Where To Eat, Drink & Shop In Queen’s Park

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

The Hero of Maida

This stylish spot, housed in the much-missed former Truscott Arms, is the latest revival by Harcourt Inns (the same collective behind The Coach, whose intention is to rescue noteworthy sites and conserve them as drinking and dining destinations). Once again headed up by Henry Harris, who oversees the kitchen with Steve Collins (Les Deux Salons, Bellanger), the menu merges classical French cooking with British ingredients: think seared cod with kalibos cabbage and crab butter sauce. Independent beers from family-run breweries are served from behind a zinc-topped bar, alongside a variety of wines.

55 Shirland Road, Maida Vale, W9 2JD

Visit TheHeroMaidaVale.com

Bob’s Café

Bob’s Café is an all-day bistro which serves seasonal dishes from breakfast through til late-night steak frites and cocktails. Inside, its exposed brickwork, hanging plants and macramé make it a popular spot for a weekend brunch. Both dog and family friendly, this relaxed space serves everything from homemade burgers to healthy salads and has a great selection of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. We’re a fan of the prix fixe menu, available on weekdays from 12-7pm, where two courses cost £11.95 and three courses come in at £13.95.

77 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, NW6 6NH

Visit BobsCafe.net

Michiko Sushino

Originally from Osaka in Japan, fashion pioneer Michiko Koshino settled in Britain in the early 80s and went on to become one of the style influencers associated with the London club scene. Today, she also runs Michiko Sushino, a traditional Japanese restaurant and coffee bar serving authentic sushi. Michiko’s belief in the power of food bringing people together has resulted in a relaxed and understated dining room focused on conversation and interaction. Using the best quality fish and rice as standard, dining here offers a reassuringly traditional experience. 

74 Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6NU

Visit MichikoSushino.com

Milk Beach

Milk Beach is a café and natural wine bar in Queen’s Park. Named after the eponymous Sydney beach, this is an Aussie-inspired eatery which launched in October 2018. When it comes to brunch, expect coddled eggs with sweet potato puree and sourdough soldiers, or banana bread with espresso cream cheese. In the evenings, come back for natural wines and small plates, including beef cheek pappardelle and Shaoxing poached bass. To top it off, one of the owners is a two-time UK Coffee Roasting Champion. As such, the team sources specialty coffees from around the world which are traceable to the farm, and carefully roast them themselves.

19 Lonsdale Road, Queen's Park, NW6 6RA

Visit MilkBeach.com

Ida

Ida is a neighbourhood restaurant located in a pretty Grade II-listed cornershop, offering locals and regulars home-cooked Italian food six days a week. The restaurant is owned and run by husband and wife Simonetta and Avi, whose hail from Tuscany and Le Marche respectively. Eating at Ida is like being transported to Italy for a few hours; the duo cook for their customers as though they’re guests in an Italian home. It’s worth going just to try a simple bowl of pasta, which is made fresh every day and rolled entirely by hand. 

167 Fifth Avenue, Queen's Park, W10 4DT

Visit IdaRestaurant.com

Parlour

Parlour offers an all-day dining experience, from a Full English to Sunday lunches. The menus evolve throughout the day: guests can start their morning with DIY toast, and a seasonal set menu, covering lunch to dinner, changes each week. The team takes coffee seriously: Brazilian coffee comes via Allpress Espresso in Shoreditch, and there’s a rotating menu of cocktails wines and beers. For those wanting a slice of the action or a group experience, look at booking the eight-seat chef’s table.

5 Regent Street, Kensal Green, NW10 5LG

Visit ParlourKensal.com

Minkies Deli

Husband and wife team Olly and Ollie Truelove took over Minkies in early 2018. Olly trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine and has a background in restaurants while Ollie runs her own landscape architecture and garden design company. In 2014 they started running supper clubs from their flat in Hampstead and this quickly grew into Walrus & Otter, a creative catering company. Since taking over Minkies Deli, the pair have rejuvenated the high street mainstay, creating a friendly and relaxed destination with an emphasis on great food.  

87 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10 5RQ

Visit MinkiesDeli.co.uk

Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green

This venue offers a little bit of everything: it’s an award-winning restaurant, critically acclaimed nightclub (keep an eye out for its bank holiday specials) and has a host of private rooms available, all within the confines of a friendly local pub. Food is at the forefront of everything the team does. When to come to the menu, expect British and modern European-influenced food, prepared using the freshest seasonal produce available. The space is a looker too: picture vintage, mismatched furniture, chandeliers and loads of statement flower arrangements.

19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, W10 4AE

Visit TheParadise.co.uk

The Shop NW10

This speakeasy-style bar on popular Chamberlayne Road serves locally sourced food and a variety of unusual cocktails. Almost everything in the shop is for sale – including all of the chairs, light fittings, photography and artwork. The bar itself is all about cocktails, which start at £3.50 and are served in jam jars and vintage milk bottles.

75 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10 3ND

Visit TheShopNW10.com

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Queen’s Park

Created in 1987, Queen’s Park was named after Queen Victoria. Designed without any straight paths, Queen's Park makes use of bold tree planting and shrubberies with natural outlines, and large open areas of lawn for recreation and sport. Facilities in the park include six all-weather tennis courts, a pitch-and-putt course, ornamental quiet garden, children's playground with a paddling pool, children's animal farm and a cafe. The park’s most recognisable landmark is the bandstand, which was Grade II-listed in 2000.

Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park, NW6

Lexi Cinema

The Lexi is the UK’s first social enterprise independent boutique digital cinema: the venue donates 100% of its profits to charity and is staffed predominantly by local volunteers. The Gallery Bar is a great place to spend an evening, and serves everything from wine and whisky to craft ales and micro-distilled spirits. The cinema itself shows all the big releases and offers mother & baby viewings and live screenings of National Theatre productions.

194 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10 3JU

Visit TheLexiCinema.co.uk

Queen’s Park Books

Established in 2004 by the Fergiani family, Queen’s Park Books offers a wide range of services for the avid bookworm, from ordering US imports to sourcing rare and out of print titles. A selection of more than 10,000 titles ranges from the classic to the contemporary and the team prides itself on its excellent product knowledge and personalised service. The shop becomes the epicentre of the annual Queen’s Park Book Festival, which is held each June.

87 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, NW6 6NH

Visit QueensParkBooks.com

The Salusbury Winestore

This neighbourhood staple is an independent wine merchant and deli from the same team behind Salusbury Food Store and pubs The Salusbury and The Chamberlayne. Suppliers and items are carefully chosen and staff are passionate and knowledgeable about their products, which include everything from artisan chocolate to Italian produce and luxe, hard-to-find ingredients. Perfect for stocking up ahead of a picnic in Queen’s Park.

54 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, NW6 6NN

Visit TheSalusburyWinestore.com

Scarlet & Violet

Established in 2006, Scarlet & Violet is a busy neighbourhood flower shop. A favourite of SL’s fashion editor Charlotte, the shop buys its flowers from a market every morning, so each day the stock is different and every bunch has its own character. Keen to get involved? Scarlet & Violet runs a few small classes a year for up to six people.

76 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10 3JJ

Visit ScarletAndViolet.com

Iris Fashion 

Iris Fashion offers Queen’s Park locals a really great edit of cool designers like Ganni, Isabel Marant, BA&SH and American Vintage. Although this spot is the original, today Iris has eight stores, all stocked with desirable and affordable brands including Lolly’s Laundry, Masscob, Ulla Johnson plus diffusion lines by Isabel Marant and Vanessa Bruno. In 2014, the By Iris collection was launched – a multi-category collection which covers everything from basic, everyday linen t-shirts, cotton wash-bags and jewellery to beautifully cut, sophisticated dresses, jackets and evening wear. 

73 Salusbury Road, Queen's Park, NW6 6NJ

Visit IrisFashion.co.uk