Beach Blanket Babylon

joel

26th April 2007

1 found this helpful

Excellent escapism!

Hugo

An old Notting Hill classic bar (with less recommended restaurant) 24th April 2007

3 found this helpful

If I have folks staying from out of town then this is somewhere I take them. Beach Blanket Babylon is a classic and longstanding Notting Hill Bar. If you have not been then it is worth it for the fun and slightly surreal decor that is well worth seeing.

I note there are a ton of reviews for this, so I won't bang on.

I did eat here a few years back and it was not that memorable. The unique and quirky bar seems to me to be the main event here.

fluffy_cat_girl

Uppity! 12th April 2007

4 found this helpful

BBB is a big waste of time. They treat you like scum and think that anyone who enters through its grand doors is not worthy enough to stay. The hostess completely ignored me and looked through me when I came in. Walked off and then came back and casually said, "I'll be back in a minute". Couldn't find my booking and plonked my cousin, brother and I on a table which would've barely fitted 2 people let alone 3. Frosty service. Utter nightmare and severely overpriced!

It may look nice but it's definitely a place to avoid!

belinda

BBB (Bad Bad BAD) 11th April 2007

4 found this helpful

Just wanted to update my review as I had not been here for quite some time.

Since my previous post it has had a facelist (OK but nothing dramatic or even that noticable except it is brighter).

Since my previous post it appears the menu has turned into a diner so it you like burgers or sausages and mash at exorbinate prices than look no further.

If you like inattentive service and waiters that give you the impression that they are way too cool to be serving tables than this is the place for you.

If you like 2 maiins, 1 dessert, 1 glass of wine and 2 coffees costing £90 than look no further, you have found your ideal restaurant!

And to top it off they no longer take American Express - IN NOTTING HILL! hello anyone home? they look the money but they are definitely only pennies.

Previous post below:

I agree with alot of the posts, the place looks fantastic but its not the type of place you would visit often.

I have always found the staff friendly and have not have any problems with the other customers in the restaurant (except smoking). For me the decor is the winner here, it is a place we often take overseas visitors to see simply for its original look.

Being a vegetarian I am VERY sick of eating the canneloni which has been the only vegetarian meal for about a year now so I probably will not be going again anytime soon. They do have some nice bar snacks if you want to sit upstairs and have a drink although I agree you can find some swanky wanky people here.

All-in-all I think it is a place to see and although it is a bit on the expensive side, the food and atmosphere is worth at least one visit.

stellalitou

10th April 2007

2 found this helpful

Great atmosphere!! Unfortunately, full of pretentious customers, which goes hand in hand with overpricing !

Reid2705

4th April 2007

1 found this helpful

Food was great! Decor is so bohemian its unreal and generally had a great meal! wouldnt go there for a bar tho! its much more a dinner with a few pre cocktails.

sue at 15/05/07

Is this place as cool as it looks?!

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idoru

Sparkly Gaudi Fun 1st April 2007

1 found this helpful

Gaudy, Glitzy so past glamour its cool. Apparently the food is terrible, (according to two separate sources I know who live in the area) and the drinks are expensive. With the cocktail waitresses doing that annoying thing where they give you 10 pounds change back in 1 pound coins. But we all agree there's something about this place you just can't help but like.

Like an ode to the 80's nouveau riche it's full of sparkles, chandeliers and richly embodied fabric. The patrons with perfectly coiffed hair wear shirts with jackets and high high heels. There is glass beads and mosaic walls but the highlight has to be the multi leveled pirate ship back. With its small walkways and crows nest sections. The main dining area below feels a wee bit like the gallows mixed with an exotic hobbit charm, with its molded concrete walls and rounded doors.

Though expensive my moscow mule was one of the best I've tasted served in a nice tall sling class with the perfect amount of angostura bitters. At 9.50 it was a decent drink, I just found the 12.5% service charge a wee bit cheeky for carrying it from the bar. But then I think your paying for the experience.

This is definitely a fun place to visit and to show off to unsuspecting visitors in an ironic sort of way.

MikeinLondon

Used to be the "In place" 18th February 2007

1 found this helpful

This used to be one of the top places to be seen a few years ago. It still has a great setting. In a residential area. A little on the pricy side. Busy on Fr/Sa nights. I like it just for a glass of wine to get started.

maryamy

16th February 2007

1 found this helpful

Great fun!

alexandros

Cool bar-restaurant in Notting Hill 31st January 2007

1 found this helpful

BBB is a cool bar-restaurant in Notting Hill. The decoration is a piece of art with statues, flowers and four (!) fireplaces.
The restaurant is located in the basement which makes it a bit dark and cold, but I 've heard that the food is nice (I haven't tried it though).
They generally have a little problem with bookings, it has happened to me twice to have booked a table at the bar only to go there and discover there was no reservation.
The bar is ok, there is a big coctail list although it is rather overpriced.
BBB serves brunch on weekends and the atmosphere is really warm and cozy.
However I agree with the above reviews about it being overcrowded during the evening, especially after Wednesday. The best time to go is early in the afternoon or in the morning during the weekend.
To sum up, the main reason to go to BBB is to have a look at the interior design, and also to feel a part of a trendy, rich crowd - the Notting Hill community.