Chelsea's best restaurants

One of west London's most sought-after neighbourhoods, Chelsea has its fair share of delicious restaurants. Ranging from innovative to fine dining to consistent go-tos, we round up our shortlist of the places we consistently frequent, both old and new.

The Cadogan Arms

Reopened in 2021, this local Victorian gastropub now features a British menu that spotlights provenance and traceability. It’s the best of pub food, but elevated, and best enjoyed with a group of friends around one of the big wood tables in a comfy armchair. We recommend a Sunday roast – in particular, the Sunday sharer board, which allows two or more diners to taste all of the roast meats and trimmings.

Dinings SW3

Marrying Japanese cooking with European techniques, Dinings is a multi-level restaurant that serves fresh and delicious sushi and small plates. Whether dining with a group in the upstairs club, or solo on the shaded garden terrace, the food here always impresses. The sushi is crafted of sustainably-sourced fish, and the produce is local and seasonal. The salmon, in particular, is extra rich and buttery – no doubt in thanks to its cultivation by Wester Ross Salmon, the oldest independently owned salmon farm in Scotland and an industry leader in best practices.

Stanley’s

The stunning florals and greenery at Stanley’s might make you feel as if you’re in a picturesque English garden and not the centre of London. In such beautiful environs, the food could get away with being subpar – but that’s not the case at Stanley’s. The food is delicious, and whilst it is ‘British’ cuisine, it incorporates unexpected ingredients – British burrata, scallops from the South Coast – with unique and moreish preparations. Even the sticky toffee pudding features miso-glazed apples, for a surprising twist.

Wild Tavern

This beloved neighbourhood restaurant overlooking Chelsea Green spotlights an Italian-inspired menu with many preparations utilising the open fire pit. Beginning with the raw bar selection, we recommend proceeding with a pasta (ideally, the linguine with lobster), and completing the sequence with a steak cooked over the open fire. Coming for wine and snacks is also a great choice, with burrata flown in daily from Puglia and delectably fresh Scottish langoustines to complement a long, comprehensive wine list.

Ixchel

Named after and inspired by the Mayan Goddess of the Moon, Ixchel is a multi-layered space with a tequila bar and excellent food from Mexican chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez. Featuring many items cooked over a robata grill, the menu spotlights fresh seafood, meat and more, prepared using traditional flavors but with unexpected arrangements and techniques. One of our favourites is the grilled achiote oyster mushroom – rich with smoky flavour, it’s an ideal accompaniment for the avocado margarita.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant is now iconic, and one of few restaurants across the globe to hold three Michelin stars. The intimate and elegant art deco-inspired interiors are the backdrop for exquisite French cuisine and unparalleled service. Clare Smyth MBE opened the restaurant as chef patron, and now since opening her own Michelin-starred venture in Notting Hill, she serves as a chef consultant while Matt Abé now leads the kitchen.

The Fuji Grill at Beaverbrook Town House

Beautifully decorated, warm, and welcoming, this restaurant is the Chelsea outpost of the Surrey country estate hotel. Beaverbrook Town House welcomes diners seeking a fun time with friends and a perfectly crafted cocktail. Opt for a view of the kitchen, if possible, to observe the chefs as they create your meal. Don’t miss the fatty tuna nigiri, butter-soft and topped with a flake of black truffle or the key lime sea bass, cooked to perfection with finger lime and tomato salsa. The desserts are quite unique; try the ‘boiled egg’ crafted of chocolate and passion fruit coulis with an oozy ‘yolk’.

Daphne's

An enduring favourite – Daphne’s opened in 1964 – this neighbourhood Italian restaurant transports guests to Italy with its vibrant, colourful, and inviting dining room. The familiar menu, led by Head Chef Michael Brown, focusses on a core of Italian staples complemented by lighter fare during the summer, and specials such as fresh white truffles during the fall and winter. Easy pasta pairs with their Italy-heavy wine list; don’t miss the prime selection of Super Tuscans.

Chicama

Named after a legendary surfer beach on the northern coast of Peru, Chicama is the place for delicious seafood and seasonal vegetables. Diners are encouraged to order sharing-style, and the restaurant proudly hosts an events and experiences series – think a Ceviche & Pisco Sour Masterclass – to engage their community. Menu-wise, expect several options of ceviche, seasonal grilled vegetables and innovative desserts; we recommend the banana and yuzu ice cream.

Kutir

Set within an elegant and cosy repurposed townhouse – you need to ring a doorbell to enter – this restaurant serves refined and modern Indian cuisine by chef Rohit Ghai, the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star in their inaugural year. The beautifully plated food is focussed toward game and seafood – many of the herbs and spices are cultivated on-site – and is complemented with vegetarian options. The curated wine list was intentionally selected to pair with the rich and aromatic food.

Josephine Bouchon

This French restaurant is a recent addition to Fulham Road, bringing the flavours of proprietor Claude Bosi’s native Lyon to London. Petite in stature and bold in taste, it’s a quintessential bistro that channels the best of France. The sole Grenobloise is a perfect alternative preparation to the ubiquitous meunière, wine is served by the meter meaning you pay by consumption, and cuisses de grenouilles à l’ail – frog legs – is a starter. Don’t miss the fluffy and rich mousse au chocolat for dessert.

You’ve got good taste. We’ve got the specialist knowledge. As a Quintessentially member, you have a priority seat at every Michelin-starred restaurant, speakeasy cocktail bar, and chef’s table experience – anytime, anywhere. Click here to discover membership.