Interesting places to eat out close to Morshead Mansions
As well as a multitude of cafés and pubs, Morshead Mansions residents are fortunate to be surrounded by many local Maida Vale restaurants. They feature a variety of different types of food offerings as well as some very eclectic interior design. Below is a small selection of what’s on offer, all within easy walking distance of the street.
The Summerhouse
If you head down towards Little Venice and walk alongside the canal next to Blomfield Road, you’ll come across The Summerhouse. This is a lovely Hampton’s inspired restaurant overlooking the Grand Union Canal, serving seasonal dishes.
The Summerhouse claims that more than just a restaurant, it’s one of London’s most unique waterside dining destinations. With nautical-inspired interiors, al fresco seating and a relaxed coastal vibe, this canal-side restaurant invites you to unwind and enjoy the season.
As well as lunch, dinner and Sunday roasts, the Summerhouse is also open from 9am-12pm on Saturdays and Sundays, serving weekend brunch. On sunny weekend mornings, it’s the perfect place to while away an hour or two, overlooking the canal and watching the boats go by.
The Waterway
A stone’s throw away from our first restaurant, and also nestled by the side of the canal, is The Waterway. Opened in 2002, this eatery says that it has established itself as one of Maida Vale’s best restaurants with one of London’s greatest outdoor terraces. This makes it a great place to dine outside during the warmer months and lighter evenings.
This restaurant has all seasons covered though, with the interior being styled in a cosy ski chalet vibe. This makes it a perfect setting during winter, featuring a fireplace, natural colour tones, live music and an extensive menu.
The Waterway is also available to hire for events and can be split into smaller areas to cater for all party sizes.
Kateh
Not far from here is another of our featured Maida Vale restaurants, Kateh. This hidden gem serves the latest in popular Persian cuisine. It can be found in Warwick Place, next door to the Warwick Castle pub.
Kateh features both an authentic and modern take on Persian cuisine in an elegant yet relaxed and intimate setting, seating just 75 diners. The daily menu is made up of 33 dishes, each inspired by the best of the day’s market produce.
This restaurant also has a superb private dining room on the lower floor for up to 12 people. It also has a gorgeous garden terrace which can hold up to 25 people and a late license. This makes it an enticing dining destination for romantic couples, families and private celebrations.
Chakra
Formosa Street is not only one of London’s most unique shopping streets but is also the home of Chakra, a beautiful Indian restaurant. It describes itself as ‘a truly uplifting experience where exciting Indian cuisine, stunning interiors and unsurpassed service intertwine to create a sense of abundance, wellbeing and pleasure.’
It goes on to say ‘Our chefs have adapted timeless Indian recipes, using ingredients that positively impact your sense of wellbeing, without compromising on flavour. All our restaurants are a sanctuary for you to escape to. Teal colour palettes, harmonious accent colours and an abundance of vegetation come together to create an oasis of calm.’
Like many Maida Vale restaurants, Chakra also offers a delivery service. So, if you’d like to sample their food from the comfort of your home, just visit their website to make an order.
Banana Tree
Located right next door to Maida Vale Station is Banana Tree. The opening page of their website states ‘If you’re the type of person that dreams of venturing into the jungles of Borneo or exploring the bustling markets of Malaysia, you’re in the right place. Nothing says adventure like a Laksa lunch, a weekend Katsu or a dash of Vietnamese fish sauce in your dinner. At Banana Tree, our food takes you places.’
As well as a range of choices for meat and fish lovers, 40% of their menu caters to the vegan market. They go on to say ‘whether you’re fully vegan, a flexitarian, or just giving it a go, we know that variety and choice is important. We never compromise on flavour, and our in-house chefs are constantly working on fresh and innovative vegan options.’
Banana Tree is also focused on animal preservation and donate 25p from every Blackened Monks Noodles sold to Orangutan Appeal UK, to help rehabilitate orphan orangutans. So far, with customers help, they have raised over £70,000 for the cause.
Thai Rice
Opposite the station is Thai Rice, which was founded in 2002 on Portobello Road. Using traditional family recipes and fresh ingredients to produce authentic Thai cuisine, the restaurant has enjoyed a great deal of success, enabling the owners to open more restaurants. This one on Elgin Avenue features a quirky interior, styled with an array of auto memorabilia.
Their website says ’ With the combination of excellent food, a welcoming ambience, contemporary décor and fast, friendly service, Thai Rice offers the perfect dining experience. We take great pride in the cooking and presentation of our food. Our aim is to deliver excellent cuisine at a reasonable price. The menu includes some delicious vegetarian options and is complemented by a high-quality wine list.’
Thia Rice also offers a home delivery service, booked through Uber Eats.
Dhaba@49
A short walk west along Elgin Avenue is Dhaba@49, offering exceptional North Indian cuisine mixed with a twist of Britain. With its unique interior and colourful Indian dishes, Dhaba@49 is well worth a visit.
Set up on the site of what was for many years a more traditional style India restaurant, Dhaba@49 takes the experience of Indian dining in a whole new direction. With rich aromatic flavours, their dishes are inspired by the roadside cafes of North India. These have been redefined and adapted to more suit local tastes.
As with most restaurants these days, they also offer a takeaway and delivery service for customer convenience.
Sushi Murasaki
The closest of our featured Maida Vale restaurants to Morshead Mansions is Sushi Murasaki, at the end of Lauderdale Parade. Opened in 2017, they offer an eccentric live sushi counter. So you can witness the fascinating art of sushi-making while enjoying the serene local setting.
Their website says ‘At Sushi Murasaki, our talented chefs meticulously create an experience for our guests. We do this by blending local produce with our Japanese cooking techniques. Our selection of high-quality fresh sushi and sashimi, along with perfectly paired sake and wine, is a perfect symphony in the mouth. Our lip-smacking hot food and highly recommended Japanese tea are refreshing and suitable for all London weathers.’
Sushi Murasaki also has an outside terrace which is perfect for relaxed summer evenings.
So, within the local Morshead Mansions area, there’s hopefully something to suit most culinary tastes. If you’d like to see more local eateries, why not take a look at our recent post on Maida Vale Pubs.
