The best restaurants in Chelsea, according to House & Garden's Food Editor
Chelsea, London's picturesque north-bank neighbourhood, is largely populated by a pleasing mélange of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings that play host to smart boutiques, coffee shops and, perhaps most importantly, restaurants. The varied eateries found here are among the best that London has to offer, with exciting additions regularly joining the ranks. With the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show just around the corner, House & Garden's food editor has rounded-up her dining favourite spots. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch, elegant dinner or bistro-style casual dining: these are the eateries not to miss in Chelsea.
Brian Dandridge1/11Wildflowers
Situated in the interior design heartland of Newson's Yard, a shop-lined courtyard behind the Pimlico Road, Wildflowers is a recent addition to the neighbourhood that offers a beautiful space and fresh, modern cooking. Both are equally important – the restaurant is a venture by the chef Aaron Potter (previously of Elystan Street) and interiors stylist Laura Hart. The space is warm and inviting, with plenty of seating in the brick-lined and flower-filled main dining room, plus a wine bar upstairs for more casual drinks. It's the perfect setting for a menu of contemporary, seasonal Mediterranean cooking using the best ingredients, from Sicilian tomatoes to Iberico pork. Passers-by can also stop in for a quick sandwich or pastry to eat on the courtyard seating, making it a marvellous all day destination and the ideal pit stop in a day spent among the antiques dealers and fabric stores outside.
Newson's Yard, 57 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE
2/11Medlar
It’s no wonder that Medlar has remained a favourite amongst locals for almost 15 years. Loyal customers return for consistently superb cooking and old school professional service. A menu that faithfully reflects the seasons uses ingredients mainly sourced from the British Isles; sea trout tartare with blood orange and fennel, Cornish lamb with new season’s asparagus or English rhubarb cheesecake and buckler sorrel. The highly skilled kitchen employs French techniques and wines are expertly chosen by their informed sommelier. Medlar offers the best parts of fine dining: spacious comfortable seating with proper china and glassware, graceful hospitality and highest level cooking without any formality and with an astonishingly well priced prix fixe at £50 for 3 courses. It feels as fresh and contemporary as when it first opened.
438 King's Rd, London SW10 0LH
Jun Ogura3/11Yashin Ocean House
A welcoming greeting of "Irasshaimase!" at this contemporary Japanese spot lets you know they intend to take hospitality seriously. For those who want to see the action there’s seating at a glossy sea-green ceramic bar along an open kitchen, flanked by a display of meats and fish hanging in vertical glass cabinets. Alternatively the roomy high-ceilinged dining room allows for widely spaced tables with comfy banquettes and padded leather chairs. This is classic Japanese cooking from an ex-Nobu chef Yasuhiro Mineno, with some contemporary twists: tuna with truffle ponzu, miso cappuccino and popcorn prawns. Not-to-miss daily specials like fresh uni (sea urchin) are worth keeping an eye out for and for a large table, I’d suggest the Omakase menu - a well priced chef’s selection. But don’t just stick to sushi. The lamb chops, Iberico pork and Canadian black cod are some of the best I’ve eaten. Cold sake is a must and a knowledgeable sommelier will guide you through the choices.
117 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3RN, United Kingdom
4/11Phat Phuc
This antique noodle trolley, imported from Vietnam, was an early precursor to the street food trend. Tucked away in a courtyard off the King’s road, those in the know have savoured flavourful bowls of noodles in steaming broth since the late ‘90’s. Initially the only seating was on rickety wooden stools along the length of the trolley, where you could peep behind the arched, painted mirrors to see the noodle master at work. Nowadays the expanded seating area has all but concealed the beautiful decorated wagon, whose name means Happy Buddah. However, the quality of the Vietnamese and south Asian fare remains excellent and draws a lunchtime queue for classic Pho, spring rolls and seafood laksa served in melamine bowls with a mountain of fresh herbs and crispy shallots to add at the table. This is fast food at its best: cheap and delicious and most importantly made from scratch.
The Courtyard, 151 Sydney St, London SW3 6NT
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5/11The Lavery
This stylish new opening housed in an elegant Georgian townhouse opposite the V&A museum is the former residence of British painter Sir John Lavery. The team have been cherry picked from London’s hottest restaurants - chef Yohei Furuhashi spent 9 years at the River Cafe and then Toklas, and maitre d’ Alcides Gauto hails from Rochelle Canteen. A sweeping staircase leads to the first floor dining room, bathed in natural light. Pre-dinner cocktails and intimate tables fill an adjacent room with an eye-catching zinc counter and crimson bar stools. A strong River Cafe influence comes through on a menu of seasonal ingredients simply prepared. Chalk stream trout is served with agretti and wild garlic aioli, first season’s asparagus with creamy fonduta sauce and loquat and hazelnut tart’s a riff on the well known apricot and almond version. With plans to open a ground floor cafe this summer this is set to become a destination for art lovers and locals alike.
4 Cromwell Pl, London SW7 2JE
@dough_and_behold6/11Marta Pizza
Even with Alley Cats and Pizza Pilgrim’s opening this year in neighbouring Chelsea, newcomer Marta has proved to be the biggest hit. Their ultra thin, Roman style pizzas are wood fired to crisp perfection. With only 30 covers, most of the seating is in a 60’s style wood panelled room, like a Marni designed interior, with a few bar stools facing a capacious wood oven. The short menu stays faithful to classic toppings done well such as Margarita, Bufala and salsiccia. Antipasti includes arancini with mozzarella, hand sliced salami or anchovy stuffed courgette flowers. There are only three desserts, but all made to perfection - tiramisu, lemon sorbet and pistachio icecream. The staff feel like family, skilled and friendly with the ability to turn tables like they’re spinning plates. They need to, this place has become a sensation with diners travelling from across London to get a taste of it.
343 Fulham Rd., London SW10 9TW
Helen Cathcart7/11The Sea, The Sea
The jewel in the crown of foodie hotspot Pavilion road, The Sea, The Sea is as on the pulse as something you’d find in East London, where owner Alex Hunter has since opened a second site. By day a boutique fishmonger with some indoor and outdoor seating, by night a restaurant. The unique feature here is the quality of the fish which is landed especially for them on small native day boats. An umami rich smoked eel consomme is served in hand crafted ceramic cups, poached skate comes with braised butterhead lettuce and a sublime tranche of halibut with verjus, tarragon and radicchio. Some Nordic influence has crept in too with home made ferments and pickles displayed in jars and used in a dressing for winter lettuces. For dessert there’s just one sweet option or a cheese plate, no doubt sourced from another Pavilion road jewel, London Cheesemongers directly opposite.
174 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0AW
Josephine Bouchon8/11Josephine Bouchon
Josephine Bouchon is the neighbourhood bistro Chelsea has long lacked. From Michelin star winning Claude Bosi who also has Bosi at Bibendum and Brooklands at the Peninsula Hotel, Josephine named after his grandmother, offers Lyonnaise classics in a relaxed environment. They have got the room just right with cosy bistro seating, banquettes and small tables in a space that feels like it’s been there forever. Maybe packed a little too tight, but one can’t criticise their popularity. Food is inspired by dishes Bosi’s grandmother would have known well like sweetbreads with morels, rabbit in mustard and frogs legs in garlic butter. But for the less adventurous rotisserie chicken, leeks vinaigrette or San Felicien cheese souffle are the sort of dishes you could return for weekly. Desserts are unashamedly decadent and the rum baba with Chantilly cream has become something of an instagram sensation.
315A Fulham Rd., London SW10 9QH
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Holly Farrier9/11The Pig's Ear
The Gladwin brothers have raised this smouldering Chelsea pub like a Phoenix from the ashes. Under their recent tenure it has become the finest local spot for fireside Sunday lunches, real ale and proper farm to fork food. Most of the ingredients whether wild foraged or grown, including livestock and some wines are from their family farm in Nutbourne, West Sussex. The menu has a Mediterranean- Modern British feel, like seasonal crudites and butterbean hummus or wild fallow deer croquettes with wasabi mayo as well as excellent pies and beef fat cooked chips. Sunday lunches are everything you could hope for from a local pub, and more. Succulent, pasture fed joints of beef and pillowy Yorkshire puddings are served in generous portions and dark chocolate mousse comes with butterscotch sauce. Cheerful service and an agile minded maitre d’ means they always find room to squeeze in small groups, even when it’s a full house.
35 Old Church St, London SW3 5BS
@thali_london10/11Thali
Thali comes from the Hindi word for plate or tray that food is served on, in this case a steel plate with little bowls filled with a selection of curries, chutneys, pickles and rice. It’s ideal for an indecisive diner but you’d be missing out on the chats, pakoras, tandoori cooked meats and biryanis that this gem of a Northern Indian restaurant serves. This friendly spot is the culmination of three generations of one Indian family who have given a modern twist to their traditional recipes. Neighboured by the well known and established Star of India and Nor Jahan, Thali stands out with refined, considered cooking, family hospitality and good prices.
166 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 0BA
Andrew Hayes-Watkins11/11Elystan Street
Phil Howard (previously at The Square) really knows how to cook. The restaurant offers the refined experience of exceptional food in the most hospitable environment. The simply decorated, light filled, contemporary interior works for both day and night and provides the perfect backdrop for Phil’s menu of fresh, light, deeply flavoursome food. Ingredients are meticulously sourced and reflect the seasons: torched Cornish mackerel comes with new potatoes and Yorkshire rhubarb; fillet and short rib of beef with wild mushrooms and horseradish pomme dauphine. Desserts are equally delicious, Sauternes creme caramel and golden raisins or chocolate fondant with hazelnut icecream. The cooking displays the skill and knowledge accrued by Phil Howard over a lifetime in fine dining, with none of the egotistical baggage. With 3 Courses for £45, it’s one of the best value set lunches in town.
43 Elystan Street, London SW3 3NT
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