A Day Out In.... Chelsea
Photo via Pixabay (licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Bursting with sunny squares and charming cafés, Chelsea is well worth a trip at any time of the year. Here, we bring you all the best spots to make a memorable day out in the West London hotspot.
If you arrive in Chelsea via Sloane Square station, then your first stop of the day should be Pavilion Road. Lined with small boutiques and restaurants, this little alley is the perfect introduction to the neighbourhood. If you’ve started your day early, then stop by Granger & Co. for a classic Aussie brunch. Grab their delicious kimchi grilled cheese sandwich (£13), or if you’re feeling like something a little more indulgent, opt for the fluffy ricotta hotcakes served with honeycomb butter (£16.50). For the best coffees, head just a few doors down to The Roasting Party, another Australian spot where you can grab a smooth blend with a lamington.
Spend some time strolling down the road, coffee in hand, ducking into the quirky boutiques that line it. Papersmiths is a highlight here, offering a selection of the cutest diaries, notebooks, and stationery. In the warmer months, the adjacent Parlour by the Ice Cream Union serves up an otherworldly assortment of frozen treats, so get your hands on an aperol spritz sorbet or a cinnamon ice cream.
If by now you’re ready for another snack, then the final spot to hit on Pavilion Road is Bread Ahead. Here, you will find some of the best pizza in London, which is boxed up piping hot for you to enjoy straight away. This is also the bakery that brought the viral Crème Brûlée doughnut to London in 2023, and while this flavour is not a permanent staple, you’ll always find a daily assortment of fun flavours.
Then make your way south from Pavilion Road and circumnavigate Sloane Square, which hosts fashion and homeware stores on all sides. From its south-west corner, you can enter Duke of York Square, where charming pedestrian paths are bounded by some of Chelsea’s coolest boutiques. Don’t miss the Taschen store, where you could easily spend an hour flitting through their colossal coffee table books.
Here, you will also find Chelsea’s best gallery, Saatchi Gallery, which champions a roster of both world-renowned masters and emerging talents. At the moment, you can visit ‘The Way of All Flesh’, a multi-artist exhibition that considers the realities of living in a human body. Or, from February 14, Saatchi will play host to a collection of Edward Burtynsky’s timely photographic works.
As you spill out of Saatchi Gallery, you may find you’re ready for the day’s next bite. If so, then the spaceship-looking Vardo should be your next stop. Located next to the gallery, the restaurant serves up an all-day menu with highlights including the miso aubergine rice bowl and harissa lamb pizza at moderate prices for the area. In the warmer months, take the outdoor seating for some of London’s best people watching.
If you’re in search of a more glamorous lunch spot, then stroll across Chelsea to Daphne’s. This showstopping restaurant serves hearty Italian favourites across its pastel-hued rooms. As one of Chelsea’s most popular restaurants, make sure you book in advance to be guaranteed space, and if possible, try to nab a table in the light-filled conservatory.
Spend your afternoon strolling the King’s Road, where you will find some of London’s best shopping. To warm up, grab a hot chocolate from Knoops, or if you’re in for another caffeine hit, then continue down the street to Hagen, where your latte will come with a healthy side of hygge.
Photo via Pixabay (licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
As your day out in Chelsea comes to a close, it’s time to find a restaurant to finish the day. For a cheap eat that doesn’t compromise on flavour, Phat Phuc Noodle Bar is the place to go. Hidden out of sight behind a flower stall off King’s Road, you’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the queue that snakes down the street. Wait a while, though, and you’ll be rewarded with delicious but unfussy Vietnamese fare. While the pho is fantastic, the silky, creamy broth of the laksa makes it the highlight of the menu.
Should you prefer a luxe restaurant experience, then head to the north-eastern tip of Chelsea where you’ll find The LaLee. Nestled on the ground floor of The Cadogan Hotel on Sloane Street, the restaurant’s polished interiors will serve as the perfect end to your day. Highlights here include one of London’s best chicken schnitzels and a Caesar salad made tableside. While this day out in Chelsea may be coming to an end, such lovely surroundings guarantee that another one will soon be on the horizon.
Edited by Faye Elder, London and Beyond Editor
