Ground Floor Bar

Après une longue et belle balade à Portobello, il se fait tard, il se fait faim, il est bientôt 16h, où va-​t-​on pouvoir encore déjeuner convenablement ?
La carte n’est pas très fournie, mais pour un bar les burgers sont plutôt bons (et des végés), et le risotto à la betterave fut une très bonne surprise.
La déco est rigolote, et la terrasse au soleil super agréable, très bon spot pour du people-​watching. Et les serveurs sont au top.

My friends and I started here Saturday night before continuing on to a fun bar hop. I was visiting London for the weekend and we came here for their espresso martinis, my friend said they were very good and he was very right!
I’d had one the night before and it was too creamy and frothy so I was weary about ordering one here but I’m so glad I got one as it was made to perfection. It was a perfect mix of alcohol and a thin layer of froth on the top and gave me the energy I needed for the night.
The bar tender was also very nice and friendly, he heard it was my birthday and gave me some espresso flavored shot, thanks!
Fun crowd, good music and a great location as it’s by so many other bars and restaurants.

Restau sympa, cadre agréable, service un peu lent, plats généreux. «Français parlé» pour les récalcitrants à l’anglais. Addition correct.

Nice local spot. Good service, and very good food.

I went here last night for post work drinks.
I like the ambience of this place, it’s nice and chilled out but warm at the same time.
The staff were friendly and the drinks were made properly, and a double really was a double (you tend to forget what a double looks like if you drink a lot in central London).
There was a group of us so we all decided to eat here. I’d already eaten burgers twice this week at other restaurants (talis est vita) so I opted for the chicken. The chicken itself was nice and the gravy complimented it well but I was left a tad hungry afterwards as it really needed a couple of portions of vegetables to go with it, which one would except for a £12 meal.
A gin and tonic along with a double vodka lemonade came to £12, so expect to pay the usual London prices here.
I don’t normally check-​in with Qype, mostly because I simply forget to, but there was a sign stuck on the window reminding me to do so. I’ve never seen a Qype sign before, thanks whoever put it up, I’m now the champion of this pub :-)

Looking for a place to eat on a Saturday night with no reservations can be a dangerous endeavour… but stumbling across First Floor we found a nice little gem.
Highlights:
— Great menu! Classic menus with sea bass, steak, pastas, etc.
— The ambiance is amazing! I felt like I was dining in Beauty and the Beast
— The service was good and friendly
— Right on Portobello Road so it is easy to access
— Nice pub right below for some drinks after if you fancy!
Lowlights:
— Kind of expensive for just a place to pop in randomly
— Not a lot of beer on tap for being above a Pub!
Overall: This is a great place and I loved the décor. There were chandeliers and lit candles everywhere! I had the sea bass and it was delicious!

Portobello Road can be a gongshow on a weekend. Add to that rainy weather, and the pre-​holiday shopping rush, and… gongshow x 10.
Today the Ground Floor Bar was my calm steps away from the storm. Whenever I have visitors to London we invariably end up here to grab a drink (or four) far from the madding crowd.
It’s a cozy place and its revamp suits it well: wood tables, couches, lounge chairs and varied seating arrangements make this a great go-​to whether you’re here by yourself, wanting a quiet 1-​on-​1 or with a larger gang. The crowd is mixed age-​wise, and the space is big enough that I never feel as though I’m either unintentionally eavesdropping or being eavesdropped-​in-​on (space between tables is so nice! You can totes share secrets with your girlfriends that way!).
The music played is also consistently solid, which pairs nicely with the drink. Today was Alt-​J, which got no complaints from me.
Nice selection of beer and wine, but today’s chilly weather has us grabbing for hot toddies, hot cider and mulled wine. All recommended. Winter? Bring it, as long as I can regularly escape to the Ground Floor Bar!
Unilocal note: the food here I remember to be good (I can specifically remark on a tasty burger) but, as the food usually comes after the beverages, well… I didn’t think a detailed food review was entirely fair #accuracycompromised

Two weeks in London in a flat a couple of blocks from Portobello Road!
A short walk to the nightlife along Portobello Road, restaurants and pubs everywhere. We discovered the «Ground Floor Bar» early on and returned many times. A really great atmosphere and quick, friendly service. Actually got a fair amount of ice in my gin and tonic, and a fresh wedge of lime. A wide selection of spirits and wine, and many specialty drinks. The food quality is quite good for a pub. A nice place to ‘people watch’, both inside the pub and through the windows overlooking Portobello Road. We tried a lot of pubs in the area, but found this one to be what we considered the best. (A side bar: restrooms were clean, but had a most pungent odor — wouldn’t be too difficult to correct) Bottom line — don’t miss a chance to visit this pub.

I chose this restaurant for an anniversary meal. The food was delicious, but the service really let it down for us. It may have just been a bad evening for them, but the staff practically ignored us when we first arrived. They took absolutely ages to take our coats, ages to ask what drinks we would like and were not particularly pleasant. On leaving they made a huge deal about not being able to find my coat… it was quite annoying! It also felt a bit pretentious. It was quite a busy Saturday evening, so they may have just been rushed off their feet, but really, in a restaurant you have to be prepared for this! Sorry!

What an oasis on a crazy Saturday in this busy neighborhood. My friend and I were there house-hunting…trying to determine if this was the right neighborhood for her. We were discouraged, and then we found this place. Great food, and fantastic service. The bartenders were charming and helpful! An instant favorite.

Pretty good food. £10 for a salmon dish was perhaps a little too much, but their chicken and avocado burgers are pretty tasty.

Sunday roast: fantastic.

Very charming restaurant with excellent food and nice service. Moreover not expensive. I can highly recommend.

I have not been to the bar below but the restaurant upstairs is really quite nice. The menu is extensive, and although they try a little too hard on the food, their online menu offers are good value. At that price it’s a decent neighbourhood place.

Christmas party review…
Being a works party this review only represents quite a specific side of this restaurant food and service.
The setting is a slightly typical Notting Hill, shabby chic, ab fab West London look that is welcoming, warm and tasteful… or is it? Well warm and welcoming on a snowy freezing night it certainly was. The large rooms, for hire, with high ceiling and open fires create a great space for group parties without feeling anonymous. As a man who doesn’t drink alcohol, one of a few on this night out, the choice offered was rather sad. Lemonade, coke or orange juice. I went for lemonade which was straight from the bar mixer. Reminded me of good old R Whites.
The food came quickly and the service for the 30 ish sitting was calm under fire. My scallops arrived with their micro fennel and it was delicious and small. My main of lamb rump on spinach with goose fat roast potatoes and roast cherry tomatoes and a basil jus followed looking good. Indeed it looked delicious if again a little on the small side. The lamb was cooked perfectly but mine was a little sinewy, unlike anyone elses, and one, of the two, potatoes wasn’t quite cooked the same as almost everyone else’s, rather spookily. Pudding was a pantone, bread and butter christmas pud with vanilla ice cream… it was great and for me the perfect portion. I cannot vouch for the coffee as at this point I was out the door. Once people get beyond a certain alcohol state… I’m up and out. Merry Christmas one and all.

The Ground Floor Bar is a Portobello staple and an excellent meeting place. It has gone through many reincarnations over the year, but remains one of my favourites.
It is currently going through a pretty phase, offering food rather than live music. Haven’t tried anything beyond nuts, though …

I haven’t tried the downstairs bar so I can’t comment on that part of Sarah’s review but the upstairs restaurant is lovely. Shabby chic in style the food is sort of modern European/​Gastro pub type in style. Try the Goats cheese galette or the calamari fritte to begin, saddle of chicken with cabbage was also great. Lovely place to while away a long Saturday lunch

Being one of the only bars around this area, the ground floor is an obvious choice for the casual drinker who can’t afford membership to the exclusive electric member’s bar. With a cosy, bashed up feel, and serving an interesting selection of lagers, this place is a great Sunday afternoon venue.
Mix and match furniture and good affordable food (try the burger, you know you want to) lend a real laid-​back charm to this haven of knockabout quiet in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Portobello Road. Gets busy on a Friday and Saturday night, but still usually enough room to swing a kitten.

Ground Floor Bar is really popular, especially in the Summer because of the outdoor seating. Ideally situated on the street corner, many drinkers spill out onto the pavement giving the venue a relaxed feel. Nothing beats enjoying a jug of Pimms sitting outside Ground Floor Bar when the sun is out. At this time of year enjoy a drink on one of the super comfy sofas.

This restaurant is absolutely fantastic. The menu is full of classic dishes, but done well.
I was around Portobello Road with a friend, taking some photos, and we decided to make a (fancy) lunch pit stop. We were in for a surprise because the food here was terrific.
It was a little warm the way we visited so it was nice to sit outside. My friend ordered a mint tea with massive, luscious green mint tea leaves. They were gorgeous.
Our goat’s cheese tartlet starter was creamy and light, very fresh. I ordered my favourite dish — spaghetti vongoli — as my main course and my friend ordered beer battered cod and chips. Both came out at the same time after a little wait but it was well worth it. The food was simple and utterly delicious.
Being a chocolate fan, I couldn’t resist my ginger praline chocolate pudding for dessert. The praline and chocolate were sweet and the slight nip of the ginger gave the pudding a real edge. Excellent!
We had a few drinks inside the actual restaurant and the interior was fabulous. The large leather vintage sofas sit snugly amongst the different coloured retro wallpaper on each wall and retro antique lamps. This place had real class.
I would definitely recommend you come and visit this restaurant if you’ve got a few extra quid in your pocket — this place is a little pricey but well worth the money.

Compared to the impressive looking exterior of this bar, the inside is a complete shambles. we went inside to find a dirty table in the corner, there was a bottle of beer and several empty, dirty glasses scattered round. when we asked the waiter (who incidently did not clear this table for another half an hour) for a drinks menu, he simply looked us as if we were mad and then proceeded to shake his head and stalk off. the music is far too loud, i dont really see the point, if there is no space to dance, why does the music need to be so loud to prevent you from having a conversation?
generally very dinghy, dark and highly unimpressive, would not recommend it one bit.

The Ground Floor is a pub combined with a restaurant. The restaurant is upstairs and has a separate entrance to the pub. The pub, is as the title suggests on the ‘ground floor’ nestled away on the corner of Portobello Road and Blenheim Cresent.
Food is also served in the pub area aswell as in the restaurant. The dishes downstairs are served as bar snacks, salards and meals appropriate for lunch time. The Ground Floor serves a blend of British and European cuisine, tasty enough to gobble down after a hard day shopping at the Portobello Market. A DJ is on rotation Thursdays through to Saturdays, providing musical entertainment for the Ground Floor’s drinkers. On the whole, Ground Floor is quite average for this area.