Things to do in Chelsea: Best restaurants, bars and more
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Thanks to a certain reality TV programme, it's fair to say Chelsea has a bit of a reputation.
Whether that is a positive or negative one depends on you, but there is no doubting that this part of west London has a lot going for it. It revels in its upmarket, opulent stylings, with some world-class restaurants, exclusive bars and cultural landmarks.
Here is the complete guide to going out in Chelsea.
Main attractions
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King’s Road, which stretches from Sloane Square tube station all the way down into Fulham, exemplifies the area — it’s fashionable, it’s expensive and it can be a whole lot of fun. It’s lined with restaurants and bars (many of which are included in this area guide), as well as high-end shops and boutiques.
To the very west of the area is one of London’s most famous sporting arenas: Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC. Naturally, the area around the stadium is heaving on match day and best avoided unless you’re going to watch the football.
To get away from all the crowds, visit Chelsea Physic Garden. It’s a beautiful place, replete with botanical delights and its very own cafe, Tangerine Dream.
Restaurants
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There are no fewer than four Michelin starred restaurants in Chelsea. Chief among them is Restaurant Gordon Ramsay — one of only three restaurants in London to be awarded the full three stars. The celebrity chef may have become a household name by yelling at witless restaurateurs on TV, but his own place in Chelsea is genuinely world-class. The restaurant, which recently turned 20, serves consistently exquisite French food, worth every penny of the many pounds you’re likely to spend here. Bibendum, meanwhile, boasts Michelin stars. Claude Bosi, who was awarded the same honour at his restaurant Hibiscus, is the head chef here, serving up more high-end French food. With one star a piece are Elystan Street and the Five Fields. The former offers nourishing European plates that manage to balance earthiness and elegance, while the latter focuses on outstanding modern British food.
Daphne’s is a Chelsea staple, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, superb service and compellingly delicious Italian food that changes with the seasons. The private dining conservatory is a gorgeous place, with elegant mirrored walls and subtle floral touches. For Italian food that drips with authenticity, head to Il Trillo (the only other branch of this restaurant is in Italy). The atmosphere is laid-back but the food is unerringly good, a gastronomic journey into the heart of Tuscany. Any one of the homemade pasta dishes is worth a visit alone.
There are a number of offshoots from the original, iconic Ivy restaurant in Covent Garden, and this is probably the best of them. The Ivy Chelsea Garden boasts a beautiful, wholly Instagrammable terrace, perfect for al fresco dining. Start the day with the Garden Breakfast, a wholesome medley of grilled halloumi, avocado, poached eggs, potato hash and more, while for dinner, choose the classic shepherd’s pie.
Bluebird underwent a refurbishment a few years back and re-emerged in rather striking fashion. Its interiors are a mix of industrial high ceilings and metal beams, set against homely furnishings and greenery. The menu is a familiar one, but the old favourites are done well. Try the steak and definitely order the triple-cooked fries. Tom’s Kitchen also recently relaunched with a new look, as well as a slightly new focus: seasonality. It means the menus change regularly, but quality British ingredients are the norm.
Medlar is an elegant place — both in terms of its refined, romantic interiors and its delicately crafted dishes (some of them look so good you’d want to frame them). The food, subtle but impactful, takes most of its inspiration from French cuisine, although there is the odd flash of influence from around the culinary globe.
Jak’s on King’s Road is what you might call shabby chic: plush armchairs and white tablecloths sit among exposed brick and paint-flaking pillars. It’s not to everyone’s tastes, but it’s certainly interesting. The menu is less experimental, sticking to the classics — filet of beef, grilled chicken breasts, stuffed portobello mushrooms — and doing them excellently.
Chicama is dedicated to Peruvian seafood recipes — there’s not a single piece of meat on the menu. It gets its fish delivered daily from Cornwall, making it all taste beautifully fresh. Try the blackened octopus, perfectly charred and wonderfully tender.
Cambio de Tercio, which counts Rafael Nadal among its famous fans, is the finest Spanish restaurant in Chelsea — the jamon iberico is unbeatable — with bold, vibrant decor to match the food.
Japanese food can be found at Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, the ever-expanding chain which has just opened on King’s Road. This one is slightly different than the others — the dining room is private, accommodating up to 24 people — but food-wise, it’s the usual combination of sticks, sushi and sashimi. Elsewhere, there’s Kurobuta, which offers various small plates of Japanese food. If you only try one thing, make it the nasu dengaku (miso-baked aubergine with candied walnuts and sancho pepper), it’s divine.
Villa Mama’s, run by Bahraini chef Roaya Saleh, brings a taste of the Gulf to west London, with a mix of familiar and more unusual dishes. Expect to find the region’s trademark fragrant, perfumed, sweet and savoury flavours throughout the menu. Make sure to save space for the Middle Eastern sweets on offer, too.
Bars and pubs
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The Cross Keys has been through a lot to be here. The pub, which has been standing for longer than three centuries and boasts Prince Harry and Bob Marley among its former patrons, was almost turned into luxury homes back in 2012 and then taken over by squatters. It survived and now is doing what it does best: serving drinks to thirsty locals. Inside, it’s a big, airy space with rustic-looking wooden tables and good range of real ales.
The Builders Arms (not to be confused with its nearby Kensington namesake) is a colourful place — blue wood panelling, turquoise tiling and oddball artworks deck out the pub. There are a few comfy armchairs and sofas, too, delightful to settle into for an evening. The food is solid, with plenty of British pub classics on offer.
The Pig’s Ear is a grand-looking place. The lampshades that loom above the bar add a distinctive touch, while the roaring open fire in the dining space is inviting during the colder months. There are some local beers on offer, from Battersea’s Sambrook’s Brewery, and an impressive wine list. Ale drinkers should head to the Anglesea Arms, which always has a broad range of ales on tap. Inside, it feels pleasantly old-fashioned, but when the sun is out, be sure to get a table out on the terrace in front of the pub.
The Chelsea Ram has the feel of a cosy country home, with some good wine and pretty lovely pies on the menu.
For live sports, go to the Chelsea Pensioner. It has four big screens and a projector, as well as a darts room and a pool table. Only a few minutes walk from the Bridge, it gets packed out with Chelsea fans on matchday (or when the club is playing a big away game).
The Botanist is a popular spot for casual drinking and dining in elegant surroundings. Go on a Saturday for bottomless dinner and drinks (£25 and £15 respectively), and be sure to try one of the cocktails.
Barts, a prohibition-themed speakeasy is supposedly a “secret spot”, hidden away within an old apartment block — the address is only given as “somewhere on Sloane Avenue”. Oh, and if you’re not a member, you need to whisper a password to get in. Really. There’s a similar sense of mystery over at Evans and Peel Detective Agency. When booking, you’ll be asked to “state your case” (it’s up to you how creative you get) and when you arrive, you’re buzzed in through an intercom. Once inside, the charade is mostly dropped, allowing drinkers to turn their attentions solely onto the excellent cocktails.
Beaufort House is a big place, spread across four floors and home to a cocktail bar and champagne penthouse, among other things. Early risers should try one of the nourishing juices, while the night owls should stay for the mixology.
JuJu is a favourite among Chelsea’s more famous faces — in fact, it’s actually been featured in Made in Chelsea a few times — who visit for the top-notch cocktails and to dip into the extensive champagne collection.
Coffee shops and cafes
Gail’s Bakeries are popping up all over London, and there’s a great one on King’s Road. The bread is the forte, but the pastries are pretty marvellous too — if there’s anything with custard on the menu, be sure to nab one. Bringing a taste of Australian coffee culture to Chelsea is The Roasting Party, a small, relaxed shop. The espressos are great here and the food is delicious — you can even get vegemite on (sourdough) toast. L’Eto is one of GO London’s favourite Soho coffee spots, and it has another great branch down in Chelsea. The coffee is good but the cakes are magnificently indulgent, all served in pretty glamorous surroundings. Grab a table and settle in. Commons Chelsea is a small place, good for catching up with an old friend. It serves coffee and food during the day, and works as a laid-back nightspot too, with a few decent beers and wines on offer. There are a couple of tables outside for when the weather permits. April’s Cafe is another great spot, with a pretty simple mission statement: “Breakfast, serious lunch, snacks, cocktails and nice wine”. All boxes ticked, then. The scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and sourdough for breakfast is the one to go for.
Music and nightlife
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Under The Bridge is the best gig spot in the area. It is, as the name suggests, literally underneath Stamford Bridge, but it doesn’t feel like a superficial add-on. It’s a pleasantly intimate spot with great sound, hosting an impressive range of acts from the UK and beyond. Cadogan Hall, meanwhile is grand old place, known best for its orchestral, classical output, but with an eclectic programme — there’s a fair amount of contemporary rock and jazz there, too. Talking of jazz, you can find it in bucketloads over at 606 Club. It’s a cosy place, with low ceilings, a small stage and tables all clustered together — exactly as a jazz club should be. It puts on music seven nights a week.
Tonteria, which is supposedly Prince Harry’s favourite nightclub, has a pretty wild reputation — we’re talking sparklers in champagne, flamboyantly costumed waiters, snake dancers, parties that go on until 3am on a Monday, and the like. Leonardo Di Caprio has been known to spend an evening there, too. Maggie’s Club, meanwhile, is an equally peculiar place — it’s named after the Iron Lady herself, for starters. The 80s-themed nightspot is lined with Thatcher memorabilia, and you can even hear the former Prime Minister’s speeches playing in the toilets while you relieve yourself.
Arts
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Saatchi Gallery dominates the Chelsea art scene. It made its name in the 90s during the British art boom, showcasing the likes of Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. These days, it still has a focus on young, emerging contemporary artists, from both the UK and abroad. For excellent photography, go to Michael Hoppen Gallery, a fixture of the area for more than 25 years now. It exhibits an intriguing mix of new artists, alongside seminal works from the past. Proud Chelsea, is another photographic haven, with a lens focused on pop culture — from the groundbreaking fashionistas to the most iconic rock ‘n’ roll bands.
The Royal Court Theatre is known as 'the writers’ theatre', with a dedication to nurturing playwrights who are just breaking into the scene, as well as those who have been there for a while. A fine example was its production in September 2018, Poet In Da Corner — possibly the first ever grime musical, written by Debris Stevenson.
Fans of military history should head straight for the National Army Museum. It covers a broad spectrum, from exhibitions that shed light on the secrets of the Special Forces and collections of WW1 cinema posters, to the chance to take charge of a remote-controlled tank.
Most Instagrammable spots
Ivy Chelsea Garden
Bywater Street
Chicama
And one more thing…
Allister Bowtell, the late sculptor and former chairman of the Chelsea Arts Club, has left a lasting legacy on the area with these two playful sculptures, titled My Children. The two figures — a young boy leapfrogging over a bollard, and a young girl watching him — can be found just off Duke of York Square.
How to get there
Tube: Sloane Square (District and Circle lines), South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines), Fulham Broadway (District lin)
Bus: 11, 19, 22, 49, 211, 319