Found nestled between Warwick Avenue and Little Venice, The Hero of Maida is a long-standing Victorian boozer which has been reimagined as a charming gastropub with rooms (there are five en-suite bedrooms to choose from here).
The elegant upstairs room certainly has a smart restaurant-style vibe, although a 2018 revamp kept the heart of the business as a proper pub, complete with a beer garden. A splendid square zinc-topped bar dominates the rich blue boozing space downstairs, with an array of boards and jars nestling among the beer pumps for those who fancy a snack with their pint – although the full menu is available to all comers, upstairs and down.
The a la carte here champions locally sourced produce and changes weekly, with daily specials available too. On your visit, you might come across starters of comte croquettes or smoked mackerel pate with pickled cucumber. Main courses meanwhile might see the likes of beef shin with shallot and red wine pie or Cornish cod with fresh coco beans and spiced mussel veloute. To round off your meal, tuck into tempting seasonal desserts, which might include passion fruit posset or sticky toffee pudding served with clotted cream ice cream.
At the weekend, stop by The Hero of Maida for Saturday brunch, where you can find the likes of Turkish-style baked eggs and Bloody Marys (bottomless option available) or swing by on a Sunday to try a classic roast with all of the trimmings.
As befits a really good hostelry, the mainly French wine list has plenty of choice by the glass, but there are some serious bottles for those looking to push the boat out. Lots of customers, however, stick to pub drinks – there’s an impressive line-up of lagers and ales on draught, as well as some decent cider.