Must See: Notting Hill

My girlfriends and I headed up to Notting Hill for the weekend for some brunch and thrifty shopping! Notting Hill is famous for its eclectic food and vintage yet trendy wares lining Portobello Road. It was also the set for the 1999 film "Notting Hill" starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Whether you're a film junkie, a cuisine connoisseur, or just willing to shop till you drop, Notting Hill is your one-stop shop for it all!

Firstly, the girls and I decided to stop in at Electric Diner, a famous French-style restaurant with its neighboring Electric Cinema. I absolutely loved the vintage interiors with red leather and classic checkered floor. The menu had delicious brunch selections, and believe it or not, pride themselves for having no nuts on the menu! This is because they exclusively source their ingredients independently from one place in Soho. (Please note: this could change at any point, so still inquire about your allergies if you visit!)

Then we wandered through the streets, going from tent to tent to check out what items were for sale. Home-made pottery and tote bags, secondhand leather jackets and jewelry, and even vintage film cameras, and records! It was much like the Strip District in Pittsburgh, similar in the wide variety of items and foods from around the world at stalls. Little insider tip: try your hand at bartering the price of the wares. If you're confident, and not too unrealistic with your pricing, you may just strike a deal!

After spending some money and looking through several boutiques and antiques shops next to the stalls, we had to head to the most iconic photo spot of the area; one of the many streets of colorful houses. The neighborhoods here are so cute with the pastels and unique architecture! We had a great time standing in front of them and taking some really pretty photos- and we weren't the only ones! People around us were also getting their pictures taken in well put together outfits carrying expensive handbags. It was a real confidence booster.

All in all, it was a great way to spend the morning and some of the afternoon! The market is open all days of the week except Sundays from 8 am to 7 pm, usually rain or shine! Definitely worth the visit!

Cheers!

-Mikayla