After months of hearing all about it, I was finally lucky enough to visit the Piano Bar for my sister’s birthday celebrations. Located directly opposite Kensington High Street tube, its location couldn’t have been easier to find. It’s entrance took up a small shop front, with only a black door and a doorman to indicate that it was there. Unfortunately, I was slightly moronic and forgot my ID so spent a couple of nervous minutes listing out every single one of my credentials in hope that I could prove my age and he’d crack and let me in. Eventually, after telling him my horoscope, degree qualification and near enough my whole life story, he let us through.
The Piano Bar is located up a flight of stairs and the music got louder with every step you took. The setting looked a like it could have once been someone’s living room, however, it’d been furnished with tables and chairs lining both sides of the wall, with a small alley in the middle to struggle your way through. The lighting was dark and the music loud, so loud that I could barely hear my own voice, let alone hear what my sister was saying. However, my ears soon tuned in to the music, which by the way was really good. The bar benefited from a gorgeous baby grand piano and the guy had handed out post it notes, allowing us to request our own songs.
The Inside
There was table service but tracking someone down proved pretty difficult. Also, the dark lighting made it pretty hard to read the drinks menu, but this worry was soon disregarded as my mum simply ordered another bottle of prosecco. The food menu was quite limited, offering a selection of tapas dishes originating from all over the world. My Dad, being the typical carnivore man, ordered the antipasto and chicken skewers, and me being obsessed with all things truffle ordered the truffle and porcini fries. The Prosecco came and Jonny Cash filled the room so I enjoyed sipping at my cold, crisp glass while enjoying the background music.
Antipasto
The food, in short was okay. It did the job. The job being that I was starving and if I’d had had one more glass of Prosecco, I may have begun to see stars… The antipasto didn’t come with bread and was largely represented a selection of the cheapest, fattiest cured meats that the bar could get their hands on, and the chicken skewers, despite being moist and tasty, were served in the tiniest portion. The star of the show (and I’m not just saying this because I ordered them) were definitely the truffle and porcini fries. Everyone seemed to devour them as within five minutes, there wasn’t a crumb left.
We were originally going to have dinner at the Piano Bar but because the music was so loud and the food selection so limited, we agreed to go elsewhere. But, despite the antipasto and chicken let down, I would definitely go back as the live music was great and the drinks reasonably priced.
Recommendation 
If you fancy somewhere with a lot of atmosphere and reasonably priced drinks, but aren’t up for a massive conversation, then go to the Piano Bar. However, if you’re super hungry and fancy a night of fine wines, good conversation and yummy food, I’d visit the Piano Bar for your ‘after dinner’ drink.
Extra Information:
Address: 106 Kensington High Street, London, W8 4SG
Website: http://www.pianokensington.com/home
Phone: 0207 938 4664
NTK: If you’d like to guarantee a table, I’d recommend you book as a lot of people were standing. Also, ask for a table a bit away from the piano as it might prove a little noisy otherwise. Oh, and take your ID!
