Cosy restaurant interior with a central dome-shaped fireplace, wooden tables set with glassware, and a well-stocked bar in the background. Warm lighting creates an inviting atmosphere, while plants add a touch of greenery.

Restaurants & Nightlife

Chelsea's best restaurants

From Claude Bosi classics to flame-licked fresh openings, here’s where to dine in SW3.

Words by Georgie Young

27th December 2024

5-minute read

There’s been a lot of chatter about the so-called Notting Hill culinary revolution, but a few miles south, Chelsea has slowly been adding more and more excellent restaurants to its repertoire. Now, alongside institutions like Bibendum and Daphne’s, there are some edgier, modern spots doing really interesting things with food – places like Fantômas and Bottarga and Ixchel. So, here’s our pick of the best: next stop Sloane Square.

Fantômas

We’ll start at the end with Fantômas, because its puds genuinely save the best ‘til last. Which is quite an achievement, given that it’s preceded by squab pigeon paddling in mole sauce, cucumber-wrapped pork belly doused in hoisin, and truffle-topped celeriac. But the espresso savarin is a belter – a tiramisu rum baba mashup that’ll have borderline inappropriate sounds coming out of your mouth. The service is excellent, the wine list creative. And the orb-lit, open kitchen-percussed room? Movie-level romantic. Your next date night starts here.

A dimly lit, elegant restaurant with white tablecloths, glassware, and dark chairs. Warm lighting from unique pendant lamps and a wall of shelves holding bottles creates an inviting ambiance at Fantômas, London.

300 King's Rd, SW3 5UH

Three Darlings

The most ‘Chelsea, darling’ restaurant on this list is by Jason Atherton, whose glam new bistro is inspired by his trio of daughters. Tucked in the elbow of Pavilion Road and coddled by cushion-clad gardens, the pale pink restaurant is slick and stylish, with plenty of pinks and a large open kitchen – the best seats look over it, amphitheatre-style. The menu is mostly easy eating, like Dingley Deli pork chops encrusted with a layer of char sui (best eaten with a few blobs of the creamy mash) and monkfish swimming in a classic meunière sauce.

A gourmet dish featuring a soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk on top of a browned pastry slice, drizzled with sauce and sprinkled with black pepper, served on a white plate with a pink background at Three Darlings, London.

A restaurant interior with a set table and brown chairs in the foreground. Behind, a chef in a white uniform works in an open kitchen with blue tiled walls and various kitchen appliances at Three Darlings, London.

241B Pavilion Rd, SW1X 0BP

Azzurra

A boat-to-table restaurant? In Chelsea? Before you sound the alarm, these fish aren’t being plucked from the Thames; the team at Azzurra source their seafood from right across the British Isles, resulting in a fish-focused menu that feels straight out of Sicily. Get the scallops to start and the swordfish Milanese to share, and make sure you try the afettati misti, which is a mind-bending take on charcuterie made from fish. True seafood sorcery.

A plate of grilled chicken served on a bed of greens with a wrapped lemon, placed on a wooden table. Two glasses of orange-colored beverages are nearby, along with cutlery. The table has a light wood finish and features striped cushions in the background at Azzurra, London.

A stylish dining area with a long wooden table set for a meal. Modern chairs and cushioned bench seating line the sides. Above, unique circular pendant lights hang, and natural light flows in through windows with blinds at Azzurra, London.

127–128 Sloane St, SW1X 9AS

Claude Bosi at Bibendum

A classic. Claude Bosi’s double Michelin-starred spot sits on the upper floor of Michelin House, complete with a stained-glass window of the Michelin man himself in the vaulted ceiling. It’s a fine dining restaurant through and through, from the white tablecloths to service so precise it feels like a choreographer was involved. The bold, assured cooking shows off Bosi’s best techniques – everything feels very rich and very French, including the best tarte tatin in town.

A bright, elegant restaurant interior with tall arched windows featuring stained glass at the top. The room has blue carpeting, white tablecloths, and light gray chairs. Art pieces adorn the walls, creating a sophisticated ambiance at Claude Bosi at Bibendum, London.

A chocolate dessert on a white plate, featuring an illustration of a cartoonish, round character holding a drink etched into the chocolate surface. The dessert is placed in a silver dish with handles at Claude Bosi at Bibendum.

Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, SW3 6RD

Bottarga

On the hunt for a new neighbourhood hangout? Head to Bottarga – you’ll find what you’re looking for where Chicama used to be. It shares some similarities with Notting Hill’s zēphyr (they are sister restaurants, after all) but is more broadly Mediterranean than strictly Greek; zēphyr’s classic chilli-butter grilled fish is still on the menu, but there are plenty of new, head-turning dishes as well. Try the sesame-wrapped tapioca bites, the Greek-style meatballs with burnt butter potatoes, and one of the huge desserts.  

A table set with a white cloth, featuring a cocktail with foam, a bowl of creamy dip with orange garnish, and a plate of sliced bread and crackers. A wooden chair stands nearby, with an orange sign visible through the window in the background at Bottarga, London.

A table set with various dishes, including a salad in a decorative glass bowl topped with feta cheese and herbs, a dish of sliced meat, a cocktail, and other appetizers on white plates. The setting suggests a fine dining experience at Bottarga, London.

383 King's Rd, SW10 0LP

The Campaner

If you’re in Barcelona and want the city’s best seafood paella, you go to Terraza Martínez. But you’re not in Barcelona. You’re in Chelsea, so you head to The Campaner, which is owned and operated by Los Reyes del Mango – AKA the group behind Terraza Martínez. It’s in the former Chelsea Barracks, so that’s ‘interesting architecture’ checked off the list, and it serves simple, seasonal, Spanish-inspired dishes designed to share – think rice, Josper-grilled meats, and Terraza Martinez's signature lobster and monkfish casserole.

A cosy restaurant interior with rustic brick walls and large windows. There are wooden tables and colorful cushioned chairs, surrounded by plants. Large pendant lights hang from the high ceiling, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at The Campaner, London.

Chelsea Barracks, 1 Garrison Sq, SW1W 8BG

Dinings SW3

When your restaurant is in a Grade-I listed former artist’s studio, you could simply let the building do the talking. But that’s not what chef/owner Masaki Sugisaki has in mind; his food is so impressive that it practically bellows its brilliance to the room. The menu is an evolution of typical izakaya-style cooking, mingling Japanese and European techniques with total mastery. The salmon is particularly buttery – no doubt because it’s sourced from Wester Ross Salmon, the oldest independently owned salmon farm in Scotland and an industry leader in best practices.

A modern restaurant interior with an open kitchen. Chefs are preparing food behind a white marble counter. Red bowls and plates are displayed on shelves above. The dining area features wooden tables and brown leather chairs at Dinings SW3, London.

Walton House, Lennox Gardens Mews, SW3 2JH

Ixchel

Ixchel describes its concept as ‘infusing Chelsea with the authentic flavours of Mexico’. And whilst we doubt the team’s out there painting the Kings Road with mole, they have imported a load of Mexican flavours into the colourful, almost nightclub-like space. The yellowfin tuna tostadas are excellent (as are the crab, if they’re on the menu), and the oyster mushroom quesadilla is another highlight; rich with smoky flavour, it’s an ideal accompaniment for the avocado margarita.

A dimly lit, elegantly set dining room with a long table surrounded by patterned chairs. A large decorative light fixture hangs above, and the table is adorned with glassware, orange napkins, and intricate centerpieces. The walls feature warm brown tones at Ixchel.

33H King’s Rd, SW3 4LX

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant is one of few places that can genuinely be described as iconic. And it’s also one of few across the globe to hold three Michelin stars. Tables dressed in white and crowned with feather-light glassware are poised amongst the Art Deco-inspired interiors – an elegant backdrop for the restaurant’s exceptional French cuisine. The menu was originally devised by Clare Smyth (also behind one of our favourite restaurants in Notting Hill) but is now led by Matt Abé.

A elegantly plated dish on a white scalloped plate, featuring a cylindrical piece of fish topped with a round slice of truffle. Beside it, theres a smooth yellow sauce and a single black olive. The presentation is minimalist and artistic at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Chefs in a professional kitchen meticulously prepare dishes. The lighting is warm, highlighting the focus and precision as they work. The environment is bustling, with several chefs collaborating to create gourmet meals at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

68 Royal Hospital Rd, SW3 4HP

Daphne's

Daphne’s has been delighting diners since 1964. And no wonder: its bright, inviting dining room makes you feel like you’ve been teleported to Italy – citrus trees, flowers, and all. The comforting menu, led by Head Chef Michael Brown, is filled with Italian staples and complemented by specials like fresh white truffles during autumn and winter. Easy pasta pairs with its Italy-heavy wine list; don’t miss the prime selection of super Tuscans.

Elegant dining area with a long table set for a meal, surrounded by wicker chairs. The glass ceiling allows natural light, and large potted plants add greenery. Decorative umbrellas provide a charming touch above the table at Daphne's, London.

A bowl of pasta is topped with thin slices of truffle being shaved from a hand-held slicer. The dish is garnished with spinach leaves, and the scene is set against a soft-focus background at Daphne's, London.

112 Draycott Ave, SW3 3AE

Kutir

Simply put, Kutir is one of the best Indian restaurants in London. Set inside a stately town house (you need to ring a doorbell to enter), it’s cosy yet refined – two adjectives that could also describe its food. Each dish is simple yet zinging with flavours and spices, many of which are cultivated on-site. To build your feast, select a couple of dishes from each section (the truffle quail naan is calling to us) and dip into the wine list, which is lengthy and intentionally selected to pair with the rich and aromatic food.

A dimly lit restaurant table set for dining, featuring wine glasses, menus, and cloth napkins. Two glowing candle holders add a warm ambiance, with more tables similarly arranged in the softly focused background at Kutir, London.

A table with assorted dishes, including a bowl of yellow curry with vegetables, a plate of roasted vegetables, and a dish with baked entrees garnished with greens and radishes. Two empty glasses and cutlery are also on the table at Kutir, London.

10 Lincoln St, SW3 2TS

Josephine Bouchon

Un autre Claude Bosi! This time, he’s importing flavours from his native Lyon to London with this wonderfully French bistro that comes complete with wood panels, art cinema posters, and half-linen curtains. But despite the restaurant’s petite stature, the flavours are bold; there are grenouilles à l’ail (frog’s legs) to start, the aile de raie Grenobloise is a great alternative to the ubiquitous meunière, and wine is served by the metre rather than the glass. But the best bit? The fluffy chocolate mousse for dessert.

A window with a wooden frame and a light beige curtain featuring the embroidered word Joanne. The curtain is partially translucent, and the window reflects a bit of the interior at Josephine Bouchon, London.

A golden-brown bundt cake sits on a white cake stand atop a wooden counter, set against a softly lit background at Josephine Bouchon, London.

315 Fulham Rd, SW10 9QH

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