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London - SOUTH KEN & CHELSEA (bars + restaurants)
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items My curated guide to the best restaurants and bars in South Kensington and Chelsea, blending chic neighbourhood favourites with refined dining and lively cocktail spots. Perfect for everything from casual dinners to elegant nights out
Map
Sections
3
Restaurants - Dinner
Restaurants - Brunch
Bars/ Pubs
Restaurants - Dinner
My list highlights the neighbourhood’s elegant yet eclectic dining scene — from cosy trattorias and authentic Persian kitchens to polished European brasseries and modern hotspots. It’s a mix that works for everything from casual weekday dinners to mo...
Myrtos by Asimakis is a fine-dining Greek restaurant in South Kensington where chef Asimakis Chaniotis blends classical technique with his Aegean heritage, designing dishes that are rooted in tradition yet polished in presentation. Its interior evoke...
Myrtos by Asimakis
CERU is a contemporary Levantine-inspired restaurant in London celebrating Eastern Mediterranean fusion through vibrant small plates, seasonal ingredients, and generous sharing formats. Its atmosphere is warm and relaxed, with touches of Mediterranea...
CERU South Kensington
GO is a sleek, contemporary Vietnamese restaurant offering elevated takes on classic dishes—think fragrant pho, grilled meats, and fresh, herb-rich plates. The interior blends modern minimalism with warm accents and soft lighting to create an invitin...
Gỗ
Alley Cats is a buzzing New York-style pizzeria in London where the drama is as bold as the toppings - checkered tablecloths, The Sopranos on repeat, and that electric, communal energy. Their pizzas are consistently hailed as some of the best in Lond...
Alley Cats Pizza Chelsea
Cinquecento in Chelsea is a heartwarming slice of Naples tucked into Cale Street, where the décor (walls adorned with fruit-patterned plates, vintage chandeliers and dried flowers) feels like visiting Nonna. Their pizzas are the real deal: dough ferm...
Cinquecento
La Mia Mamma in Chelsea is a cosy, joyful Italian “mamma-run” restaurant where the décor—terracotta bricks, potted plants and a tight layout—feels like you’ve wandered into a home kitchen. The concept is fun and flavourful: a rotating line-up of real...
La Mia Mamma King's Road
Diba is a warm, authentic Persian restaurant (with branches in Chelsea, Marylebone etc.) that combines traditional recipes—like dizi (a lamb and chickpea stew mashed at the table) and zereshk polo (saffron rice with barberries)—with a friendly, convi...
Diba Persian Restaurant (Chelsea)
Bottarga is a Greek-inspired bistro on King’s Road in Chelsea, blending Aegean sunshine with stylish, intimate charm through moody lighting, rustic décor, and artful flair. The food leans into bold, shareable flavours -think creamy Bottarga Orzo, who...
Bottarga
Jacuzzi is a four-floor Italian “mega-trattoria” on Kensington High Street from the Big Mamma group, known for its over-the-top décor—think lush greenery, Murano glass, velvet banquettes and theatrical touches. The menu mixes indulgent classics and p...
Jacuzzi
Bright modern Provençal brasserie with sky blue banquettes and upstairs salon with river views. However, be aware - ££££
No. Fifty Cheyne
Macellaio is an Italian steakhouse with a theatrical twist — think “the butchery with tables,” where Fassona beef is dry-aged, presented and cooked with artisan care. You’ll find it in other locations as well including Soho, and it mixes dramatic mea...
Macellaio RC South Kensington
Lina Stores in South Kensington is a charming all-day Italian restaurant (and deli outpost) tucked onto the corner of Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place. Inside it’s warm and characterful, plush green booths, marble tables, vintage touches and an open...
Lina Stores South Kensington - Italian Restaurant
Italian mainstay for a well-heeled clientele, known for people-watching and classic cuisine.
Daphne's
Global dishes served in a hotel setting with antique-style leather armchairs and chrome chandeliers.
Town House Kensington
Restaurants - Brunch
My curated list of brunch spots leans into the area’s relaxed, stylish vibe - think pancake houses, chic cafés, and sunlit spots perfect for long, easy mornings. It’s a blend of comforting classics and lighter, continental plates, making it the ideal...
Snug French fixture with marble-topped tables, for croissants, sandwiches and coffees.
MONTPARNASSE CAFE
Made in Italy on King’s Road is a warm, family-run Italian spot beloved by locals, known especially for its Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas and welcoming atmosphere. Its menu leans into Italian staples—chewy-crusted pizzas (served by the metre), comfort...
Made in Italy
My Old Dutch is a laid-back pancake house on King’s Road (Chelsea) that’s been serving up both hearty savoury and sweet pancakes since 1958. The menu offers everything from classic Dutch-style pancakes (with gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free options)...
My Old Dutch
La Terrazza in South Kensington is a polished Italian all-day dining destination housed in a historic mansion, offering everything from breakfast and brunch to set lunches, dinner and even afternoon tea. With bright interiors, floor-to-ceiling window...
La Terrazza
Bars/ Pubs
This list brings together the best of the area’s drinking scene - from elegant cocktail lounges with a late-night buzz to cosy, historic pubs where locals gather after work. It’s a collection that balances sophistication with comfort, offering the ri...
Amaro Bar is a sleek, intimate cocktail lounge in Kensington where expertly crafted drinks meet a refined, cozy atmosphere. Its menu leans toward modern reinterpretations of classic cocktails (my favourite is a spicy kiwi marg), and the setting compl...
Amaro Bar
The Churchill Arms in Kensington is a flamboyantly decorated, historic pub renowned for its lush floral façade and abundant Winston Churchill memorabilia inside. It pairs classic British pub charm (with real ales and a cozy, bric-a-brac interior) wit...
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
The Drayton Arms is a historic, Grade II-listed pub on Old Brompton Road that mixes traditional charm (wood panelling, etched glass, soft lighting) with more polished touches and a warm atmosphere. Unusually for a pub, it also hosts a 50-seat fringe ...
The Drayton Arms
The Anglesea Arms in South Kensington is a cosy local favourite, with a leafy terrace and a warm, lived-in feel that makes it perfect for winding down. People from around the area flock here for after-work drinks, good ales, and pub food that’s a cut...
The Anglesea Arms
Bluebird in Chelsea is a London stalwart on King’s Road, housed in an Art Deco former garage and spread across café, courtyard, bar and restaurant spaces. Their menu leans modern European and seasonal, and by night the bar comes alive - guests mingle...
Bluebird Chelsea
Mezcalito is a modern Mexican cocktail bar & club hybrid in South Kensington, serving a bold agave-spirits-led drinks menu with twists on classics like Palomas and Mezcal Negronis. By night it turns up the energy with DJs spinning Latin House and...
Mezcalito Chelsea
Azteca in Chelsea is a vivid, upbeat Mexican cantina perched on King’s Road, where the décor, cocktails and flavourful food all lean into fiesta energy. Their menu leans on authentic staples - tacos, ceviches, salsas - paired with an extensive tequil...
Azteca Chelsea
Little Blue Door (though technically more Fulham than Chelsea, but close enough for a fun night out) is a playful, flat-share–style bar that feels like crashing your mate’s apartment - comfy sofas, quirky décor, and a living-room energy. Their cockta...
The Little Blue Door
Barts is a secretive, speakeasy-style cocktail bar tucked behind a black door in Chelsea, styled as the hidden apartment of “Uncle Barts” from 1929 Prohibition lore. Inside the walls are decked with quirky antiques, taxidermy and comic-strip narrativ...
Barts
Traditional pub with dark wood decor, cask ales and world beers, serving British pub food.
Gloucester