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    Pearl
    Portobello Star, Bar in London
    Bar400Points
    World's 50 Best 2012

    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.

    The takeThis 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.
    Venue detailsSeated Bar
    Recognition and awards1 source
    Also considerAlternatives
    Bar contextLondon, United Kingdom

    Planning details

    Location
    171 Portobello Rd, London W11 2DY
    Website
    portobelloroaddistillery.com
    Phone
    +44 20 4515 3131
    Explore LondonNearby
    Around this placeMore Pearl picks
    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

    ClassicCozyHidden Gem

    Best For

    After WorkGroup OutingCelebration

    Experience

    StandaloneHistoric Building

    Format

    Seated BarLounge SeatingPrivate Rooms

    View

    Street Scene

    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

    171 Portobello Rd, London W11 2DY · Directions

    +44 20 4515 3131

    portobelloroaddistillery.com

    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.

    Explore London
    Around this place
    Read more on Pearl

    Discover more on Pearl

    Unlock the full Portobello Star guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.

    Compare Portobello Star
    Portobello Star London and similar venues
    VenueLocationAwards
    Portobello StarLondon
    2012 World's 50 Best Bars · #272009 World's 50 Best Bars · #40
    Trailer HappinessLondon
    2009 World's 50 Best Bars · #22
    The LonsdaleLondonNo published awards
    The PelicanLondonNo published awards
    The Princess RoyalLondonNo published awards
    Viajante87London
    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.