Now open, and just moments from Portobello Road, sova is quickly establishing itself as one of London’s newest neighbourhood hotspots, bringing Eastern and Central European wines, Slavic-inspired food and a vinyl-led soundtrack to Notting Hill. From the team behind ZIMA, the 40-cover wine and vinyl bar takes over the former ZIMA Notting Hill site; marking a shift towards a more exploratory, listening-led drinking and dining experience.
The name sova, meaning ‘owl’ across several Slavic languages, sets the tone. Observant and unhurried, it reflects a space designed for discovery, where guests move through wines, sound and food at an easy pace.
The wine list has been curated by consultant sommelier Cristian Vega and focuses on low-intervention producers across Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and beyond. Skin-contact wines sit alongside pét-nats, structured whites such as Slovenian Malvasia and Serbian Pinot Grigio, and chilled reds sourced from across the region. Champagne, cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic sparkling teas complete the offering.
Food comes from Moldovan chef Denis Calmis, who has created a concise, sharing-led menu rooted in Eastern European home cooking. Plates include slow-roasted peppers with anchovies and dill oil, beef tartare on Borodinsky bread with horseradish mayonnaise, and Slavic cheeses, alongside larger dishes such as whisky and honey-roasted baby chicken, crispy sea bass with fennel and grapefruit, and miso-glazed duck confit with plum sauce.
Designed by AIYA Bureau, the interiors at sova Notting Hill feel restrained yet atmospheric with natural materials including wood, linen and clay-toned surfaces, sitting beneath low lighting, with vinyl records and wine bottles lining the shelving. Music plays a central role, with a rotating line-up of guest DJs and a vinyl collection developed with Rough Trade shaping the room’s late-night rhythm.
In warmer months, a small street terrace extends the space onto Portobello Road, reinforcing sova’s appeal as a low-lit, late-running addition to London’s wine bar scene.
sova Notting Hill Photography, Rebecca Hope.
