A basement rum bar on Portobello Road that has been serving tiki-adjacent cocktails and Caribbean-leaning drinks since before 'rum bar' was a category London recognized. The room is kitschy, tropical, and deliberately excessive — fake palm trees, bamboo, and the general aesthetic of a 1960s holiday postcard — but the rum list is serious (200+ bottles) and the cocktails are made with genuine skill. The Portobello Road location places it in the heart of Notting Hill, which means market days bring a crowd that spills from the antiques stalls into the basement.
Location
Notting Hill, London
Map
Insider Intel
A daiquiri to test the rum programme — if they make a good daiquiri, everything else will follow. The rum collection is vast (200+), so ask for guidance if you like aged sipping rums. The house cocktails lean tropical and are well-made. Don't overthink it — this is a rum bar, not a symposium.
Friday or Saturday evening for the full Notting Hill energy. Earlier on market days (Saturdays) when the Portobello crowd is in exploratory mood. Weeknight evenings are calmer.
Basement bar, 177 Portobello Road. Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill Gate tubes. 200+ rum selection. Cocktails £10-14. No reservations for small groups. The kitsch decor is deliberate and part of the fun. Cash and cards.