London Bayswater Restaurant Guide

“Still a go-to if it’s roast duck you’re after” – see them hanging in the window of this 35-year-old Bayswater Cantonese and its Chinatown offshoots, which offer “consistently excellent” roast meats (pork as well as duck) in “a pretty basic environment that’s noisy and crowded”, along with “charmless service” – “bad enough to make you think twice about even going!”. A more positive way of looking at it is that “they don’t waste money on decor and service: it’s a reliable no-frills comfort-food experience”. Further outlets include Chop Chop at the Hippodrome and Colindale Bang Bang Oriental food hall (see also), plus three Little Four Seasons.

“Known for the most delicious lobster noodles” – a dish which has earned it widespread fame, and which “remains a must-eat” – this “old-favourite Chinese with great seafood” in Queensway “has returned to form” after “seeming to lose its way at one stage” (a revival reflected in the food ratings). It’s well worth exploring the menu further: “they also have the best roast duck”. The cavernous, ’70s-tastic interior is either an essential part of its nostalgic charm or dire, depending on your tastes.

“Excellent Cantonese roast duck and dim sum” have earned a solid following over 20 years for this “authentically rushed and hectic” Queensway spot (and its Chinatown sibling), despite “typical Chinese-restaurant ambience and service – crammed… loud… perfunctory”.

Normah Abd Hamid’s Malaysian pitstop inside Queensway Market has become a cult destination for those seeking “the most authentic food” – so now “reservation is a must”, with bookings opening at 10am on the first of the month for tables a month later. It’s “worth it”, though, for Normah’s “fantastic” home cooking – and given the hype, reporters say they “over-ordered but it was all fabulous, king prawn laksa, Assam fish, rendang and mixed vegetables… will definitely be returning”.

Almost everyone has walked past this 30-year fixture next-door to Queensway tube station at some point. Those who have dropped in for a meal have found “delicious and authentic Cantonese food”, including roast duck and seafood – “but don’t expect friendly service”. Top Menu Tip – “beef with black bean sauce and crispy noodles”.

Barry & Patricia Hilton’s “buzzing and deservedly popular” trio thrive on their “interesting” and “reasonably priced” small plates from an “evolved eastern Mediterranean menu” of “very tasty and well flavoured dishes, which show that simple combinations of good fresh ingredients are all you need”; and it’s accompanied by an “eclectic and unusual list of wines” from the same region. The original South Kensington venue opened 10 years ago, followed by branches in Queensway and, last year, Farringdon. Top Menu Tip – “the apple, mint and pomegranate salad is especially effective”.

“When you want a hipster burger dripping in your beard, this place delivers!” – Scott Collins’s “buzzy, vibey” joints are notorious for their “really good dirty burgers” with memorable names (the ‘Dead Hippie’ and its veggie cousin the ‘Tempeh Tantrum’), plus “excellent buffalo wings with blue-cheese sauce”. In early 2025 he opened spinoff venture BLOODsports in a Covent Garden basement (see also), showing live sports and horror films on large-screen TVs.

“An institution on Westbourne Grove” – Mathew & Charmaine Tabatabai’s chic Bayswater brunch café provides “lovely coffee… and, if the sun’s out, a nice place to watch the world go by”.

“A perennial favourite” with a dedicated fan club: Nino Sassu’s Italian spot upstairs from a Bayswater pub may no longer evoke the rapturous reports of a couple of decades ago (when it was widely acknowledged as London’s No. 1 Italian), but – as it celebrates its 30th anniversary – the “excellent food, reasonable pricing, and personable welcome” ensure it still comes “thoroughly recommended” by its long-term fans.

2024 Review: “Chicken with amazing sides” is the winning formula at Romain Bourrillon’s rotisserie chain, which imports its chooks from France. “Nice brunch”, too.

“Maybe not some upscale fancy restaurant but one of the best Indians on the central-west side of London: no wonder they have been in business for 70 years!” – this veteran family-run tandoori in Bayswater has served generations with “Indian food that’s cheap ’n’ cheerful but good nonetheless” (“from the tandoori chicken to the breads”). The BYO policy makes it even better value than the prices on the menu suggest (“and the Sainsbury’s on Westbourne Grove, 50 yards away, stocks Cobra”).

“The dim sum never disappoints”, with “V.G. examples of all the classics” at this Cantonese outfit in Paddington Basin, set in a large and modern basement that looks “stylish” to most diners, if “cold and boring” to a few critics. “Great for lunch with family and friends”, it also “copes well for a party of 20 in a private room, with efficient service and an excellent set menu”.

Over the last 14 years feedback on the Gladwin Bros’ pint-sized operation – the original London branch of their five-strong shabby-chic, field-to-fork group – has dwindled, although such as we have remains positive. It’s a situation eerily reminiscent of the trajectory of its predecessor on this cute, small site near Notting Hill Gate which traded as ‘The Ark’ for decades, but which often ‘flew under the radar’. On the menu, an eclectic assortment of dishes using wild, foraged and locally grown produce.

“Service can be a little slow but the food makes up for it”, say fans of this Aussie brunch specialist: an affordable and attractive option particularly for a lunchtime get-together. The particular draw is its great location beside Regent’s Canal at Paddington Basin, making it a highpoint of the 20 venues across the capital in the Daisy Green Collection.

This “super-busy” Malaysian in a hotel off Queensway is a worthwhile cheap eat, channeling founders Med Pang & Koi Lee’s nostalgia for the tastes of their early years. If you’re “prepared to wait” – it’s “a bit chaotic, which adds to the authentic atmosphere” – you’ll find “sound laksa, good roti channai, and very good oyster omelette (for those who like it runny)”.

“God, it’s wonderful to have Jeremy King back in action”, sigh the many fans of this year-old, Manhattan-inspired haunt at the top of Queensway, across the road from Kensington Gardens: “an American-style grand cafe” where, they say, “you can breath easy with its pale wood, smooth surfaces – all the tables are good – and booths abound”. Many of our reporters have followed Jeremy for decades, through the rise of Corbin & King… boardroom battles over The Wolseley… his sudden departure from the group… and now his triumphant comeback (alongside The Arlington, and Simpsons on the Strand, see also). Once again they feel at home in this “luscious location”, socialising with the smart crowd (but also quite a lot of tourists) over “US-tinged food that can be anything from a hot dog to a three course blow-out”: simple, but tempting fare that “like the great man himself is well cut, well-suited and comfortable”. Long-term followers know better than to expect culinary pyrotechnics – it’s not King’s style – “a bit formulaic but very pleasant” is what to hope for, alongside an acceptance that it may be “no more than average” (and “if you order what you really want – rather than merely what you can afford – the bill can be a shocker”). Servicewise – “The Park is still in the ‘learning’ phase”, but for the most part hitting the “welcoming and highly professional service” that’s his hallmark, and from the get-go it’s been “a top venue in an area of London that lacks any good eateries”.

2024 Review: No less a figure than Queen Azizah of Malaysia (while she was over for Charles’s coronation) cut the ribbon for the May 2023 opening of this first European venture from one of Malaysia’s leading restaurant groups – a steakhouse in Craven Road, Paddington, that takes its name from the meeting of Eastern and Western food cultures. No alcohol is served and the meat is fully halal, with cuts flavoured by infusion in Asian marinades. Reports please!

From the Pachamama Group, this 2025 debut is set to occupy two floors of a monolithic landmark in Bayswater – the former Whiteleys department store. The sunny seas of the Aegean are popular inspiration for restaurant openings currently and this one aims to fish in similar waters.

Following the billion-pound rebirth of Bayswater’s landmark Whiteley building, a spacious live-fire restaurant open in autumn 2025 from chefs Hari Shetty (ex-Nobu) and Ori Geller (ex-Mr Porter), featuring an open kitchen, circular cocktail bar and outdoor terrace. The original Nela opened in Amsterdam four years ago, and has spawned a summer pop-up in Ibiza.

“Lunch and pub dining with a special atmosphere” is the promise of this early Victorian pub behind Lancaster Gate tube, which claims Winston Churchill and Tony Blair among its visitors over the years. “Only English food and wine” are served as far as possible (lemons are imported from Gibraltar, which almost counts) – although that means the wine prices are “quite steep”. “Beers are excellent”, though, and the food is “great value” – most notably a 2-course set lunch for under £15.