Dorian

Should You Book Dorian?

Getting a table at Dorian is genuinely difficult. Since earning its Michelin star in 2024 and climbing to #69 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual Europe list in 2025 (up from #121 in 2024), the 105 Talbot Road address has become one of West London's harder reservations to secure. Book at least three to four weeks ahead for dinner, and expect weekend lunch slots to go fast. If you can get in, it is worth the effort: this is a Notting Hill neighbourhood restaurant that punches well above its brasserie billing.

The Room

Walk in and the visual logic of Dorian is immediately clear. Exposed ventilation ducts sit above close-packed linen-clothed tables. Black-and-white tiled flooring runs underfoot. British racing green banquettes line the walls, and open wine cabinets punctuate the space. The kitchen is open-plan, and the counter that faces it is the room's most coveted real estate: from those seats you can watch the wood-fired grill in action, which is where much of the menu's character originates. The room reads as casual but deliberate: the details are considered, the atmosphere cool without being cold. For a special occasion, it delivers a setting that feels appropriately serious without tipping into formality.

The Food and Wine

Chef Max Coen, formerly of Ikoyi, leads a kitchen assembled from alumni of The Wolseley, Noble Rot, and CORE by Clare Smyth. That pedigree shows in the cooking's technical confidence. Menu descriptions are deliberately spare, which can make ordering feel opaque, but the service team knows the menu and will steer first-timers well. The advice is worth taking: follow it on both what to order and how much, because portion logic here doesn't always map to conventional courses.

Wood-fired grilling is a defining feature, and dishes range from single-bite snacks through to substantial shared main courses. The sourcing is serious: Limousin veal chop with vin jaune is the kind of specification that signals a kitchen paying attention to primary ingredients. The wine list leans French and Italian, with stellar labels and older vintages available, but most bottles run to three figures. By-the-glass options start from £9, which matters if you want to drink well without committing to a full bottle at the higher end of the list.

Special Occasions and Group Dining

Dorian positions itself as a neighbourhood bistro, but the Michelin star, the sourcing, and the cooking team make it a credible choice for a celebration dinner or a serious business meal. The atmosphere is lively rather than hushed, which suits dates and small group dinners but may not serve those looking for quiet conversation. For two, counter seating is the move if you want proximity to the kitchen action. For groups of four or more, a banquette in the main room gives more space and a better overview of the room.

There is no formal private dining room listed for Dorian. Groups wanting an enclosed, dedicated space will need to look elsewhere: The Ritz Restaurant and Cornus both offer private room options at comparable price points. For a celebratory dinner where the main room atmosphere is part of the appeal rather than a compromise, Dorian works well for parties of four to six. Larger groups should confirm capacity and any minimum spend arrangements directly before booking.

Practical Details

Dorian opens for lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 12 PM, and for dinner Monday through Saturday until 11 PM, with Sunday dinner closing at 10 PM. Monday lunch is not offered, so if a weekday lunch is the goal, Tuesday through Friday are your options. The price range is ££££, and with the wine list skewing expensive, a full dinner with wine for two will comfortably reach the higher end of that bracket. Budget accordingly if you are ordering from the bottles rather than the by-the-glass selection.

The address is 105-107 Talbot Road, London W11 2AT. Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove are the nearest tube stations. For other dining options in the area and across the city, see our full London restaurants guide. If you are planning a wider trip, our London hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest.

For comparable Modern British cooking outside London, Waterside Inn in Bray, L'Enclume in Cartmel, Moor Hall in Aughton, Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Gidleigh Park in Chagford, hide and fox in Saltwood, 33 The Homend in Ledbury, and Artichoke in Amersham are worth considering depending on how far you want to travel.

Quick reference: Dorian, 105-107 Talbot Rd, London W11 2AT. Open Tue–Sun lunch from 12 PM; Mon–Sat dinner to 11 PM; Sun dinner to 10 PM. Price range ££££. Michelin 1 Star (2024). Book 3–4 weeks ahead minimum.

FAQs

• Can I eat at the bar at Dorian? Counter seating facing the open kitchen is available and is one of the better seats in the room, giving you a direct view of the wood-fired grill. It is worth requesting specifically when booking, particularly for two people. Walk-in counter seats may occasionally be available, but with a Michelin star and a hard-to-book reputation, do not rely on it.
• Is Dorian worth the price? At ££££ with a wine list that runs mostly above three figures per bottle, Dorian is not cheap. But against other Michelin-starred Modern British restaurants in London, it delivers more casual-atmosphere value than, say, CORE by Clare Smyth, which operates at a more formal and more expensive register. If you want serious cooking in a room that doesn't feel like a special-occasion obligation, Dorian justifies the spend. The Opinionated About Dining #69 ranking in Europe for 2025 adds independent weight to that assessment.
• Is the tasting menu worth it at Dorian? Dorian does not operate as a tasting-menu restaurant. The format is à la carte with snacks and shared mains, closer to a French bistro model than an omakase progression. First-timers should lean on the service team's guidance on how to construct a meal across the menu's sections. If a fixed tasting format is what you want from a Michelin-starred Modern British kitchen, CORE by Clare Smyth or Ormer Mayfair are better fits.
• Can Dorian accommodate groups? Dorian can seat small groups in the main room. There is no confirmed private dining room, so if you need an enclosed space for a corporate dinner or a large celebration, venues like The Ritz Restaurant or Cornus are more suitable. For a group dinner of four to six where the lively main-room atmosphere is welcome, Dorian works well. Contact the restaurant directly to discuss any specific requirements before booking.
• How far ahead should I book Dorian? Three to four weeks minimum for dinner, and potentially longer for Friday or Saturday nights. Lunch midweek is somewhat easier to secure, but since Dorian's Michelin star and OAD ranking have widened its audience beyond the immediate neighbourhood, last-minute bookings are a gamble. If there are specific dates that matter, book as early as possible.