Charlie's Portobello Road Cafe

Charlie's Portobello Road Cafe

59A Portobello Road, Notting Hill W11 3DB
Underground: Notting Hill Gate

Monday morning 6 fabulous coffee drinking friends and myself checked out Charlie's Portobello Road Cafe around the corner from my place in Notting Hill.  I had read about it in someone's blog and thought I'd check it out. You'd think with it being so close that I would have already been there... Nope! Not until this past Monday.

I arrived, walked into this little alley/cove type hideaway and there it was simply adorable. Once I walked through the french doors I noticed the adorable rustic wood tables, chairs, a cute upstairs, the long list of items for offer on chalkboards, and a very nice staff (which isn't always easy to find in London).  This is how nice they were...We were there for 2.5 hours only had one large coffee each and a few had a muffin and they never said a word.

That's my group in the back wearing all the coats.

They even have a frequent coffee customer card so of course I snagged one of those because I'll be back!  Did I mention my very large cappuccino was only £2.25 that's pretty rare in London as well. That's a deal!  I even ordered Decaf and actually got Decaf (again rare).

See you again soon Charlie!

Cheers,
WMMc

Portobello Road Market

Just another busy busy Saturday at the Portobello Road Market...
Keep in mind that all these people pass under our windows to get to and from...  our windows over look Portobello Road...  And if we are walking around the neighborhood on the weekend it's pretty much a given that someone will ask us "where is portobello road?"... Sometimes I can just see it on their face and ask them if they need directions to the market. I haven't been told No yet...  I have been told "Oh you are American" though...

Cheers,
WMMc

Hummingbird Bakery

The Hummingbird Bakery~

www.hummingbirdbakery.com located on Portobello Rd.

Today I finally got off the couch and wandered around the neighborhood.

1st stop~ Hummingbird Bakery ~ I had a ton of delicious looking cupcakes to choose from ~ I went with Red Velvet ~ IT WAS DELICIOUS! ~ It was so good that if I had the metab. of a 5 year old I would eat one everyday. (Cost: 1.85 GBP ($3.05 USD) for takeaway, had I eatten it in, it would of been more)

2nd stop ~ a stroll down Westbourne Grove and Ledbury ~ 2 adorable streets lined with boutiques and fabulous designers ~ Nanette Lepore, etc...

3rd stop~ lunch at Kitchen & Pantry - Large skinny vanilla latte and a ham & cheese crepe ~ I sat and watched the world go by while sipping on my latte and chomping away on my tasty crepe... listening to people chatter away around me and enjoying frank sinatra and dean martin music helping drown out some of the chatter... it was nice...

Portobello Road is way nicer when its not a Friday/Saturday... On those two days it is consumed by the market. Nothing wrong with the market, its great, its just a nicer street when you can actually move without stepping on someone or being stepped on thats all.

Cheers,
WMMc