The Notting Hill restaurant worth getting to know – FRAME

FRAME is an independent neighbourhood restaurant bringing together Spanish-inspired small plates, Mediterranean flavours and creative global influences in the heart of West London.

Located on Hereford Road, FRAME sits somewhere between a neighbourhood favourite and a restaurant worth crossing London for. Over the past four years, it has quietly built a loyal local following through characterful cooking, carefully chosen wines and genuine hospitality, all served in a relaxed, atmospheric setting that reflects the artistic spirit of Notting Hill.

FRAME is owned and operated by Pawel Ptak and Violeta Chaidi, whose complementary roles shape every part of the restaurant. Pawel leads the food and kitchen, drawing on his experience of Spain and the Basque Country to define FRAME’s culinary identity. Violeta brings a strong background in hospitality, particularly in Spanish and Mediterranean restaurants. She leads FRAME’s interiors and overall design direction, the wine programme and the front-of-house team, while helping define the values and ethical standards that guide the business. Together, they have built a restaurant in which the food, wine, setting and hospitality feel equally considered.

The result is food that feels both familiar and unexpected. Spanish and Mediterranean ingredients form the foundation of the menu, while subtle international influences allow Pawel and his kitchen team the freedom to introduce creative twists without overcomplicating the experience.

Designed for sharing, the menu moves across vegetables, seafood and meat, with dishes including mushroom croquetas; Pan con Tomate with crispy cecina; grilled prawns; monkfish with yellow-pepper gazpacho and roasted tomato salsa; and Secreto Ibérico with roasted carrot and confit garlic purée. A lollo salad with peanut and sherry dressing captures FRAME’s approach particularly well: recognisable ingredients, confident flavours and an unexpected detail.

The menu changes with the seasons, balancing comforting favourites with new dishes driven by produce, travel and Pawel’s creative instinct. FRAME is not about formality or experimentation for its own sake, but technically accomplished, generous food with personality.

Wine is an equally important part of the experience. Shaped by Violeta, the list places particular emphasis on Spanish and Mediterranean producers, bringing together familiar bottles and lesser-known discoveries selected to complement the menu’s bold, sharing-led flavours. Cocktails complete the drinks offering, whether guests are settling in for dinner or stopping by for a drink at the bar.

Violeta’s design direction gives the restaurant its distinctive character. Part European bistro, part botanical retreat, FRAME combines warm lighting, greenery, rich textures, art and classic architectural details to create a space that feels collected over time rather than designed from a template.

Different corners of the restaurant each have their own mood, encouraging a sense of discovery and intimacy. The eclectic result is polished without feeling formal and stylish without losing the warmth and personality of an independent neighbourhood restaurant.

FRAME is also home to two distinctive private dining spaces. The Indoor Garden is a light, greenery-filled room offering a relaxed setting for celebrations, lunches and group dinners, while The Cellar provides a more intimate and atmospheric backdrop for private gatherings and events. Both spaces retain the character and hospitality of the main restaurant while giving guests a setting of their own.

At the heart of FRAME is Pawel and Violeta’s shared belief that a memorable restaurant is about more than what arrives on the plate. Food, wine, music, interiors and service come together to create a place where guests can settle in, share dishes and spend time around the table.

The restaurant attracts a mix of Notting Hill regulars, food-loving Londoners and international visitors, with the atmosphere moving naturally from relaxed early-evening drinks and dinners to longer, livelier evenings with friends.

Despite its growing reputation, FRAME remains proudly personal and independent. Pawel continues to play an active role in the kitchen, while Violeta shapes the experience beyond it, from the wine and interiors to the front-of-house team and the culture of hospitality. Together with their close-knit team, they favour intuitive, genuine service over a scripted approach.

“FRAME has always been about creating the kind of restaurant we would want to visit ourselves- somewhere with great food and wine, a warm atmosphere and a real sense of personality,” says Pawel Ptak, co-owner and chef of FRAME. “Our cooking begins with Spain and the Mediterranean, but we want to retain the freedom to be creative, draw inspiration from our travels and keep the menu interesting. Above all, we want people to feel comfortable, share good food and enjoy spending time here.”

As FRAME enters its next chapter, Pawel and Violeta’s ambition is simple: to retain the feeling of a Notting Hill hidden gem while becoming recognised as one of London’s independent neighbourhood restaurants to know.