The Barbary Notting Hill — Restaurant in London

The Barbary Notting Hill – A Vivid Culinary Experience in London’s Booming Dining Scene

Tucked away on one of the trendiest streets in London, The Barbary Notting Hill is not just another new opening – it’s a bold statement in a neighborhood that’s quickly becoming one of the capital’s most dynamic culinary hubs. With Notting Hill experiencing a boom in wine bars and high-quality restaurants, this spot stands out – and not just for its food.

Atmosphere & Design: Refined, Lively, Memorable

The design is striking yet inviting. There’s a natural warmth to the interiors – hand-crafted textures, soft lighting, and a layout that balances intimacy with vibrancy. The open kitchen setup offers diners at the bar an immersive experience, perfect for food lovers who enjoy watching the action unfold. At the heart of the space sits a sleek central bar, surrounded by well-spaced tables that comfortably accommodate groups. Whether you’re after a quiet dinner or a social evening with friends, the ambiance is effortlessly adaptable.

Food: Flavorful, Inventive, and Well-Priced

The menu draws inspiration from the Barbary Coast – a fusion of Mediterranean and North African influences – and is centered around fire-led cooking and bold spice blends. Dishes are beautifully presented, with ingredients that clearly speak of quality.

Particular highlights include the house-made merguez, chargrilled chicken with coffee rub and tahina, and the freshly baked flatbreads, perfect for scooping up dips and sauces. Each dish feels thoughtfully composed, bringing together texture, seasoning, and balance.

And don’t overlook the desserts – the strawberry one is light and deeply satisfying, so much so that ordering a second portion becomes a real temptation.

Service: Warm and Impeccably Run

The service is attentive yet relaxed – the staff know the menu well and guide you through it with genuine enthusiasm. Their knowledge extends to the well-curated wine list too, which features over 250 labels ranging from natural producers to more classic vintages.

Verdict: A Must-Visit in West London

The Barbary Notting Hill offers exceptional food and hospitality at a very fair price point. It’s an ideal representation of what makes London’s dining scene so exciting right now: cultural richness, creative cooking, and accessible excellence.

If you find yourself in Notting Hill – whether you’re local or just passing through – this is one restaurant that deserves a spot at the top...

Although I have never been to the original Barbary in Covent Garden, I have had some very enjoyable meals at Palomar and was quite excited to try out the this new location of the Barbaby which is much closer to home. I visited for lunch on a Sunday. The place was very busy. I really liked the décor which felt dark and moody and probably comes into its element in the evenings. In terms of the layout, there is a row of bar seating facing the kitchen, but also a row of stools up against the floor to ceiling windows facing the street (very exposed). The larger section of the restaurant comprises a lot of booths and banquette seating. My family of 4 was seated in a booth which looked nice aesthetically but was quite cramped, even for London standards.

We ordered a couple of flat breads, the feta brulee, ‘moroccan cigars’ (filo pastry), the ‘spicy plate’ (assorted chillies/pastes), squid, merguez, octopus, lamb cutlets, coffee chicken, along with some rice, mushrooms and butter corn. For dessert we tried the hashcake (pistachio cake) and some ice cream. It was a lot of food but not as much as it sounds as the portions are quite modest in size. That said the food was very nice and in line with expectations after prior visits to Palomar. Favourites included the dips (both the feta brulee and the spicy plate), merguez and octopus. The hashcake for dessert was less exciting though and the only other dessert option (yoghurt based) didn’t entice us either.

Service was friendly and started off quite efficiently, but there was quite a long gap between our first wave and second wave of dishes, and then towards the end of the meal a different server took over our table and it did feel like she was trying to rush us out. The bill for our lunch came to £309 of which £80 was spent on drinks. This placed it at the higher end of our numerous meals out in Notting Hill, but not excessively so. Overall, I cannot award full marks for the service or value for money, however the food was certainly enjoyable and I enjoyed the buzzy ambience and décor. I...

My first visit today and let me tell you, I was not disappointed! I’m annoyingly complainy but guess what, I found nothing to complain about! The staff made us feel genuinely welcome, and taken care off. Jenny seemed like an old friend

When we walked in I was a bit nervous because I don’t usually frequent pubs and bars. A member of the team quickly guided us to the two options: eating or drinking. We were happy to just drink but wanted to sit by the windows and watch peoples evenings die in the night so selected to eat. Saved us having to find a place to eat later om

Jenny was the highlight. She was warm, funny, and full of real care. She took the time to understand what we liked, guided us through the menu, translating word like that Suzuki with real enthusiasm and humour. Her recommendations were spot on.

The food was outstanding, full of flavour, cooked to perfection and served promptly and neatly. We started with Grilled Halloumi, Jalapeno Honey. It was gorgeous. We didnt notice the Halloumi was swimming in a utterly lovely Jalaneano sauce. Next was Burnt Tomato, Charred Ricotta and Dill it was lovey. Rich little toms cooked deliciously juicy covered in flakes of ricotta cheese. Lastly, 7 Spice Lamb Rib on Onion Tzatziki. Oh my gosh! Soft and just so very enjoyable! What a beautiful selection of food. No need for dessert. Maybe next time.

The venue itself, with its several roomy little booths and plethora of bar stools, has a charming 70’s bar-restaurant feel. In my opinion. I could be technically wrong about thr carbon dating but I don’t care, that’s the word I’m using. I half expected to hear some swing music and smell cigar smoke! That’s the vibe I’m talking about. I marked the atmosphere down only because i wanted to hear some prohibition era music.

It’s the kind of bar that just makes you want to stay a little longer. I walked in curious and walked out certain I’ll be back. Thank you The Barbary...