The Best Chelsea Restaurants For Fine Dining

Photo courtesy Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

RileyLondon Contributor Mary Noe shares her list of the best Chelsea restaurants for fine dining experiences

 

The affluent neighborhood of Chelsea is a popular London destination for those seeking upscale ambiance in a fashionable setting. Chock full of traditional 18th and 19th century townhomes and luxury real estate, Chelsea is known as one of London’s premier shopping destinations, as well as the home of the famous Chelsea Football Club.

With world-class galleries, exclusive shops, and unique boutiques, it’s no wonder that Chelsea is also home to some of the best fine dining restaurants in London. Award-winning celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs are creating sumptuous seasonal cuisine at some of the most beautiful places to eat London.

Whether you’re visiting Chelsea or live nearby, let RileyLondon be your guide to discovering the best Chelsea restaurantsfor fine dining experiences.

 

The Best Chelsea Restaurants For Fine Dining Experiences

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

The elegant brick façade of legendary chef Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant draws guests into the intimate dining space designed around pale hues of rose, lavender, and cream. The prestigious, three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay serves exquisite French cuisine and offers several unique culinary experiences, including:

• The Restaurant Gordon Ramsay Inspiration Table, an exclusive, interactive culinary experience for up to four guests, where “the most exciting and current dishes are served”
• Small-group Michelin Masterclasses, led by Chef Patron Matt Abé and his team, where guests learn the cooking techniques of this three Michelin-star kitchen and prepare and enjoy a three-course menu
• The Carte Blanche menu, a dynamic tasting menu designed by Chef Abé

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay can be exclusively booked for private parties, corporate dining, or wedding receptions. For reservations and more information, please visit Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

 The Ivy Chelsea Garden

The Ivy Chelsea is one of the most elegant restaurants in Chelsea and is an exquisite spot for delicious modern British cuisine. The lush floral motif is elegant and cheerful, and the vine strewn terrace is an outdoor extravaganza of flowering roses and textured greenery. The interior stuns with gilded ceilings and ornate floral décor, and the space welcomes guests with comfortable settees and upholstered armchairs.

The Ivy Chelsea offers cuisine as tasteful and visually appealing as the décor, and à la carte, vegetarian, and vegan menus are available for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The menus, designed by The Ivy Collection’s Executive Chef Sean Burbidge, offer an eclectic mix of modern British comfort food and international dishes.

Visit The Ivy Chelsea Garden for reservations and more details about one of the loveliest Chelsea restaurants.

Daphne’s Italian Restaurant

Since 1964, Daphne’s has been a local favorite in Chelsea for classic seasonal Italian country cooking. Head Chef Michael Brown’s seasonal menus feature hearty traditional Italian favorites along with seasonal salads and carpaccio dishes. Octopus carpaccio with chili, pickled fennel, and capers is a popular dish, as is linguine with crab and chili. Vegetarian and vegan menus are also available.

This beloved Chelsea restaurant was redesigned by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and the welcoming ambiance is accentuated by the vibrant colors of Italy. Unique design features include a pink marble-topped bar, vintage Italian 1950s Murano glass chandeliers, and European modern art. Guests may dine al fresco on the intimate summer terrace, and Daphne’s lovely private conservatory is the perfect location for a special lunch, dinner, or event.

Visit Daphne’s website for more details.

Restaurant Adam Handling Chelsea

For contemporary British cuisine in the heart of Chelsea, Restaurant Adam Handling Chelsea is an excellent choice. A celebrated, award-winning chef and successful restaurateur, Handling launched Adam Handling Chelsea at the Belmond Cadogan Hotel in February, 2019 – an elegant dining space with adjoining bar and terrace.

Named the British Culinary Federation’s Chef of the Year in 2014 and Scottish Chef of the Year 2015, Handling’s restaurants have won multiple awards, along with 3 AA rosettes and a Michelin Bib Gourmand. At Restaurant Adam Handling Chelsea, the menu focuses on sustainable practices and seasonal ingredients.

Says Handling, “Modern, British, seasonal, sustainable; that’s the ethos that underpins my cooking. I don’t want to be the best restaurant in the world – I want to be the local’s favourite in Chelsea.”

Visit Restaurant Adam Handling Chelsea for reservations and more details.

La Famiglia 

Called ‘the godfather of Italian chefs’, Alvaro Maccioni opened La Famiglia in 1966 and this top Chelsea restaurant has been serving delicious Tuscan cuisine ever since. The classic menu features wild game and fresh seasonal ingredients (including extra virgin olive oil from the Maccioni’s own Italian olive groves). La Famiglia classics include deep fried baby artichokes, angel hair egg pasta with truffle oil and parmesan, thinly sliced veal with tuna mayonnaise, and roast wild boar with rosemary, garlic and olive oil.

The restaurant is reminiscent of a traditional Tuscan trattoria, with a lovely outdoor terrace, crisp tablecloths, and cool white and blue tile accents. The welcoming atmosphere extends from the staff to the guests, and everyone is treated like family.

While La Famiglia has entertained celebrities, sports stars, and luminaries like Bridget Bardot, Michael Caine, Peter Sellers and Princess Margaret, each guest is part of ‘La Famiglia’. According to Alvaro Maccioni, “Every single person who walks through the door here is an important person.”

Please visit La Famiglia for reservations.

Elystan Street

A collaboration between award-winning chef Philip Howard and successful restaurateur Rebecca Mascaren has, Elystan Street is a sophisticated, stylish restaurant offering exceptional contemporary European cuisine.

Head Chef Aaron Potter adds his magic to the team with incredible results, and Elystan Street has been honored with multiple awards, including GQ Food and Drink Awards Best Chef 2017, AA London Restaurant of the Year 2017-2018, and one Michelin star by the 2019 Michelin Guide. At Elystan Street, the relationship between cooking and eating is paramount.

Elystan Street is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Chelsea, with an ambiance that is sophisticated yet welcoming. Sleek inside and out, the dining space is open and airy, with subdued grey-blue and light mauve accents and multiple windows.

For reservations and more information, visit Elystan Street.

Kutir

For elegant Indian cuisine, Kutir Chelsea is an outstanding choice. Set in a luxe Chelsea townhouse, Kutir’s interior design is charming and serene – the ideal spot for an indulgent meal featuring traditional Indian flavours.

Kutir was launched in 2018 by Abhishake Sangwan and Chef Rohit Ghai, the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star in under one year. This inspired team created Kutir in homage to authentic Indian wildlife lodges, and presents modern seasonal menus featuring game and seafood. Kutir offers Expedition Tasting Menus, a full à la carte menu, set lunch vegetarian and vegan options, an excellent wine list, and specialty cocktails infused with Indian herbs and spices.

Says Chef Ghai, “… Kutir is inspired by mine and Abhi’s early careers in luxury Indian heritage hotels within wildlife sanctuaries across India”…. which all adds up to a very special dining experience.

Visit Kutir for details and reservations.

Scalini 

A favorite among Chelsea diners since 1988, Scalini is one of London’s oldest traditional family Italian restaurants. This welcoming, lively trattoria was established over 30 years ago by Mario Paggetti and Valerio Calzolari, and Scalini’s kitchen is helmed by Head Chef Luigi Ferraro, who has been with the restaurant since its inception.

Using the finest freshly sourced local and Italian ingredients, Chef Ferraro and his team serve up traditional Italian classics and signature dishes.

Some of Scalini’s popular Signature Italian Specialties include: 

• Linguine with Lobster – Lobster in tomato, garlic and chilli, finished with basil and parsley and served in its shell
• Spaghetti Gennaro – Spaghetti tossed in garlic, chillies, and white wine with a tomato sauce with julienne of radicchio and courgette finished with parmesan
• Nodino di Vitello Burro e Rosmarino – Grilled Veal chop with butter and rosemary

Visit Scalini for more information and to make reservations at this top Chelsea restaurant.

Manicomio Chelsea Restaurant  

This lovely establishment has been serving delicious and elegant Italian cuisine since 2003 and is the perfect choice for a romantic occasion. The setting is upscale and modern, with seating in the sleek dining room as well as the bar, conservatory, and popular heated terrace.

The menu at Manicomio Chelsea is elegantly simple and showcases seasonal fresh ingredients and homemade pastas. Menu standouts include Paccheri with Portland Lobster, Tomato, Chili & Garlic and Grilled Cornish Monkfish with Isle of Wight Tomato Panzanella Salad.

Guests are welcome for breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, and drinks, and can choose from both set and à la carte menus. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are also available.

For reservations, visit Manicomio Chelsea Restaurant.

 

Turn Your Chelsea Dining Experience into an Overnight Getaway

 

Riley Recommends: To make the most of your fine dining experience in Chelsea, why not consider turning it into a weekend or mid-week break in London?

This ritzy area of London is home to a variety of excellent 5-star and 4-star luxury hotels. Check out our favourites on our list of the top luxury hotels in Chelsea.

If small and intimate is your style, check out our list of the top unique and boutique hotels in Chelsea London.

Also worth considering are the best luxury hotels in Belgravia, a posh neighbourhood of London that’s within walking distance (or a short cab ride) of Chelsea.

 

 _____________________

 

Contributor Mary Noe is a freelance writer who offers a fresh approach on local happenings, keeping readers current on travel, community, and lifestyle trends.