The best Italian restaurants in Chelsea

A recent addition to the area, Chelsea hotspot Martino's serves up Italian cuisine in a polished setting of terrazzo flooring, glittering chandeliers, and an upbeat dining room. From morning coffee to evening plates, the menu delivers classic Italian comforts like chicken diavola, fettuccine Alfredo, and meatballs in rich tomato broth. The work of renowned restaurateur Martin Kuczmarski, this is a smart, stylish Italian restaurant in Chelsea where the details matter.

Wild Tavern is a stylish neighbourhood spot with a sibling wine bar just around the corner. The menu leans into seasonal Italian cooking, with a wood-fired oven taking pride of place and turning out prime cuts, fresh lobster, and other upmarket choices. Kick things off at the raw bar, explore the thoughtfully compiled wine list, and settle in like it's the first day of your Italian getaway.

A long-standing fixture of socialising and dining in Chelsea, Daphne's pairs Italian elegance with a heritage stretching back to the 1960s. The bright, art-filled space, complete with Murano chandeliers, draws a well-heeled crowd for a menu that encompasses comforting classics like pasta and veal Milanese, as well as lighter, seasonal dishes. Order a signature cocktail from the bar and sip as you take in the latest gossip.

Ciro's Pomodoro is one of London's most flamboyant Italian dining rooms, a lively basement spot shaped by founder Ciro Orsini's big personality since the 1970s. The walls are plastered with celebrity photos and the menu nods to famous regulars with dishes like “Jermaine Jackson's Favourite”. Expect hearty Italian-American classics, nightly live music, and a full-throttle party vibe going late.

Upmarket Italian restaurant Azzurra in Chelsea brings a polished take on Italian coastal dining to a sleek, nautical setting with rippling light effects and hanging nets. The menu focuses on boat-to-table seafood inspired by the Amalfi Coast, using top-quality British catches in dishes like Scottish langoustine tartare and seafood carbonara. There's also a raw bar, and indulgent dolci round out the experience.

A low-key Italian spot down a back street in Chelsea, Ziani is ideal for relaxed dinners with friends. Family-run since 1984, it serves traditional favourites and Venetian sharing-style plates, from scallops with mushrooms to smoked salmon stuffed with marinated crab. It's easy-going during the week but picks up a cheerful buzz at weekends, making it just as suited to low-key meals as to small celebrations.

La Famiglia has been serving traditional Tuscan cooking in Chelsea for over 45 years, welcoming guests into a warm, family-focused trattoria filled with photos of celebrity patrons and various personal touches. Since the beginning, the largely unchanged menu has featured timeless favourites like pasta, while the shaded courtyard, dotted with olive trees and rosemary, offers a charming al fresco setting.

Mucci's is made for Chelsea's see-and-be-seen crowd, feeling more like a spirited house party than a classic dining establishment. The striped blue façade, glossy interiors, and late-night energy set the stage for confident Italian cooking, from cicchetti-style bites to pizzas and other standouts, with a well-stocked wine cellar and cocktails from the marble bar keeping thirst at bay.

Scalini launched in Chelsea in the late 1980s and today has outposts around the world. Despite the jet-setting appeal, the menu focuses on honest regional Italian cooking, using a mix of local produce and ingredients imported from Italy for dishes like tortellini with cream and asparagus or fettuccine in veal ragù finished with black truffle. Inside, the setting is warm and traditional, with crisp white tablecloths and an orange tree flourishing in the light-filled conservatory.

Run by the same family since opening in the mid 1990s, Caraffini is a stalwart Italian restaurant in Chelsea, steeped in traditional hospitality and relying on a loyal local following. Inspired by Italian family feasts, the menu delivers updated yet authentic versions of the classics that have made Italian cooking globally loved. Inside, a soft cream interior with artwork sets an elegant tone, while the pavement terrace beckons when the sun appears.