
Portobello Star
Notting Hill, London
Bar in London, United Kingdom
The Read
Gin-Forward Back Bar
Why go
Portobello Star is a stronger pick for a drinks-led date or small celebration than for a full dinner plan. Its past World's 50 Best Bars recognition gives it credibility, but the practical move is to go early and treat it as a focused Portobello Road cocktail stop rather than a flexible group fallback.
About Portobello Star
Portobello Star is a London bar with a notable historical accolade: it was ranked #27 on World's 50 Best Bars in 2012. Before making plans, check current details such as the menu, service format, seating setup, prices, opening hours.
Use it as a London bar shortlist candidate
Portobello Star is worth noting when the priority is a bar in London with a past appearance on World's 50 Best Bars. For current details on cuisine type, chef, food format, drinks list, or service model, check directly before you go. If the evening needs a full meal, pair the search with Our full London restaurants guide; if bars are the main focus, compare it against Our full London bars guide.
The safest planning approach is to use Portobello Star as a researched bar option rather than building an itinerary around details that may change. London planning can also run through Our full London hotels guide, Our full London experiences guide, Our full London wineries guide if the bar is one stop in a wider itinerary.
Check current details before you go
Confirm current booking rules, hours, prices, seating, food availability, group policies directly before making plans. For broader comparison, consider venues such as The Lonsdale, The Pelican, The Princess Royal, Trailer Happiness, or Viajante87, or use London guides to compare unnamed bars and restaurants.
Planning details
- Location
- 171 Portobello Rd, London W11 2DY
- Website
- portobelloroaddistillery.com
- Phone
- +44 20 4515 3131
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Portobello Star reads like a quiet, understated jewel: a neighbourhood-pub exterior that houses a technically rigorous, gin-led cocktail programme. The bar aligns with London's tradition of restraint, favouring precision over theatrics. Its international recognition — appearances in the World's 50 Best Bars — speaks to a level of craft that belies the unassuming façade. Inside, the room keeps attention squarely on the drink, and the overall atmosphere is calm, focused and quietly sophisticated, making it feel both intimate and deliberately minimalist in presentation.
Best For
This is a bar for people who come for the drink rather than the spectacle. Its location on a quieter stretch of Portobello Road and its neighbourhood-pub exterior make it well suited to after-work visits and low-key hangouts with friends. Given the emphasis on gin and technical execution, it also works for intimate evenings where conversation and carefully made cocktails are the priority. It is not presented as a raucous nightspot; instead it caters to patrons seeking a refined, focused drinking experience.
Ordering Tips
Order with a gin-first mindset: the bar’s editorial identity is explicitly gin-led, and it is closely associated with a house label, Portobello Road Gin. Expect understated presentation and technical precision rather than theatrical garnishes. Ask the bartender about the house gin and about specific botanical profiles or contemporary styles — the programme’s strength is specificity and depth. Because the room is designed to keep focus on the glass, let the staff guide you toward expressions that showcase the bar’s expertise rather than defaulting to novelty names or trends.
Venue details
Ambiance
Classy, recently refurbished cocktail-bar atmosphere with a local hangout feel; handmade liquor and house spirit infusions are central to the experience.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
View
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Dj
Signature Pours
- house spirit infusion cocktails
- signature cocktails
- Singapore Sling
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
If you cannot get in
Try Trailer Happiness if the group wants a livelier Notting Hill drinks night, or The Lonsdale if the goal is a lower-pressure west London bar option.
Bar context
How It Compares
Portobello Star is the Portobello Road choice when the priority is a recognized cocktail bar address in west London. Trailer Happiness is the cleaner cross-shop if the brief is a more overtly fun, late-night bar mood nearby, while The Lonsdale works better for a polished neighborhood drink without making the night feel too planned.
For food-led occasions, The Pelican and The Princess Royal are safer choices because they are easier to frame as a full evening rather than a drinks stop. Pick Portobello Star when cocktails are the point; pick those two when the group expects dinner-level comfort and a longer booking.
Viajante87 is the better comparison for readers who want a contemporary cocktail-room feel in the same city. Portobello Star has the heritage signal; Viajante87 is the cross-shop when the night calls for something more current in tone.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Portobello Star guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Portobello Star
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Portobello Star | London | 2012 World's 50 Best Bars · #272009 World's 50 Best Bars · #40 |
| Trailer Happiness | London | 2009 World's 50 Best Bars · #22 |
| The Lonsdale | London | No published awards |
| The Pelican | London | No published awards |
| The Princess Royal | London | No published awards |
| Viajante87 | London | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #33Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1702026 Pinnacle Guide2024 World's 50 Best Bars · #99 |
How Portobello Star London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portobello Star good for groups?
If you are planning for a group, confirm seating, capacity, booking policy, group arrangements directly with Portobello Star and compare venues such as The Lonsdale before deciding.
Does Portobello Star have outdoor seating?
Is Portobello Star good for a date?
It works for a bar-focused plan because Portobello Star has a World's 50 Best Bars #27 ranking from 2012. Check current atmosphere, seating, booking rules, service details before planning around it; Trailer Happiness is another venue to compare.




























