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Notting Hill is home to some of the best restaurants in London — nearly all of which will be closed on Sunday and Monday when two million people descend on this corner of west London to turn it into the biggest street party in Europe.
The roads of W10 and W11 within the Carnival route will see around 250 pop-up vendors selling Caribbean-inspired street food: jerk chicken, of course, but also Trinidadian roti wraps with spicy fillings, Guyanese pepperpot — stewed beef, pork or mutton, heady with cinnamon — plus saltfish cakes, plantain and sweetcorn.
We’ve already tapped up Levi Roots for his expert suggestions on where to eat inside Carnival, but below are the best options for sitting down in the areas surrounding Notting Hill.
The Laslett
Last year, this boutique hotel near Notting Hill Gate tube hosted a carnival terrace brunch, and while this year celebrations appear to have dialled back a little, the terrace is still set to be open during Carnival, offering the classic brunch and lunch menu, ideal for a post Carnival pit-stop.
8 Pembridge Gardens, W2 4DU, living-rooms.co.uk
Cottons
Notting Hill Gate’s Caribbean restaurant claims to celebrate Carnival spirit all year round; see for yourself over the bank holiday weekend when there will be spicy chicken from a jerkpit, live DJs and takeaway rum cocktails.
157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3LF, cottons-restaurant.co.uk
The Ladbroke Arms
On a quiet side street halfway between Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park tubes, this civilised pub will likely be busier than usual this Carnival. A pop-up barbecue will fill the terrace with a special menu and decorations throughout the pub across the weekend.
54 Ladbroke Road, W11 3NW, ladbrokearms.com
Paradise by Way of Kensal Green
Overgrounding it to Kensal Rise and entering (or exiting) the Carnival via the north end of Ladbroke Grove? Break the journey at this spacious gastropub which will be offering live DJs across the weekend, getting the party started at noon or keeping it going until the smaller hours on both the Sunday and Monday.
19 Kilburn Lane, W10 4AE, theparadise.co.uk
The Whippet Inn
This bistro-looking gastropub in Kensal is to be be open until midnight, with an outdoor barbecue on the terrace at the front of the restaurant, and slushie machines to keep a summery boozy drinks-fulled party going.
