Babylon
Above: Babylon at Kensington Roof Gardens
Nothing beats a nice alfresco meal and we can think of few better places in which to kick-start the outdoor eating season than on the balcony at Babylon. Perched atop the Kensington Roof Gardens, high above the bustle of the high street, it boasts stunning views of West London’s roof tops and, of course, the gardens themselves. With any luck, you’ll even spot the famous resident flamingos Bill and Ben.
Perhaps it’s the tucked-away location (The Roof Gardens’ entrance is tucked away down Derry Street) or maybe its association with the famous nightclub (diners get discounted entry), but Babylon is often overlooked at lunch, leaving the management no choice but to tempt customers with cut-price deals. And even then, the fact that one of the capital’s loveliest lunch destinations ices its cake with an astonishingly reasonable set-price menu (three courses cost £18 Monday-Friday, £19.50 on Saturday and £25 on Sunday, when the restaurant even puts on a children’s entertainer) remains a closely guarded secret. If you’re among those who were already in the know, we can only apologise for letting the cat out of the bag – we just couldn’t keep schtum any longer.
Another secret we’re no longer prepared to guard is that of Babylon’s lovely (12-seater) private dining room, which comes with its very own balcony just above Bill and Ben’s pond. Magazines work quite far ahead so it was actually still distinctly wintry when we last ate in here – but that didn’t keep people indoors. In between warming bowls of truffled Jerusalem artichoke soup and a lovely plate of sea bream with steamed mussels, wilted samphire and white wine sauce that conjured dreams of lingering summer lunches, it wasn’t just the smokers that kept popping outside to enjoy the views. When you go, you’ll understand why.
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