The Best Restaurants in Chelsea, London

The iconic Michelin House opened in 1911, designed by an employee to reflect the art deco period of the time – and it soon became the Chelsea landmark it is today. The first-ever MICHELIN Guide to The British Isles was published here, to coincide with the opening. Since 2017, the first-floor restaurant, Bibendum, has been home to Chef Claude Bosi, who blends his French heritage with some well-balanced creativity – resulting in boldly flavoured and assured dishes that are a mark of real talent in the kitchen.

With the feel of your local neighbourhood restaurant but with MICHELIN-Star cooking, there has always been something wonderfully appealing about Elystan Street. It flies under the radar slightly in a city filled with bluster and is all the better for it; the warm, relaxing atmosphere is the perfect accompaniment for cooking that doesn’t reinvent the wheel but delivers wholly enjoyable dishes with a classical base. If it’s a confluence of comfort and quality that you’re searching for in Chelsea, then look no further.

Another restaurant from Claude Bosi, located a 15-minute walk down Fulham Road from his Bibendum flagship, this is a much more casual operation. Bosi himself hails from Lyon and here he has created a tribute to the Lyonnaise bouchon, a variation on the classic French bistro where homely hospitality and a warm atmosphere meet rich, hearty dishes and sensible prices. It’s rare to find a Bib Gourmand in this part of town, but the plat du jour and menu de canut are such good value that they’re hard to resist.

This brightly painted former pub on the corner of Cheyne Walk and Cheyne Row is forever festooned with foliage and flowering blooms, so that every day feels like the Chelsea Flower Show is in full swing. Inside, there’s a sumptuous, similarly colourful style of décor and river views from the first-floor dining room; like a lot of Chelsea, this is a lovely setting in which to dine. The menu is proudly British with fish and meats cooked over the grill and a proper Sunday lunch too.

Gordon Ramsay may be known the world over, but this is where his lofty reputation was forged, in a leafy street just a few yards away from the famous Royal Chelsea Hospital (home to the equally renowned Flower Show). In spite of his global media commitments, standards at this flagship restaurant have remained impeccably high. That’s down to the work of his exceptional team, who remain respectful of Ramsay's sophisticated, accomplished style, while adding a lightness and delicacy to the cuisine.

It was a very clever person at Cadogan Estates (the folks who own and administer most of the Royal Borough) who had the brilliant idea, a few years ago, to pedestrianise Pavilion Road, which is now referred to as London’s longest mews. Among the parade of cafés, shops and eateries sits The Sea, The Sea, which operates as a fish shop and deli by day and an intimate restaurant in the evenings. The ever-changing menu reflects the day’s catch and includes several dishes that are raw or cured.

Find yourself in Chelsea at any time of the day and you can pop into Three Darlings. The breakfast menu offers everything from coffee and a pastry to a full English breakfast or shakshuka, before the more substantial dishes start to arrive at brunch. The dinner menu is called ‘Supper Club’, reflecting the relaxed, neighbourhood approach from owners Jason and Irha Atherton – who named the restaurant after their daughters. As dusk settles on the city, a wide range of cocktails allows you to sit back and relax amidst the elegant surroundings.

Chelsea Green is more of a bijou lawn as opposed to a rambling common, however it certainly adds to the village-like charm of the neighbourhood. Wild Tavern, overlooking said green, is all about evoking the sunnier climate of the Mediterranean, with a particular menu focus on Italy. Prime fish and meats are cooked with an appealing simplicity that shows respect for the ingredients, while the pasta dishes are not to be missed. In the winter, a covered fire pit cheers things up – and sits perfectly alongside the cosiness of the Alpine décor.