Best Restaurants in Chelsea 2025

Looking for Chelsea restaurants? Here are our favourite restaurants in Chelsea, covering top spots along the King's Road, Sloane Square and more. From irresistible tandoori lamb at Kutir to burgers and hot dogs from Tom Kerridge at The Butcher's Grill, these are the spots worth knowing.

For more restaurant guides, check out our picks of the best restaurants in Mayfair, best restaurants in Knightsbridge, where to eat in Marylebone and lots more.

Best places to eat and drink in Chelsea

The Sea, The Sea, Pavilion Road

Pick where to sit at this elegant seafood spot depending on the occasion – perch at the raw seafood bar, watch the world go by on the terrace or relax in the chic, light-filled upstairs dining room.

Be prepared to splash out, as each section is well worth ordering from. First up, rock oysters or a round of caviar if you’re feeling plush. Bite-size snacks include lobster and seaweed dumplings, and aged seabream wrapped in shiso leaf. Must-order red prawns on the raw section are nestled in a medley of peas, broad beans and gooseberries.

Next comes cuttlefish ragu ribbons tangled with salsify and green almonds, and john dory fillets with frilly maitake mushrooms. Whole Cornish plaice to share is dressed with wild garlic capers and pickled dulse, while Shetland turbot sits in a flecked asparagus sauce moat, with piattoni beans tossed in lovage and goat’s cheese on the side. Finally there’s intriguing potato ice cream with smoked eel or a trio of Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese, summer honey and olive oil crackers.

The wine list is peppered with plenty of English choices, from Westwell sparkling to South Downs Salt Éire and Essex pinot noir. Elegant cocktails include The Sea martini lifted with floral apple eau de vie, delicate fig leaf highballs and pink peppercorn negronis. theseathesea.net

Butterflied Gurnard, whey and smoked herring roe at The Sea, The Sea

Ixchel, King's Road

Tucked away on an unassuming corner of the King’s Road, Ixchel feels designed for long lunches and fun, cocktail-fuelled dinners. The dining space blends earthy tones with hand-painted murals and soft, draped curtains that separate it from Chelsea’s bustle. There’s room for intimate dates in alcove tables, while larger groups can take over the downstairs private dining space. The mood is relaxed yet refined – effortlessly put together without trying too hard, perfect for post-shopping margaritas.

If it’s on the menu, don’t miss the spicy mango margarita, a thick, tropical special laced with just enough Tajín to keep things interesting. Guacamole is generously portioned, best scooped up with crisp totopos (though they could do with an extra hit of salt). The sautéed prawn tacos deliver beautifully smoky char against fresh, crunchy cabbage, wrapped in some of the best tasting homemade tortillas. The Hereford ribeye – substituted for T-bone on this occasion – arrives with grilled chorizo and chiles toreados, all cooked to perfection, though a touch of freshness wouldn’t go amiss.

Service is swift – perhaps even a little too swift – but the lively, well-designed space makes it easy to settle in. If you’re after something sweet, the Mexican mango with chamoy and lime sorbet is a simple pleasure, like a deconstructed margarita. A polished, fun Chelsea take on Mexican dining. ixchellondon.com

Kutir, Lincoln Street

Walking into Kutir is akin to entering someone’s home – someone with an eye for interior design and a penchant for elegance. With its mint green and floral walls and dramatic chandeliers, the Georgian townhouse – in a smart side street off Chelsea’s King’s Road – oozes intimacy. Come here with a loved one or friend for a special occasion. But, most of all, come for Rohit Ghai’s cooking – an extensive exploration of India’s vast food heritage.

Tasting menus are the way to go, with or without wine pairings. The signature Expedition menu (£75 per person) delivers six dishes, plus tadka dal, breads and rice. Plump, pink prawns are elevated with a dusting of coconut, sesame and peanuts. The richness of salmon tikka – so tender it’s spoonable – is off-set by pickled radish. Tandoori lamb chop – the star of the menu – is as fat as a cushion and just as luxurious, marinated with smoky black cumin. Then, choose between the nation’s favourite, chicken tikka masala, or spicy duck madras, with a hint of tamarind sourness. Finish with an unctuous date pecan pudding or refreshing pineapple and coconut. Kutir’s new garden is a sun-drenched terrace made for summer sipping. From 1-5pm, a three-course menu at £35 offers excellent value – expect familiar favourites like chicken tikka masala alongside standout plates such as truffle khichdi, a luxe twist on the classic lentil and rice kedgeree. kutir.co.uk

Rabbit, King's Road

This King’s Road farm-to-fork restaurant has had a glow-up, now with added robata grill and rotisserie to add an extra sense of theatre to this always-heaving dining room.

Continuing to offer countryside classics, its original small plates concept has been replaced with more robust, bistro-style mains like chilli glazed pork with pickled red cabbage; spiced cauliflower and mixed wild mushrooms; and venison haunch with celeriac. Signature snacks remain – Marmite éclair with egg confit and cornichon is a one-bite wonder; as is a whipped cod’s roe rice cracker. Puddings – sticky toffee, chocolate mousse, vanilla set cream – are gloriously rich and unpretentious.

Owned by the Gladwin brothers, of Sussex’s Nutbourne Vineyards, the wine list features their own sparklings. The Daily Loosener cocktail, which might be a sloe gin and Aperol with soda, reflects the team’s playful ethos, albeit underpinned by a more serious commitment to sustainably across all aspects of the restaurant. rabbit-restaurant.com

Three Darlings, Pavilion Road

Jason and Irha Atherton’s ‘English bistro’ is named for their three daughters. Its all-day menu appeals equally to families, to groups of friends and for date nights, with seasonal variations and sensible pricing to encourage regular visits.

Choose your spot on the covered terrace off Pavilion Road or take a seat in front of the pass and watch the chefs cooking on the Josper grill. Sharing small plates include woodfired fermented Orkney scallop with fermented miso; char siu Shorthorn short ribs; octopus with butter bean aïoli and Yukon Gold cooked in the embers with Lincolnshire Poacher – a posh twist on a cheesy baked potato. The quality of ingredients elevates the experience and surprising twists are designed to delight: monkfish tail is served with a wedge of vibrant Baches citrus; and skate wing schnitzel with katsu sauce and lime. Desserts range from comforting to luxe – bun and butter pudding or soft serve topped with caviar. The wine-curious may be rewarded with a trip to the secret cellar. threedarlingslondon.com

Three Little Darlings interior, featuring plush pink velvet chairs, golden lighting and a sleek bar

Bottarga, King's Road

On a corner spot on the King’s Road, this Greek restaurant is a visual treat: cleverly lit, with playful modern art. Lovingly sourced ingredients in hero dishes ensure food is the focus, best enjoyed at a counter seat along the open kitchen. Silky taramasalata is topped with cod’s roe; anchovies served with sheep’s milk butter and slivers of crisp flatbread are a must-order; signature dish bottarga orzo is creamy and rich, perfectly paired with lamb and a superior Greek salad with caper leaf, barrel-aged feta and rusks. While chef Tzoulio Loulai sources ingredients from his homeland, the menu is not slavishly Greek: chocolate burnt cheesecake and salted caramel is a big hit on Instagram. A Greek house soundtrack ensures a buzzing atmosphere. bottarga.london

Bottarga's dimly lit space, featuring long candles placed on each table, white tablecloths with modern art adorning the walls

The Pig’s Ear, Old Church Street

The new incarnation of the pub that’s been around since 1870 focusses on all the good stuff: oysters, Sussex beer, wine from owners the Gladwin brothers’ Nutbourne vineyard and seasonal veg from their farm, pies, hearty Sunday roasts. Snacks to kick off are a little more refined: devilled quail’s eggs and signature mushroom Marmite eclairs borrowed from the Gladwins’ other restaurant menus, and alongside comfort puddings is the must-order bun filled with meadowsweet cream and salted caramel. The curated set menu pairs six seasonal dishes with Nutbourne, French and Italian wines. Eat in the chandeliered but informal and cosy bar or the more sedate upstairs dining room. pigsearpub.com

The Campaner, Chelsea Barracks

Hidden within the new Chelsea Barracks development and opposite the stunning Garrison Chapel, The Campaner offers an exciting Catalonian menu. When the sun’s out, there’s an ample terrace to people-watch and enjoy the dining experience alfresco. It’s rare in London to find somewhere so close the hustle and bustle of city life while remaining peaceful. The menu has a good selection of dishes with a grounding in Catalan cuisine. Particular favourites were the iberian ham croquetas which had the perfect balance between ham and cheese in the filling as well as the seafood salpicón salad and ajoblanco, which was like a chopped seafood salad full of fresh summer flavours. For meat lovers, the iberian pork rice with brava sauce is a great sharing dish with smoky, perfectly cooked pork and a handful of jalapeños on top to give you true Spanish flavours. To finish, the pa amb oli I xocolata is a lovely, rich chocolate ganache, or the strawberry mille-feuille is a fresh way to finish, especially during the summer months. Ask for a view of the church to give you Spanish village vibes, especially when the sun is shining. thecampaner.com

Azzurra, Sloane Street

With its plump, stripy banquettes, seafood bar and striking trawler net sculpture, this elegant restaurant evokes memories of sunnier climes. It is your portal to southern Italy on Chelsea’s Sloane Street. Exec chef Andrea Mura’s menu pairs impeccable British seafood with gourmet Italian ingredients, not least in a dish of lorighittas, a twisted, hooped pasta from Andrea’s native Sardinia: “One of the few in the world that cannot be made by machinery.” It is served with octopus cooked in a Calabrian chilli and Datterini tomato sauce, finished with parsley emulsion and Sardinian olive oil. azzurrarestaurant.co.uk

The interior at Azzurra, including stripy banquettes, a seafood bar and a trawler net sculpture in the middle of the space

Elystan Street, Elystan Street

Elystan Street comes from restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas and chef Phil Howard, previously of The Square in Mayfair. Open all day, it serves “delicious, clean, ingredient-led dishes, full of natural vitality,” according to Phil, in an elegant space designed by Clare Nelson. It’s a 64-seat dining room with near floor-to-ceiling windows lining two walls, blue and soft salmon coloured chairs, and teal leather banquettes. The food is modern British, with dishes typically including smoked mackerel velouté with Porthilly oysters, leek hearts and eel toast; fillet of cod with lightly curried cauliflower purée, golden raisins, coriander and lime; and roasted figs with goat’s milk ice cream, lemon and thyme fritters and olive oil. There’s also a dedicated lunch menu and an elevated Sunday lunch menu – roast chicken thigh comes with chou farci, chanterelles, slow cooked leeks and truffled consommé. elystanstreet.com

The Fuji Grill at Beaverbrook Town House, Sloane Street

Take a counter seat to see the sushi masters at work as they prepare an exquisite omakase (chef's choice) menu at this plush new Chelsea hotel. Around 20 bite-sized dishes are prepared with skill, precision and imagination and offered with short introductions and suggested wine pairings. From the first dish of red bream with pickled kohlrabi through to a dinky dessert of matcha cake with poached pear, there are intriguing combinations of Japanese and British ingredients. Highlights are hamachi with smoked aubergine purée and caviar; texturally interesting squid and cauliflower; home-smoked salmon and British finger lime; and six-day dry-aged akami zuke, chu toro and o toro (tuna). The meal closes with a 'cheese' course of ankimo (monkish liver) with chutney and fennel cracker and a bowl of delicate clear broth. While the entrance to the restaurant is through the lively hotel bar, the restaurant itself is quieter and soothingly art deco in style with walls featuring pictures of Mount Fuji. There are two sittings, 6pm and 8.30pm, with counter space for just six guests. beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk