Top Fives: Notting Hill hangouts

192 ? I don't think so. Notting Grill ? Do me a favour. E&O ? Already Bridge and Tunnel. Pharmacy ? Take a powder. Here's where the old-school, gen-u-wine W11-ish groovers and flaneurs pass the time of day.

1. Portobello Gold

Strange, time-warped decor - sort of hippy meets South Pacific - in the backroom brasserie of this Portobello perennial. Seems to be permanently full of 1960s acid casualties; better food than this might suggest.
95-97 Portobello Road W11. Tel: 020 7460 4918. Tube: Notting Hill Gate

2. Geales

Been-here-forever sit-in fish and chippy, great location, brilliant atmosphere, no discernible loftiness and splendid, fresh food. A stalwart which every Londoner should visit at least once.
2 Farmer Street W8. Tel: 020 7727 7528. Tube: Notting Hill Gate

3. Assaggi

A reputation for staggeringly good modern Italian food has resulted in a lengthy wait for a table and a rather sniffily superior attitude in this simple room above a pub. Still pretty good, nonetheless.
39 Chepstow Place W2. Tel: 020 7792 5501. Tube: Notting Hill Gate

4. Uli

The lanky boss of this sweetly pretty Oriental - Thai, Chinese and Malaysian choices - has something of the Basil Fawlty in his dictatorial style. But his advice is usually deliciously spot-on. 16 All Saints Road W11. Tel: 020 7727 7511. Tube: Ladbroke Grove

5. Galicia

Don't be intimidated by the heavily, authentically Iberian vibe here: the natives are friendly. The number of Spanish diners bodes well and the choices - from tripe to the relative safety of paella - are sound.
323 Portobello Road W10. Tel: 020 8969 3539. Tube: Ladbroke Grove