London · Chelsea, South Kensington & Knightsbridge
Cafés in Chelsea, South Kensington & Knightsbridge
The V&A's 1868 refreshment rooms, The Roasting Party on Pavilion Road, Kat Coffee by Sloane Square and late tables around Brompton Road.
Photo: Chengxin Zhao, Pexels License
The King's Road stayed a private royal route until 1830, kept for Charles II's trips to Kew, and Mary Quant opened her BAZAAR boutique at No. 138a in 1955, ahead of the street's 1960s turn as a symbol of mod culture.1 It has the most cafés in this stretch of southwest London, with Brompton Road close behind and a shorter run on Walton Street.
The area stays up later than most of London. Only Soho & Fitzrovia has more cafés open late. Feya serves until 23:00 every day, and Chelsea Creperie on Hollywood Road starts at 07:30 and goes on until at least 22:00.
Local tip: The V&A's main café is listed as opening at 10:00 and closing at 17:00, so plan a coffee in the Gamble, Poynter and Morris rooms inside those hours.3
At a glance
101Cafés listed
17With opening hours
06:00Earliest opening
23:00Latest closing
- Opens earliest: Cafe Roma, from 06:00 (Mon–Fri 06:00–18:00 · Sat 08:00–17:00 · Sun 09:00–16:00).
- Closes latest: Chelsea Creperie, until 23:00 (Mon–Wed 07:30–22:00 · Thu–Sun 07:30–23:00).
- Most listed streets: Brompton Road (6), Fulham Road (4), Walton Street (4).
- Most common features: indoor seating (11%), outdoor seating (10%), open late (7%).
Cafe Roma
- Open by 6am
Chelsea Creperie
Chucs Cafe
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Open late
Co.
Filo
Hiya Boba
- Bubble tea
- Open late
Kat Coffee
Library Café
- Wheelchair access
- Open late
Rococo Chocolates
- Outdoor seating
- Smoke-free indoors
Sakurado London
The Drawing Rooms
Trevi Italian Tiramisu
360 Lounge
39 Steps Coffee Haus
Anya Cafe
- Outdoor seating
- Card payment
- Partial wheelchair access
- Bakery café
April's Cafe
Badiani Gelato Chelsea
Cafe Deco
Cafe Erol
Cafe Linea
Cafe Muse
Cafe Portico
Café Society
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Brunch
Café Tangerine
Café Vienna
Café Zefi
Chapati & Karak
Chucs Cafe Chelsea
Coffee by Real Eating Co
Cuisine de Bar London
elixis
Falamanki
Farm Girl Café
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
Feya
Finns of Chelsea
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Coffee chains in Chelsea, South Kensington & Knightsbridge
Chain
Starbucks
Show 8 locations
- 123a King's Road
- 155-165 Fulham Rd Unit 4
- 17-35 Gloucester RoadMon–Fri 06:30–19:00 · Sat–Sun 07:15–19:00
- 19 Old Brompton RoadMon–Fri 05:45–22:30 · Sat–Sun 06:30–22:30
- 369 Fulham Road
- 44 48 Brompton Road Unit 4a 44-58
- 65-71 Sloane Avenue
- 83 Gloucester RoadMon–Fri 06:30–21:00 · Sat–Sun 07:30–21:00
Chain
Costa Coffee
Show 4 locations
Chain
Caffè Nero
Show 5 locations
- 119-121 Gloucester RoadMon–Fri 06:30–21:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–21:00
- 124 Brompton RoadMon–Fri 06:30–20:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–20:00
- 174-176 Cavaye PlaceMon–Fri 06:30–19:00 · Sat 07:00–19:00 · Sun 07:30–19:00
- 66 Old Brompton RoadMon–Fri 06:30–18:30 · Sat–Sun 07:00–18:30
- Nero Express, Sloane Square Underground Station, Sloane Square London, London, Greater London, SW1W 8BB
Chain
Joe & The Juice
Chain
Pret A Manger
- Petit PretMon–Fri 06:00–20:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00
- 132 Brompton Road
- 367B Fulham Rd.
Chain
Blank Street Coffee
- 1 Gloucester RoadMon–Thu 06:30–19:00 · Fri–Sat 07:00–19:00 · Sun 06:30–19:00
- 45 Thurloe StreetMon–Fri 06:30–21:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–21:00
- 67 King’s Rd
Chain
Benugo
Chain
Hagen
Chain
Urban Baristas
Chain
Caffè Concerto
Chain
Kiss the Hippo
- 285 Fulham RoadMon–Fri 07:30–17:00 · Sat 08:00–17:30 · Sun 08:30–17:30
- 31 Sloane Square
Chain
L'ETO Caffè
Show 4 locations
- 10 West Halkin Street
- 149 King's Rd
- 243 Brompton RoadMon–Thu 09:00–23:00 · Fri–Sat 08:30–23:00 · Sun 09:00–23:00
- L'eto Hans Crescent, 44 HANS CRESCENT
Chain
Redemption Roasters
Chain
EL&N
- 239 Brompton RoadDaily 08:00–00:00
- 25f Lowndes Street
- 42 Hans Crescent
Chain
Coffee Republic
Chain
illy Caffè
Chain
AMT Coffee
Chain
Colicci
- Hyde Park Corner KioskMon–Sat 09:00–15:30 · Sun 11:30–15:30
Chain
District
Chain
Elan Cafe
Chain
Le Pain Quotidien
Chain
The Black Penny
Chain
Fait Maison
Chain
Guillam Coffee House
- 24 Gloucester RoadMon–Fri 08:00–17:30 · Sat–Sun 08:00–18:30
Chain
Café Kitsuné
Chain
easyCoffee
The V&A's refreshment rooms
The museum calls its refreshment rooms the first museum café in the world. Its founding director, Henry Cole, wanted one to draw people to culture, and in 1856 got a temporary room by Francis Fowke that one newspaper called "hideously ugly"; it came down in 1867.2 Three replacements opened in 1868, though the decoration ran on for years.2 Gas lighting in the galleries, a world first, let visitors stay into the evening.2
James Gamble took over the Centre Refreshment Room after Godfrey Sykes died in 1866, Edward Poynter designed the Grill Room, and William Morris took the Green Dining Room with Philip Webb and Edward Burne-Jones.2 All three now serve as the V&A Cafe, run by Benugo, with hot dishes, salads, sandwiches and cakes, listed as open daily 10:00–17:00.3 The hot food counter has a children's menu and ready-packed lunchboxes.3
The Roasting Party on Pavilion Road
Pavilion Road runs behind Sloane Street, on Chelsea's eastern edge just north of Sloane Square. The Roasting Party, Australians roasting in Winchester, opened its first shop here in August 2017.4 A 2018 review of the shop found the Drake Blend on espresso, the Party Blend reserved for milk drinks, and two or three rotating single origins through Chemex or Aeropress.4
The upstairs was the draw, a sunny loft running the length of the building with a stool bar and tables.4 A 2020 update from the same reviewer recorded only the downstairs takeaway counter reopening after lockdown, with the loft staying shut, so plan on the window bench or the outdoor one.4
Lower Sloane Street and Pont Street
Kat Coffee began in early 2019, when its founders, Beata and Nuri, spotted a site on Lower Sloane Street, a short walk from Sloane Square.5 They have since added a second shop in SW1, and the original opens at 07:30 from Monday to Saturday and 08:30 on Sunday.5
North of there, Pont Street Cabmen's Shelter stands near Sloane Street, one of the 13 green huts still operated by the charity founded in 1875.6 All of them are Grade II listed, and the fund's original purpose was simply to give cab drivers a place to shelter.6
Sources
- King's Road, Wikipedia, accessed November 2026
- A first of its kind: history of the refreshment rooms, Victoria and Albert Museum, accessed November 2026
- V&A Museum, Benugo, accessed November 2026
- Party on Pavilion (April 9, 2018; updated August 19, 2020), Brian's Coffee Spot, accessed November 2026
- KAT Coffee Co., KAT Coffee Co., accessed November 2026
- Cabmen's Shelter Fund, Wikipedia, accessed November 2026
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FAQ
Chelsea, South Kensington & Knightsbridge cafés: questions
Who designed the V&A Cafe rooms in South Kensington, London?
Three rooms opened in 1868. James Gamble finished the Centre Refreshment Room after Godfrey Sykes died, Edward Poynter designed the Grill Room, and William Morris took the Green Dining Room with Philip Webb and Edward Burne-Jones. Benugo runs them today as the museum's main café, listed as open daily 10:00–17:00.
Where does The Roasting Party in Chelsea, London roast its coffee?
The Roasting Party roasts in Winchester and opened its first shop at 253 Pavilion Road in August 2017. A 2018 review found the Drake Blend on espresso, the Party Blend for milk drinks and rotating single origins by Chemex or Aeropress. A 2020 update reported the upstairs loft staying shut.
What time does Kat Coffee open near Sloane Square in Chelsea, London?
Kat Coffee on Lower Sloane Street opens at 07:30 from Monday to Saturday and 08:30 on Sunday, closing at 17:00. Its founders, Beata and Nuri, started the business in early 2019 and have since added a second shop in SW1.
For café owners
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