We were bowled over to discover this unashamedly French bistro and wine bar sitting pretty in Europhile Notting Hill. Inside, Cépages promises an unpretentious mix of bare brick walls, shelves stacked with tempting bottles, large windows onto the street and a bar at one end, plus random vintage accessories – the perfect backdrop for “superb” food and drinks served with the minimum of fuss. Snack on olives, tapenade or charcuterie (goose rillettes, regional hams, saucissons etc), or take the sharing route for plates of say, scallops with courgette purée, boudin noir with apple compote, or ratatouille with a poached egg. There’s foie gras, of course, and onglet cooked rare with aïoli and modern veg too. Other delights include lusciously ripe roast Camembert with rosemary and honey, crêpes and lemon tart for dessert, pastries for weekend brunch and a broad range of wines sourced direct from dedicated producers across the globe (although France takes pole position). Marvellous.