The Princess Royal
Westbourne, London
Bar in London, United Kingdom
Why go
A practical west London pick for easy group plans, casual meals, drinks where flexibility matters more than a specialist bar format. The Good Food Guide 2025 recognition gives it a useful quality signal, but wine-focused drinkers should compare it with dedicated bars before choosing.
About The Princess Royal
For planning in London, The Princess Royal is a practical pick when the plan needs to be easy and flexible rather than built around a highly specific format. The verified basics are direct: it is in London, the dress code is smart casual, the listed hours run from morning into the evening most days.
The recent signal that matters is recognition from The Good Food Guide 2025, which lists The Princess Royal as GFG Good. That gives it a useful quality marker without requiring the page to assume details about cuisine, menu format, drinks, or service style that are not verified here. If the priority is a broader London plan, use Our full London bars guide to compare options before committing.
A practical London choice when flexibility matters more than theatre
The case for considering The Princess Royal is strongest when broad opening hours matter. It is listed as open 8 AM to 11:30 PM Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 10 PM on Sunday, which can make planning easier than with venues that have narrower schedules. The verified dress code is smart casual, so it suits a polished but not overly formal plan.
Be cautious about assuming more than the verified record supports. There is no confirmed detail here on cuisine, specific dishes, prices, seating, outdoor space, take-out, delivery, allergy accommodations, or a specialist drinks program. Treat The Princess Royal as a London venue with broad hours and confirmed Good Food Guide recognition, then check the venue directly for the current menu and booking details.
Who should choose it, who should cross-shop
Choose The Princess Royal if the group values ease: London location, smart-casual dress, broad hours, enough external recognition to reduce the risk of a blind pick. Cross-shop if the whole point of the outing is a specific cocktail, wine, late-night, or dining format, because those details are not verified for The Princess Royal here.
For comparisons, Whiteley's Bar, The Lonsdale, Portobello Star, Trailer Happiness, Viajante87 may be worth considering depending on the kind of night you want. For broader planning across the city, keep Our full London restaurants guide and Our full London hotels guide close, especially if this is one stop in a longer itinerary.
Quick reference: choose The Princess Royal for flexible London hours, smart-casual ease, confirmed Good Food Guide 2025 recognition; cross-shop for more specialist formats.
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Princess Royal pairs a Victorian-pub shell with a carefully edited, rustic interior. The racing-green exterior is deliberately eye-catching on a quiet Notting Hill street; inside, bare brick, potted plants and marble-topped tables create a curated, lived-in look. The layout feels intentional rather than twee — distinct zones let the room breathe and the design reads as restrained rather than pastiche. Service and foodmanship keep the evening focused on what matters: thoughtful Mediterranean-leaning plates and a considered wine list. Overall it feels like a modern London dining pub that balances heritage and contemporary restraint.
Best For
This is a dining-forward pub best enjoyed for a proper evening meal. The kitchen is clearly as important as the room, so it suits diners who want a focused dinner with wine and a raw-bar selection rather than a late-night drinking spot. Counter seating places you close to the preparation and is ideal for smaller parties or couples who enjoy watching the action; table seating in the divided room gives a steadier, more conventional dinner rhythm. Expect service and pacing that support a relaxed, sit-down dinner experience.
Ordering Tips
Sit at the counter by the raw bar if you want a participatory snack or to watch preparation up close — the description highlights that vantage as shaping the meal. Lean into the seafood and raw-bar offerings and consult the proper wine list to match Mediterranean-leaning flavors. Because the kitchen is a deliberate focus, order a few composed plates to share rather than relying on pub snacks; the room is arranged so choice of seating changes the tempo of the meal, so pick your spot based on whether you want action or a quieter table.
Planning details
Location
47 Hereford Rd, London W2 5AH, United Kingdom · Directions
cubitthouse.co.uk/the-princess-royal-boutique-hotel-notting-hill
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
If the night is cocktail-led, choose Viajante87 or Trailer Happiness instead. If the plan is centred on Notting Hill and you want a bar-hop feel, Portobello Star is the better backup.
For a nearby, location-led alternative, Whiteley's Bar is the cleanest cross-shop. For a classic west London drinking room, The Lonsdale is the closer fit.
Bar context
How it compares with nearby London bars
The Princess Royal is the safer value choice if the brief is flexible west London dining and drinks rather than a single-purpose bar night. Whiteley's Bar is the cleaner option when location around the Whiteley development matters more; The Lonsdale and Portobello Star make more sense for a Notting Hill drinking route.
For atmosphere, Trailer Happiness is the stronger pick when the group wants a more energetic bar-led evening. Viajante87 is the better cross-shop for a cocktail-first plan where the drinks program is the main event. Choose The Princess Royal when ease, broad hours, meal compatibility matter more than a specialist drinks identity.
Booking difficulty is the main advantage here: it is listed as easy, which makes it useful for lower-friction plans. If the group is price-conscious, that matters because a simple booking and flexible format can beat a more elaborate room that requires tighter timing or a narrower occasion.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Princess Royal guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Princess Royal
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Princess Royal | London | The Good Food Guide 2025, GFG Good, The Princess Royal |
| Whiteley’s Bar | London | , |
| The Lonsdale | London | , |
| Portobello Star | London | , |
| Trailer Happiness | London | , |
| Viajante87 | London | , |
How The Princess Royal London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best time to go to The Princess Royal?
The verified hours are 8 AM to 11:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 10 PM on Sunday. The best time depends on your plan, so check directly with the venue for current booking availability and any service-specific details.
Does The Princess Royal have happy hour deals?
Happy hour details are not verified here, so do not plan around a discount unless the venue confirms it directly. If drinks are the main priority, Whiteley's Bar or Portobello Star may also be worth comparing.
Is The Princess Royal open late?
Yes. The verified hours run to 11:30 PM Monday through Saturday and to 10 PM on Sunday.
Do I need a reservation at The Princess Royal?
Reservation requirements are not verified here. Booking ahead may still be sensible for busier times, The Good Food Guide 2025 lists The Princess Royal as GFG Good. For a different kind of outing, The Lonsdale, Trailer Happiness, or Viajante87 may also be worth comparing.
Does The Princess Royal have outdoor seating?
Outdoor seating is not verified here, so do not assume it is available. If outdoor space matters, compare other London options such as Whiteley's Bar or Portobello Star and check official channels before choosing.
