Steam

Paddington station is one of those great romantic Victorian railway stations and at its heart is the newly refurbished Great Western Hotel, (an £86 million addition to the Hilton group.) This area has needed a plush imbibing point and this is a welcome addition. A light, bright, airy interior with a long bar and a good few booths, Steam is stylish but not snobby so it’s fair to call it a welcoming ‘gastro-bar’. It’s menu does hint that the main income for the hotel will be visiting execs' (in-bound from Heathrow) as it’s full of English dishes and there’s a few real ales to boot! But if you’re waiting for the train or just fancy a change from Notting Hill’s merchant bankers and media types, then Steam makes a nice alternative.