If you’re planning a visit to our Chelsea showroom, why not make a proper day of it? Here’s our insider guide to the best places for coffee, lunch and more...
Chelsea is a fabulous destination for interiors – but of course it’s also one of London’s loveliest neighbourhoods for wandering, browsing, eating and generally enjoying yourself.
Our team has been happily “researching” the area ever since we opened our doors, and there are some local spots we genuinely love: great cafés to start your morning, cosy corners for lunch, and the kind of restaurants and pubs where you can unwind after a design session. So to help you enjoy the place as much as we do, we’ve put together a little guide to the perfect Chelsea day out….
For Coffee (and something delicious)
Heidi
This is our Creative Director Jayne’s favourite – always a strong endorsement. It’s a hidden gem tucked inside the peaceful Soane Stable Yard of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Heidi is where we go for tip-top coffee in a beautifully restored Grade II* courtyard. A proper little sanctuary from busy London, with cobbles and greenery – and also pastries that vanish the moment they’re put on the table. heidibakery.co.uk
Roasting Party
For serious coffee drinkers…. Roasting Party is bright and unfussy. Consistently excellent flat whites and great for a pre-showroom burst of caffeine to sharpen your decision-making powers. roastingparty.com
Lunch (or a Break From Decision-Making)
Bottarga
If you’re in the mood for something a bit Greek-island-holiday-adjacent, Bottarga is a lovely option. It’s very good for shared plates and big flavours (feta appears a lot). We also like the way you naturally want to slow down a bit. You can sit outside on good days, and it’s perfect for those lunches that accidentally turns into “oh, shall we just stay for a bit?” Very cool interior, too (see above). bottarga.london
Phat Phuc Noodle Bar
Just below our office, tucked into a little courtyard off Sydney Street, sits this much-loved Chelsea institution. We love it because it’s unpretentious and comforting, but above all for the steaming prawn laksa (the best in London, we reckon). It’s a taste of authentic Vietnam, Ideal for a quick and cheering lunch between appointments. phatphucnoodlebar.co.uk
Josephine
A proper neighbourhood French bistro from Claude and Lucy Bosi, Josephine feels as though someone has lifted a little piece of Lyon and dropped it onto Fulham Road. The menu is simple and utterly reliable: unfussy French cooking, basically. The wine list skews towards the Rhône (dangerously tempting). Ideal for a leisurely lunch or an early dinner. josephinebistro.com
Ixchel
A completely different mood – and something quite unique and special. Ixchel has vibrant, modern Mexican food in a beautiful, low-lit space inspired by the Mayan goddess of the moon (hence the name). The cooking has a special personality — colourful, flavour-packed dishes designed for sharing, lots of it from the robata grill. It’s also unusually thoughtful on the sustainability front, which we like – oh, and the classic Tommy’s Margaritas is a particular office favourite). ixchellondon.com
Neighbourhood Classics for Dinner
La Poule au Pot
A short stroll into Belgravia, but definitely worth it – this local institution is a cosy and very romantic French restaurant famous for its classic food and intimate nooks, and glorious interior design too. pouleaupot.co.uk
La Famiglia
An old Chelsea favourite, and yes, it really does feel like one. La Famiglia is all about Tuscan comfort: pasta, risotto, seafood and so on. Not too trendy, not trying too hard, just very good at making people happy. lafamiglia.co.uk
Pubs We Love
The Pig’s Ear
A great Chelsea pub with a bit of countryside spirit. Now run by the Gladwin Brothers, it serves the proper pub food: good pies, fresh seafood, hearty Sunday roasts and a pint by the fire when the weather’s dreary. Very friendly. pigsearpub.com
The Surprise
One of those pubs that makes you think, “Why aren’t all pubs like this?” It’s independent and full of history, beautifully refurbished and genuinely welcoming — more like a village local that happens to find itself in SW3. thesurprise-chelsea.co.uk
If you’ve still got time...
If you’re not in a hurry to get home, Chelsea has a couple of lovely places to wander after you’ve eaten (or while you contemplate your new kitchen).
Chelsea Physic Garden
A short walk from the showroom, the Physic Garden is one of London’s hidden treasures — a peaceful, four-acre botanical garden founded in 1673 and dedicated to medicinal plants. It feels wonderfully calm, especially on weekday afternoons. Their café is also charming if you’re somehow hungry again. chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/
The Royal Hospital Chelsea
Home of the iconic Chelsea Pensioners, the Royal Hospital is a breathtaking Christopher Wren-designed complex with enormous open courtyards. Parts of the grounds are open to the public, and it’s a lovely place for a wander. If you’ve visited Heidi earlier in the day, you’ve already had a glimpse; it’s well worth exploring further. chelsea-pensioners.co.uk
And of course… Naked Chelsea
We’d love to welcome you to the Naked Kitchens and Naked Design showrooms, right next door to each other at 118-120 Fulham Road, SW3 6HU.
You can feast your eyes and get hands on with our beautifully crafted furniture and cabinetry for bedrooms, boot rooms, home offices, and more.
Plan your visit here – and for the best experience, we recommend booking a discovery visit with one of our designers.
All images supplied courtesy of the venues.
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