savvy
Occasional shades of shabby chic are part of the appeal.
Be Smitten
Retro rock chic haunt in W11.
Love-ins and late nights
Star rooms are loaded with atmosphere and designed for love-ins and late-night trysts. Take one of the themed rooms: go Moroccan, go Victorian, go Japanese, or simply go to bed here. We loved our stay in Room 16, with its gold and white decor and Boogie Nights-style round bed – and you'll have fun wondering which celebrity name might have gone to beddy-byes here before you.
Our room also had an ingenious butler's pantry stocked with champers and a pretty amazing Edwardian bathing machine. Our balcony looked over the pretty gardens, letting us wake to the sound of birdsong with our breakfast in bed next day.
Other sought-after rooms include Room 6, with its opulent gold clawfoot bath, and the Japanese style Room 1, with its fabulous bathroom and private patio. Attic rooms have smoked glass mirrors over the bed, while Room 38 has a full-on contemporary feel with a suede headboard and sleek fittings.
Downstairs, guests can make themselves at home in the colonial-style lobby, with its tall parlour ferns, Indian coffee tables and squashy sofas. Call in for a drink in the evening or have a sociable breakfast with fellow guests.
You’re in one of London's trendiest neighbourhoods here: minutes from Portobello Road and its famous antique market, and the deliciously boutique-y shops of Westbourne Grove. What's more, you can stroll through leafy Georgian terraces to atmospheric Julie’s restaurant – run by The Portobello's owners – for some seductive candlelit dining.
The Portobello was reviewed for Room for Romance by Tasha Munro
Overlooking a pretty garden square, it's a white neo-classical townhouse flanked by sculpted box trees. Inside, The Portobello flaunts its eccentricities – both among the guests (Kate Moss and then boyfriend Johnny Depp reportedly filled a bath with champagne here) and in the exotic and wickedly themed bedrooms. The mood is very much rock chic retro – and Notting Hillbillies will love it.
From basement boudoirs with private courtyards to intimate attic eyries, rooms at The Portobello are an extravaganza of rich and moody colours, arty antiques, colourful Edwardiana, decadent clawfoot baths and diverting objets trouvés. Expect the unconventional in this hip London hideaway.
Hit the Spot
A tranquil townhouse terrace in Notting Hill.
Bedtime
Plenty of Wow here. For detailed descriptions of The Portobello's highly individual rooms, select dates and see our booking pages.
Be Savvy
Occasional shades of shabby chic are part of the appeal.
Be Smitten
Retro rock chic haunt in W11.
Love-ins and late nights
Star rooms are loaded with atmosphere and designed for love-ins and late-night trysts. Take one of the themed rooms: go Moroccan, go Victorian, go Japanese, or simply go to bed here. We loved our stay in Room 16, with its gold and white decor and Boogie Nights-style round bed – and you'll have fun wondering which celebrity name might have gone to beddy-byes here before you.
Our room also had an ingenious butler's pantry stocked with champers and a pretty amazing Edwardian bathing machine. Our balcony looked over the pretty gardens, letting us wake to the sound of birdsong with our breakfast in bed next day.
Other sought-after rooms include Room 6, with its opulent gold clawfoot bath, and the Japanese style Room 1, with its fabulous bathroom and private patio. Attic rooms have smoked glass mirrors over the bed, while Room 38 has a full-on contemporary feel with a suede headboard and sleek fittings.
Downstairs, guests can make themselves at home in the colonial-style lobby, with its tall parlour ferns, Indian coffee tables and squashy sofas. Call in for a drink in the evening or have a sociable breakfast with fellow guests.
You’re in one of London's trendiest neighbourhoods here: minutes from Portobello Road and its famous antique market, and the deliciously boutique-y shops of Westbourne Grove. What's more, you can stroll through leafy Georgian terraces to atmospheric Julie’s restaurant – run by The Portobello's owners – for some seductive candlelit dining.
The Portobello was reviewed for Room for Romance by Tasha Munro
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Dining in
There's no in-house restaurant, but The Portobello has an extensive room service menu. You certainly won't go hungry with options like steak and kidney pie braised in organic ale, sausages with olive mash, Caesar salad or a BLT.
Dining out
Dinner at Julie's restaurant – utterly romantic and in the heart of Notting Hill's haute bohemia – is a must. It's just around the corner and run by The Portobello's owners, so they will be happy to book your table. We loved the intimacy of the downstairs rooms, where there's a crackling fire in winter, though it's hard to go wrong anywhere at this vintage Hollywood A-lister's hangout. Try the seared tuna with couscous, watermelon and mint salad or mille feuille of pork fillet and artichoke hearts with fresh sage dressing.
Where
Julie's Bar & Restaurant
What's cooking?
It's an eclectic menu here – everything from cumin roasted rack of lamb with pumpkin mash to Julie's chips with fresh garlic mayonnaise.
Dress the part
It's haute-bohemia Notting Hill
Top table?
A cosy table for two amid the ecclesiastical chairs and mirrors of the downstairs rooms
See & Do
Saturday morning at Portobello Road market is one of the must-dos: you'll find every kind of antique stall and dozens of little emporia selling memorabilia, paintings, objets d'art and vintage clothing. You're also close to Holland Park, Kensington Palace and its gardens and the greenery of Hyde Park, not to mention most of the West End.
Spa
The health club at Lampton Place is five minutes away
Shop
There's loads of cool shopping at nearby Westbourne Grove, Elgin Crescent and Clarendon Cross.
Play
There are plenty of bars and places for intimate late-night partying around Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove.
Dates
August bank holiday weekend
Turn up the volume. The Notting Hill Carnival – a two-day fiesta of Caribbean bands, parades and steel drums – has to be one for the diary.
There's no in-house restaurant, but The Portobello has an extensive room service menu. You certainly won't go hungry with options like steak and kidney pie braised in organic ale, sausages with olive mash, Caesar salad or a BLT.
Dining out
Dinner at Julie's restaurant – utterly romantic and in the heart of Notting Hill's haute bohemia – is a must. It's just around the corner and run by The Portobello's owners, so they will be happy to book your table. We loved the intimacy of the downstairs rooms, where there's a crackling fire in winter, though it's hard to go wrong anywhere at this vintage Hollywood A-lister's hangout. Try the seared tuna with couscous, watermelon and mint salad or mille feuille of pork fillet and artichoke hearts with fresh sage dressing.
Where
Julie's Bar & Restaurant
What's cooking?
It's an eclectic menu here – everything from cumin roasted rack of lamb with pumpkin mash to Julie's chips with fresh garlic mayonnaise.
Dress the part
It's haute-bohemia Notting Hill
Top table?
A cosy table for two amid the ecclesiastical chairs and mirrors of the downstairs rooms
See & Do
Saturday morning at Portobello Road market is one of the must-dos: you'll find every kind of antique stall and dozens of little emporia selling memorabilia, paintings, objets d'art and vintage clothing. You're also close to Holland Park, Kensington Palace and its gardens and the greenery of Hyde Park, not to mention most of the West End.
Spa
The health club at Lampton Place is five minutes away
Shop
There's loads of cool shopping at nearby Westbourne Grove, Elgin Crescent and Clarendon Cross.
Play
There are plenty of bars and places for intimate late-night partying around Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove.
Dates
August bank holiday weekend
Turn up the volume. The Notting Hill Carnival – a two-day fiesta of Caribbean bands, parades and steel drums – has to be one for the diary.
GETTING THERE
Location
Stanley Gardens, London W11 2NG
Parking
There's no guest parking, but there is pay and display and meter parking close by (free after lunchtime on Saturday).
Trains and tube
Mainline: Paddington station – a mile and a half.
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (central line) – ten minutes walk.
Taxis
GBP 50 from Heathrow Airport
Airport
London Heathrow – 45 minutes. Take the Heathrow Express from Paddington.
Rooms and suites
23 rooms and suites
Special features
All rooms have wi-fi internet, and DVD/CD players are available from reception.
Also...
Special rooms include No. 16, with its huge round bed (the most popular wedding night room), 13 with its antique four-poster and 6, with its half-tester bed.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 190 - 300
Open/closed
Closed at Christmas
Check-in
1.30 pm
Check-out
12.00 noon
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Breakfast is served until noon. Menu options include smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with a bottle of Julie's champagne.
Room service
Available 24 hours
Children
Welcome
Pets
Dogs welcome by prior agreement
Air conditioning
Yes – in some rooms
Languages
English and Polish
Wedding license?
No
Your contact
Hannah Turner – general manager
Location
Stanley Gardens, London W11 2NG
Parking
There's no guest parking, but there is pay and display and meter parking close by (free after lunchtime on Saturday).
Trains and tube
Mainline: Paddington station – a mile and a half.
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (central line) – ten minutes walk.
Taxis
GBP 50 from Heathrow Airport
Airport
London Heathrow – 45 minutes. Take the Heathrow Express from Paddington.
Rooms and suites
23 rooms and suites
Special features
All rooms have wi-fi internet, and DVD/CD players are available from reception.
Also...
Special rooms include No. 16, with its huge round bed (the most popular wedding night room), 13 with its antique four-poster and 6, with its half-tester bed.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 190 - 300
Open/closed
Closed at Christmas
Check-in
1.30 pm
Check-out
12.00 noon
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Breakfast is served until noon. Menu options include smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with a bottle of Julie's champagne.
Room service
Available 24 hours
Children
Welcome
Pets
Dogs welcome by prior agreement
Air conditioning
Yes – in some rooms
Languages
English and Polish
Wedding license?
No
Your contact
Hannah Turner – general manager