Portobello Market - Eating at Portobello

Eating at Portobello Market

Finding something to eat at a very crowded market can be a nightmare, of course Portobello Market is no exception, it really is very busy indeed, if you haven't been before I think you'll be suprised ...

Every week customers remark to me that they were quite shocked to see so many people here - so much for a recession!!

Of course I actually mean, getting something to eat is very easy ... there are plentiful stalls selling hot dogs, burgers, noodles and so on - and if eating on your feet suits you then great, in which case I'll assume you can sort yourself out, there's plenty for you and not a lot to choose between them, the food is what you'd expect from a man in a van or a trestle table piled with sandwiches.

These food vans are all in the Elgin Crescent area and there are odd stalls dotted about selling coffee.

If however you fancy sitting down for a minute to catch your breath and rest your feet then it is not so straight forward, so this next bit is for you ...

I'll start at the Notting Hill Gate end and just list the places I would go to if I was you ... remember that on market day, all shopfronts including pubs have got stalls outside them at least partially covering them up, so sometimes you have to look hard for the entrance.

On Portobello Road

• Portobello Gold - Pub: sit down restaurant, expect to pay gastro pub prices (eg. around 10 pounds a head)
• Earl of Lonsdale - Pub: comfortable lounge/dining areas, basic food
• Electric Cinema - Restaurant: not cheap, snacks out front crowded, restaurant out back, book in advance (020) 7908 9696
• Market Bar - Thai Restaurant Upstairs: good food, standard prices, book in advance (020) 7460 8320

Side Streets

• Elgin Cresent - Street:
• Mr Christians: take away but fab sandwiches etc.
• The Grocer on Elgin: again only take away but superb snacks.
• Kitchen & Pantry: comfortable sit down Coffee Shop and light snacks, I usually have a coffee here before work.
• Kensington Park Road:
• The Mediterranean Kitchen: sit down, pizza, pasta etc.
• E & O: superb food, not cheap, book to be safe (020) 7229 5454.
• All Saints Road: (one time no go zone, 5 mins walk from Portobello, now gentrified)
• Several Places here, including 2x pizza, thai and several comfortable bars, all worth going to, so pick the one you fancy when you get there.