The Portobello Hotel

I love the Notting Hill neighborhood. This trip I tried the Portobello Hotel as both of my usual hotels were booked. When the cab pulled up out front I knew I would love it. It's off Portobello Road by a couple streets so feels like a neighborhood and is much quieter away from the throngs of tourists. There was a cheerful, helpful presence at the desk by the front door at all hours of the day and night. I chose one of the smallest rooms, perfect for me as a solo traveler. It might prove quite tight for a couple. The shower is small and opens into the room. The W/C and sink are in a separate very small room. Blackout shades, a very comfy bed, and blissful quiet helped me easily sleep through the night. Quirky, fun decor included antiques and kitschy details. The minibar is ensconced in an old suitcase. Refrigerator, cups, glasses, water bottles, coffee maker provided everything I needed. Housekeeping and cleanliness were excellent. I loved being close to my favorite restaurants and shops. I went with room only as I like going out for breakfast, so cannot speak to breakfast at the hotel. I am already planning a return visit here in the fall.

Lovely compact, stylish hotel. Great friendly staff and room was a good size with lots of room and everything thought out. Very central to everything, especially Nottinghill. Bed quality and linen was great and we slept like babies - quiet outside.

Honestly, the only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because of Naeem, the night porter, who was exceptional. We returned for drinks on our anniversary and ended up chatting with Naeem, thoroughly enjoying the conversation. He was professional yet approachable and authentic. Initially, the hotel said they couldn't arrange a cab to the airport at 6:30am due to Carnivale, despite an earlier email promising they'd arrange one if needed. The day staff told us to just 'figure out the tub I guess' even though we needed to leave very early. But Naeem saved the day and managed to get us a cab on our last night. He is, without a doubt, the best employee they have and deserves a promotion. Otherwise, this hotel was a huge disappointment and just ******. I don't say this lightly, as I'm not one to leave such a directly negative review, but the experience felt like a bait and switch. We booked a 'Marvelous' room, which looked nothing like the photos on their website—not even close to the images of their basic rooms. Ours was a dark, damp basement room, lacking any charm. The bathtub was an antique, and not in a good way—it was rusted and non-functional. It came with detailed instructions, warning that if you didn't release the pressure in the valves correctly, it could break. Talk about stressful! The shower barely got warm, the ceilings were low, and the bed was ridiculously lumpy. The rest of the staff, aside from Naeem, were nearly incompetent. When I asked the front desk if we had been mistakenly placed in a lower-level room, the staff member replied, "Yes, it's 'marvelous,' and you're not the only one to complain about it." She did offer to move us to a better room the next day, but at our own cost. We declined due to the hassle as we only stayed two nights. It's clear they know this room disappoints guests but aren't interested in fixing it. While waiting for my husband, I overheard another guest frustrated over having to switch rooms during his four-night stay in an 'Outstanding' room, their top option. The employee blamed the reservation team, who wouldn't be back until the following week. Other front desk staff were no better: one forgot to call a cab for our theatre show, and another was overly chatty, making entering or exiting the hotel awkward. I'm extremely disappointed we spent money on this hotel. It was a huge letdown, especially at this price. The room was such a let down that we would have switched hotels, but we had family meeting us in the area. Unless you're a celebrity staying in one of their 1 or 2 genuinely nice rooms, you'll end up paying hundreds for hostel-level accommodations. Pros: Great location, close to 'Core' restaurant (3 Michelin stars, and the food was amazing) Nicely decorated small lobby with a 24/7 honesty bar Some celebrities stay here, as the staff eagerly pointed out, if that’s of interest Cons: Our room was in the basement, dark, and extremely damp Uncomfortable, lumpy bed Shower was barely functional, leaked al