Travel News

Dishoom Permit Room, London, hotel review

Simon Calder’s Travel

Dishoom has opened its first hotel on Portobello Road. The Permit Room brings the much-loved restaurant group’s signature Bombay-inspired hospitality to West London, complete with cocktails, late-night buzz and a plush overnight stay in the heart of Notting Hill.

Angela Hui

Location

Smack bang on a corner of Portobello Road in Notting Hill, the eye-catching pickle green café-bar-restaurant-lodgings curves gently around one of London‘s most iconic market corners. Set in a handsome 19th-century Victorian shell that was once a gin distillery, it nods to the neighbourhood’s history while feeling stylishly unforced, and it feels as organically rooted in the street as the market stalls just beyond its doors.

Dishoom's new hotel is located close to Portobello Road Market in London

Dishoom’s new hotel is located close to Portobello Road Market in London (Getty Images)

The vibe

As with all of the Dishoom restaurants, there’s an effortlessly cool retro-Indian aesthetic and a buzzy atmosphere. The name is a nod to the 1970s post-prohibition bars of Bombay, known as permit rooms. The colour scheme bursts with rich oranges and browns, fresh pops of green, and plenty of warm wood tones that feel welcoming and familiar. The restaurant and bar are generously furnished with banquet-style booths that invite you to settle in and linger. Whether you’re in the mood for casual lounging or lively conversation, it’s a space that welcomes you to make yourself at home well into the evening.

Read more: Best museums in London, from family-friendly days out to galleries filled with famous art

Dishoom Permit Room restaurant is located in Portobello, London and is styled like a 1970s Bombay prohibition bar

Dishoom Permit Room restaurant is located in Portobello, London and is styled like a 1970s Bombay prohibition bar (Dishoom restaurant in Portobello, London)

Service

Warm and intuitive, the staff welcome you like a familiar friend. Servers seem to anticipate needs almost telepathically, sliding water onto coasters, presenting menus with a chai in hand and a knowing nod.

Read more: Number Sixteen, London, hotel review

Bed and bath

You’ll have the entire upstairs to yourself. Two spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a cosy living room embrace the laidback ‘70s vibe. Think warm brown and yellow walls, rattan chairs, bamboo blinds, tasselled lamps and plush pillows. Bathrooms are kitted out with Mauli Rituals products.

The rooms look like something straight…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…