
Core by Clare Smyth
A three-Michelin-starred fine dining experience by Clare Smyth, celebrating British ingredients with artistic flair in a warm, elegant setting.

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Core by Clare Smyth

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A three-Michelin-starred fine dining experience by Clare Smyth, celebrating British ingredients with artistic flair in a warm, elegant setting.
"An unforgettable journey of exquisite flavors and impeccable service, Core truly lives up to its stellar reputation."
Book Reservations Early
Demand is high; book well in advance. Consider mid-week for a more intimate experience.
Consider Tasting Menus
Opt for tasting menus for a complete, comfortable, and exquisite taste journey.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Modern British Fine Dining
Price
$$$
Phone
+44 20 3937 5086
Address
92 Kensington Park Rd, London, W11 2PN, United Kingdom
Website
corebyclaresmyth.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Signature Potato & Roe
A must-try dish featuring a baked potato with dulse beurre blanc, herring, and trout roe.

Exceptional Fine Dining
Experience world-class British fine dining crafted by three-Michelin-starred chef Clare Smyth.

Warm & Inviting Atmosphere
Elegant, smart-casual interiors create a cozy and welcoming dining experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Reservations Early
Demand is high; book well in advance. Consider mid-week for a more intimate experience.
Consider Tasting Menus
Opt for tasting menus for a complete, comfortable, and exquisite taste journey.
Dress Code
A dress code is required. Smart-casual attire is acceptable for a comfortable experience.
Observe the Kitchen
Request seating with a view of the kitchen to watch the culinary team at work.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Reservations Early
Demand is high; book well in advance. Consider mid-week for a more intimate experience.
Consider Tasting Menus
Opt for tasting menus for a complete, comfortable, and exquisite taste journey.
Dress Code
A dress code is required. Smart-casual attire is acceptable for a comfortable experience.
Observe the Kitchen
Request seating with a view of the kitchen to watch the culinary team at work.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Core by Clare Smyth consistently impresses with its fine dining experience, lauded for impeccable service and artistic, delicious dishes. While many rave about the tasting menus and specific items like the potato and roe, some diners found the value for price debatable for an a la carte option, noting a lack of decadent ingredients for a 3-star establishment. The ambiance is praised for being warm and inviting, though some find booking a desirable slot challenging.
"Had a wonderful experience here the other night. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The decor feels like a big dining room at a home vs a restaurant. The kitchen is behind a glass wall so some tables are able to watch the chef and team at work. The staff were very attentive. The moment you are done with a dish or a glass, someone is coming by to grab it.
Food wise, it was a treat. I got the Core Seasons menu with the wine pairing. Everything tasted great. The roast chicken taco was a meal worth of flavor in one bite. Leeks and potatoes have never been so good. The farm duck was delicious too."
Brian Cooksey
"We were lucky enough to visit CORE as a birthday treat without knowing quite what to expect. After all how often to you get to visit a 3 Michelin star restaurant. Fortunately it all exceeded and expectations.
For a start the staff are just stunningly well chosen and trained. They are all so very polite and helpful but without ever intruding into your space. They just make everything flow smoothly and nothing is too much trouble.
But beyond that the food itself is more than just a set of dishes - it's a performance. We opted for the tasting menu with paired wines and every course was quite exquisite. Each element is so utterly perfect in design and execution that it's almost too much to take in.
So that's the way to look at CORE. It's a journey, an experience and a treat. We spent over three hours working our way through the menu and that felt like just the right pace. Even better when it came to the final sweet course we were full both physically and metaphorically.
Obviously this all comes at a price but such attention to detail has a cost. There was no moment from entrance to exit that felt less than considered or rushed. It was all just great fun. I'm not sure that I could eat like this every night but it was wonderful to enter Clare's world and be a part of the show."
Damian Cannon
"We were blown away by our first 3 star Michelin dining experience. The chefs are truly making art with their dishes, and each one is delicious. The classic menu was a great choice for us, and we loved everything save the cod (which we still liked, but wasn't as impressive in flavor). The staff were attentive and flexible. CORE is fabulous, from the food to the staff to the ambiance.
Be sure to book your reservation as soon as slots open up! The dining room is intimate."
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What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The signature dish of baked potato with dulse beurre blanc, herring, and trout roe is frequently mentioned as a must-try item.
Yes, a dress code is required. The atmosphere is smart-casual, allowing guests to feel comfortable in various attire.
Reservations are highly recommended well in advance due to high demand. Consider booking right when slots open up.
Yes, tasting menus are available and are a popular choice for a complete dining experience.
Yes, some tables offer a view of the kitchen through glass walls, providing entertainment and insight into the culinary process.
Visiting during mid-week evenings or off-peak times may offer a more intimate dining atmosphere.
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One of the most celebrated chefs in the country, Clare Smyth is the head chef at her synonymous fine dining restaurant. A converted townhouse in Notting Hill, Core is the restaurant you go to when you want to do the whole fine dining thing without risking a shred of celeriac on a bed of edible leather being your dinner. The food here is perfectly executed, exciting, and most importantly, extremely tasty.
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Currently the only British female chef with three Michelin stars, Clare Smyth fuses her classical French culinary training with a devotion to quality British produce. Must-try plates include her to-die-for signature dish of a baked potato delicately filled with dulse beurre blanc, herring, and trout roe. Watch the kitchen at work through a floor-to-ceiling glass partition as they conjure up their magic.
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She was the first female chef to bag three Michelin stars in the UK when at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. But how sweet it is to see her back at these lofty heights since going it alone. Core in Notting Hill is elegant, vibrant, not pompous, and great fun too.
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Clare Smyth’s claim to fame was running the show at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay while it went on to win three Michelin stars (becoming the first woman in the UK to do so) and now at her own solo restaurant situated at the peak of Portobello Market, she’s only gone and done it again. Seasonality and sustainability play key roles in envelope-pushing dishes like Herdwick lamb with sheep’s curd and Charlotte potato with herring and trout roe (a cheeky nod to her Northern Irish heritage) and while the atmosphere leans more towards casual sophistication than stiff fine-dining, it’s still one of the fanciest restaurants in London (as evidenced by the footstools they put out for you to rest your handbags on). Details: 92 Kensington Park Road, W11 2PN | Book here–
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Clare Smyth’s first solo project is a restaurant which confounds expectations. Core holds three Michelin stars — Smyth is the first British woman to be awarded the accolade — but the smart-casual interiors are a tablecloth-free zone where one would feel as comfortable in jeans and a well-cut T-shirt as a suit and tie. Smyth grew up on a farm in Northern Ireland and puts vegetables centre stage in the likes of a signature dish of a Charlotte potato with dulse beurre blanc and herring and trout roe, while the likes of Highland wagyu beef with Porthilly oyster prove that British ingredients can be among the best in the world when handled this deftly.
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One of the most recognised female chefs in the industry, Clare Smyth was the UK’s first female chef to win three Michelin stars, catered Harry and Megan’s wedding, and cooked 600 meals a week for charities and local hospitals during the first lockdown. Core is her multi-award-winning restaurant in Notting Hill, where the fine dining menu is as elegant as it is photogenic. With beautifully crafted dishes with an emphasis on natural, sustainable, artisanal food, it’s a must-visit for anyone who appreciates exciting, delicious, and impeccably crafted food.
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The debut restaurant from the famous chef, Core By Clare Smyth is a female-led, three Michelin-starred eatery that champions sustainable producers in the heart of Notting Hill. Enter a delicate, natural dining room complete with neutral tones, soft furnishings and homely bookcases and devour seasonal plates from the award-winning chef. You find the likes of Isle of Harris scallop tartare, lobster and spelt with caviar, and roasted cod with Morecambe Bay shrimps and Swiss chard in brown butter on the menu.
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Boasting no less than three Michelin stars, Core by Clare Smyth specialises in seasonal, sustainable food sourced directly from the UK’s most devoted farmers and producers. Two elegant set menus, as well as an a la carte offering, promise guests a taste of Smyth’s culinary genius, expertly paired with an eclectic range of wines. Dishes are as delicious as they are delightful, think Isle of Harris scallop tartare, roasted cod with Morecambe Bay shrimps and braised lamb with sheep's milk yogurt.
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A ‘rustic-chic’ setting with a homely atmosphere, Core by Clare Smyth is a fine dining restaurant in Notting Hill, renowned for a menu that showcases the best of British produce in its dishes, such as a simple Charlotte potato topped with roe. The establishment is led by Chef Clare – once part of Gordon Ramsey’s multi-Michelin Star winning team. Customers come back to Core for its amazing hospitality, comfortable dining room, and the staff’s dedication to providing great service.
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What: The former chef-patron of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has established herself as a star in her own right with her first solo restaurant, Core by Clare Smyth. It’s less formal than her previous digs, with Smyth and her team on show in the glass-walled kitchen producing a flavour-forward menu which gives as much emphasis to vegetables as meat and fish; smaller plates are available in the chic bar. Where: 92 Kensington Park Road, W11 2PNBook now: Core by Clare Smyth
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Core by Clare Smyth is a relaxed, super-stylish establishment, with an open kitchen and a light-filled dining room surrounded by bookcases. Sustainable ingredients are used to create classic British dishes with a choice of à la carte and adventurous taster menus. Celebrity chef patron Clare Smyth catered for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018, so has the royal stamp of approval, and that of diners who return time and again.
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Another of the capital’s big hitters is Clare Smyth, and CORE, which focuses on modern British cuisine has kept all its stars. With its elegant setting, and dishes to match, both the taste and presentation are extraordinary, just follow her on Instagram to see the construction of the plates. Michelin recommends trying one of the 7-course tasting menus, one consists of the classics and the other is particularly seasonal.
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Core by Clare Smyth is a fine dining restaurant in Notting Hill, renowned for its sophisticated food and setting. The establishment is led by Chef Clare Smyth, who focuses on showcasing the best of British produce in her dishes, such as a simple Charlotte potato topped with roe. Customers commend the restaurant for its amazing hospitality, comfortable dining room, and the team's dedication to providing great service.
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Clare Smyth was the first – and the time of writing, still the only – female British chef to win three Michelin stars at her first solo restaurant in Notting Hill. The dining room is serene – no tablecloths, clean white walls but with plenty of knick-knacks to keep it from seeming cold. The seasonal tasting menu might include scallop tartare from Scotland's Isle of Harris or Hardwick lamb with sheep's curd.
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Previously head chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Clare Smyth struck out on her own and has since established one of the best restaurants in London. Core was widely tipped to gain a coveted third star in the 2020 Michelin Guide but was instead held on two stars to the surprise of industry experts. It only took one more year for Smyth to achieve the pinnacle of fine dining, earning that third star in 2021.
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In 2021, Core by Clare Smyth was awarded three Michelin stars by the Michelin Guide. This casual restaurant is located in Notting Hill and prides itself in offering fine dining food in an atmosphere that's not too stuffy. Core is run by the famously brilliant chef Clare Smyth, who was the first female chef to receive three Michelin stars while she worked at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
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In the heart of Notting Hill Core by Clare Smyth is a place of culinary pilgrimage and worship. The clean-lined Michelin-starred haven is where classic British fare evolves into an art form in a seasonally focused bullseye. Clare Smyth’s vision and skill are stamped onto a hallmark destination restaurant that is a paean to the finest British ingredients.
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92 Kensington Park Rd, Notting Hill Located in London's chic Notting Hill neighborhood, Core by Clare Smyth offers an elegant, yet relaxed fine dining experience. Stepping into Core, you will feel as if you've just entered a beautifully decorated home. When your dishes are served, however, you will quickly realize that you are somewhere far more special.
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The caterer of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding Clare Smyth is the first Northern Irish woman to gain three Michelin stars. Core has an emphasis on natural, sustainable food based around British cuisine. There is a classic tasting menu with dishes Smyth has refined over the years, a seasonal tasting menu and à la carte for both lunch and dinner.
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Core by Clare Smyth is a superb fine dining restaurant on Kensington Park Road serving modern British food. One of the few restaurants in the country to boast 3 Michelin stars, it has received an incredible number of awards and accolades since opening in 2017. Indeed, Clare herself was the recipient of the World’s Best Female Chef Award in 2018.
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After heading up Goran Ramsay's Royal Hospital Road, Clare Smyth decided to go solo in 2017. Three Michelin stars later, and the Northern Irish chef Clare Smyth is showing that her tenure at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay was just an appetiser. Read about Core by Clare Smyth's Dom Perignon pairing dinner.
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Highlight: Three Michelin Stars, Sustainable British Cuisine. Core by Clare Smyth, with three Michelin stars, is a celebration of British produce and culinary innovation. Located in Notting Hill, the restaurant offers a sustainable approach to fine dining.
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Address: 92 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2PN. Helmed by Chef Clare Smyth, the first female chef to run a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the UK, Core in Notting Hill promises a harmonious blend of elegance and flavour.
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Among those listed in the capital are a number of long-standing favourites, including seafood stalwart J Sheekey and Michelin-starred gastropub The Harwood Arms in Fulham, alongside the famed CORE by Clare Smyth in Notting Hill.
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Core by Clare Smyth, with three Michelin stars, showcases modern British cooking using the finest locally sourced ingredients. The tasting menu features dishes like
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Eat elegant dishes at Core by Clare Smyth, the only female chef to have run a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the UK.
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