The Ivy Chelsea Garden | Verdant All-Day Dining on the King’s Road
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
Photosynthesis.
Glad we finally cleared that up. Because now, along with addressing a longstanding – albeit in hindsight, relatively straightforward – riddle, it also means that you can now fully appreciate the nature (both figuratively and metaphorically) of The Ivy Chelsea Garden: a palatial 275-seater, marble and stone-clad casual British restaurant and garden located on the sweeping ground floor of an old Georgian freehouse on the King’s Road.
This was the third casual incarnation of ‘The Ivy’ in London for Caprice Holdings, however despite having applied their tried and tested formula of attentive service, well-made cocktails and opulent decor, The Ivy Chelsea Garden still stands out from its predecessors in two major ways:
1) It’s better than them. Because,
2) It has – in addition to a bar, a lounge, a cafe and a restaurant – a 3,500 square foot outdoor terrace and paved garden, filled with politely babbling water fountains; sandstone firepits; marble tables; mosaic chairs; and balustrade pergolas covered in creeping wisteria and red rose vine. It is, frankly, one of the most beautiful places to dine in London.
And decorating the tables at The Ivy Chelsea Garden, you’ll find some fairly beautiful dishes, too. The all-day menu here covers upmarket brasserie classics like lobster linguine, and miso blackened cod fillet, paired with local and international wines, beers and cocktails (like the salted caramel espresso martini, peach negroni and white port & tonics).
There’s also a brunch offering that hits the right notes every time: eggs royale served with piping hot, thick-cut chips; stacks of buttermilk pancakes drizzled with fresh strawberry sauce; and, quite rightly, the opportunity to order steak for breakfast. Stoppering the gap between lunch and dinner, meanwhile, is one of the finest afternoon teas in London, served daily between 3-5pm. Depending on your appetite, you can come to The Ivy Chelsea Garden for a cream tea (setting you back less than a tenner), or indulge in a full afternoon’s feasting, with triple-tiered silver platters loaded with classic finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, seasonally changing patisserie and a glass of Champagne. All of which is given an extra boost by the gorgeously verdant garden setting.
So you can rejoice in the knowledge that the warmer months are just around the corner…
Perfect for photosynthesis.
NOTE: The Ivy Chelsea Garden is open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. Half of the 275 seats are reserved for walk ins, but you can also book ahead right HERE.
The Ivy Chelsea Garden | 197 King’s Road, SW3 5ED
Like dining outside? Check out our ultimate guide to dining outdoors in London