Stamford Bridge may be home to the Blues, but the surrounding neighbourhood’s dining options certainly won’t get you down. The thrill of eating in the area, it could be said, is certainly not gone…
We’re trying too hard, here. Let’s get back to roundup-by-numbers writing, post-haste, no waste. Because when you’re hunting for a pre-match pint, celebrating a victory, or simply exploring this pocket of Chelsea and Fulham, you don’t have time to lose. Fortunately, in this most affluent of London boroughs, you’ll find far more than overpriced stadium fare or over-caramelised burger onions.
With all that in mind, here are our favourite places to eat within easy striking distance of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea.
The Harwood Arms
10 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for experiencing London’s only Michelin-starred pub…
Standing proud but somehow also lowkey on a Fulham backstreet, this most celebrated of gastropubs performs an impressive balancing act – maintaining something close to a traditional pub atmosphere and aesthetic, all while serving food worthy of its coveted Michelin star, a distinction no other London pub can claim.
The kitchen showcases British game and foraged ingredients, with menus that shift according to nature’s calendar, just as it should be. Their venison Scotch eggs have achieved legendary status among London’s culinary cognoscenti, and remain an ever present (and even available if you’re dropping in for a quick stout), while seasonal mains such as roast fallow deer with smoked beetroot or Cornish monkfish with brown shrimp highlight the team’s dedication to native, roaming ingredients.
The pub’s interior complements this philosophy perfectly – rustic and relaxed enough to feel like a proper boozer, yet polished enough to signal serious culinary intent. You don’t have to look for too many clues on the latter note, to be honest; there’s a taxidermy deer’s head or two on the wall, and lots of random furry throws, both nodding (would be damn weird if the deer’s head was actually nodding) to wild food on your plate. A thoughtfully assembled wine list seals the deal, featuring particularly good options by the glass in and around the tenner region, and half bottles for those not fully committed to sleeping through the match.
As you’d expect from anywhere with a Michelin accolade, booking well ahead is essential – especially on match days when tables disappear weeks in advance. The Sunday roast deserves your £79 for its three courses, should your fixture fall on the Sabbath.
Oh, you’re baulking at that figure for a Sunday lunch? Thought Chelsea fans were loaded…
Website: harwoodarms.com
Address: Walham Grove, London SW6 1QJ
Read: 11 of London’s best gastropubs
Santa Maria
10 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for faithful Neapolitan pizza that doesn’t mess about…
This family-run pizza institution has built a mini empire across west London, with its Fulham Broadway branch conveniently located within dough-tossing distance of the stadium.
Every element of the pizzamaking process at Santa Maria screams tradition – from the Napoli-imported wood-fired oven and caputo flour to the hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes. The pizza dough undergoes a patient 24-hour rise before being stretched, topped and blasted at volcanic temperatures, yielding that quintessential Neapolitan marriage of puffy, charred crust and tender middle bit.
The menu embraces beautiful simplicity. The Santa Bufalina (tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil) proves that restraint often creates the most sublime results where pizza is concerned, while the San Gennaro (tomato sauce, mozzarella, friarielli and sausage) delivers something a little bolder that the light-as-you-like dough admittedly can’t quite contain.
Don’t overlook their ‘crust dippers’ (perhaps we’ll retract that bit about ‘screams tradition’) – pots of hummus, garlic mayo, ‘nduja cream or mushroom and truffle cream that transform the discarded (if you’re a child) pizza crusts into something worth fighting over. The no-booking policy means potential queues on busier days, though swift turnover ensures the wait rarely exceeds your patience.
Website: santamariapizzeria.com
Address: 94 Waterford Rd, London SW6 2HA
Read: The best pizzas in London for 2025
The Fox & Pheasant
10 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for a quintessential British boozer with a confident kitchen bringing up the rear…
This charming backstreet boozer near Stamford Bridge might resemble any picturesque Chelsea watering hole (with the salmon chinos and ruddy faces all present and correct), but it has something of an ace up its sleeve; it’s owned by musician and wannabe-comedian James Blunt.
Dating back to 1846, the venue’s refurbishment and reopening in 2018 preserved some of its original features, including three roaring fireplaces that offer perfect sanctuary during winter fixtures (you might even have spotted Diego Costa here, warming his hands by the fire and muttering about the weather). He’d have been more satisfied in summer, when the conservatory’s retractable roof transforms the space into a sun-drenched little spot – perfect for those leisurely Sunday lunches before a 4pm kickoff.
To some it feels like gastropubs in London are proliferating at an alarming rate, and the Fox and Pheasant won’t necessarily assuage those fears. It’s the usual vibe here; well executed classics with perfunctory efforts at refinement, and a place in the lower reaches of the Top 50 Gastropubs list (at 98). So, expect dishes like honey and mustard glazed chipolatas, smoked ham hock pie with mash, chicken kiev with celeriac fondant, and a big old “say when” chocolate (‘choccy’ on the menu, but we simply can’t bring ourselves to say that) mousse which is spooned from a massive vessel tableside and onto your plate until you decide you’re taking the piss and tell them to stop.
Despite its prestigious Chelsea address, prices remain surprisingly reasonable, while warm hospitality ensures both locals and visiting supporters (in their civvies and inconspicuous) feel equally welcome. The dartboard and dog-friendly policy keep things in the ‘pub’ rather than ‘gastro’ territory. Let’s be honest; pre- or post-match, when the pints are already flowing, this is sometimes all you really want. That, and a packet.
Website: thefoxandpheasant.com
Address: 1 Billing Road, London SW10 9UJ
Medlar
15 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for serious food in an unpretentious setting…
Positioned at the ‘unfashionable’ end of King’s Road (their words, not ours), this independent restaurant has delivered consistently sophisticated cooking since 2011, and shows no signs of abating as the empire grows (the team’s recent opening over in Belgravia, Cornus, has already earned a Michelin star).
The collaboration between chef Joe Mercer Nairne and front-of-house virtuoso David O’Connor has created an establishment where culinary excellence and intuitive service exist in perfect harmony. The dining room – all white tablecloths, clinking glasses and quiet conviviality – is understated elegance personified, while the warm lighting and expansive windows help keep things bright and breezy during the day. All that natural light flooding the place helps the focus fall on the food, an increasingly ubiquitous but no-less-enjoyable-for-it meeting of British seasonality and French technique.
Their signature crab raviolo with brown shrimps and leek fondue prompted a fair few murmurings of discontent when they once attempted to retire it. It’s back on the menu now. Follow it up with an order of offal, which the kitchen is confidently conversant in. Their chargrilled calf’s liver with sherry vinegar caramel is exceptional, as is the magnificent roast grouse available during game season.
The Medlar cheeseboard frequently receives accolades as one of London’s most distinguished, not a surprise when you learn that O’Conner used to head up the Chez Bruce FOH team, a restaurant whose own cheese trolley is revered across the country.
Pre-match diners will be pleased to hear that three courses are priced at £50 on Saturdays, which is a snip for the quality. Advance booking remains essential regardless of timing.
Website: medlarrestaurant.co.uk
Address: 438 King’s Road, London SW10 0LJ
1910 Cantina
20 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for uplifting Mexican vibes and killer margaritas…
This spirited Parsons Green establishment brings Mexico’s uplifting culinary culture to SW6, offering a welcome contrast to typical matchday fare (and, thus far, the other entries on this list of the best restaurants near Stamford Bridge).
Named after the year of the Mexican Revolution, 1910 Cantina serves dishes inspired by chef-owner Mauricio’s family recipes. The menu showcases street food classics executed with precision rather than unnecessary refinement – carne asada tacos arrive topped with fresh guacamole, tangy pickled red onions and punchy salsa roja, while extraordinary quesadillas stuffed with beef birria and Tijuana spices provide perfect pre-match sustenance. For those tempting a food coma during the game, the cochinita pibil (slow-cooked pulled pork with habanero salsa) demonstrates the kitchen’s comfortable handling of traditional techniques.
Football fans who have long since learned that pints cause their bladder to come a calling 10 minutes into the first half will be pleased to learn that the bar houses one of London’s most comprehensive agave collections – over 160 varieties of mezcal and tequila. Their margaritas span the spectrum from classic lime to adventure-seeking chilli-infused creations. For an agreeable pick-me-up, the Ta’ Cabron dessert cocktail with coffee bourbon delivers sweet satisfaction with an energising caffeine kick.
For those keen to get a good feed in and walk it off before a 3pm kickoff, 1910 has just started a new brunch menu, available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am. Highlights include the Cochinita Croissant (a butter-toasted croissant filled with slow-roasted pulled pork), the satisfying and bloody filling Mexican Hash topped with fried eggs, and traditional Chilaquiles Suizos. Their brunch cocktails do the trick, too, with the Bloody Maria (their tequila-based twist on a Bloody Mary) dusting off any lingering hangovers from the night before.
Website:1910cantina.com
Address: 277 New Kings Rd, London SW6 4RD
Read: The best Mexican restaurants in London
The Butcher’s Hook
1 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for pre-match pub grub with historic Chelsea connections…
Directly opposite Stamford Bridge’s East Stand, The Butcher’s Hook offers more than mere proximity — it’s steeped in Chelsea FC lore. Within these walls in 1905, the club was founded, making this establishment sacred territory for devoted Blues supporters. Indeed, if you’re looking to buy tickets to a Chelsea game on matchday, the friendly staff can often point you in the right direction for last-minute options.
The vibe here is laid back rather than raucous, for better or for worse. The Chelsea connection is unmistakable though, with the club’s blue lion crest proudly displayed on the pub’s exterior.
Keep an eye on the blackboard, which features changing match day specials designed for efficient service, including scotch eggs, sausage rolls and honey-glazed mini chipolatas (hmm, we’ve been here before haven’t we?). Those with time to spare before kickoff and lucky enough to secure a table – or, at least, a leaning post – will find larger mains perfect for lining the stomachs of the Chelsea faithful. You know the drill; burgers, fish and chips, pies… Don’t expect fireworks, this is a Greene King after all, but it’s decent, efficient and reliable.
The awnings and outdoor seating area provide a particularly appealing spot for a pre-match pint. Away fans are nominally welcome, though opposition colors might attract broadly good-natured banter that occasionally strays beyond friendly territory.
Website: greeneking.co.uk
Address: 477 Fulham Road, London SW6 1HL
Josephine
5 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for Lyonnaise cuisine in a stylish bouchon…
Among celebrated chef Claude Bosi’s more accessible ventures (and one of our favourite places to eat near Kings Road, incidentally), Josephine transports diners to a charming Lyon backstreet, faithfully embodying the ‘bouchon’ – traditional Lyonnaise establishments serving robust, ingredient-focused cuisine.
The interiors marry French rustic charm with Chelsea sophistication – burgundy leather banquettes, flickering taper candles and pristine white tablecloths do the transportive thing with panache rather than pastiche. The vibe is pleasingly animated; you’ll find no reverential breathiness over a fine rabbit in mustard sauce, just full-on gushing (toasting, even, on our recent visit here) over dishes rendered in various russet hues – the hallmark of proper French bistro cooking, we think.
Whatever you do, do end with the rum baba, which comes soaked liberally enough to provide genuine tipsiness – perhaps necessary fortification before watching Robert Sanchez flailing about over a backpass once again.
House wines follow the traditional ‘by the metre’ approach – guests pay only for what they consume, a refreshingly honest practice in this postcode. Their weekday lunch and early evening set menu (two/three courses for £24.50/£29.50) is great value, and actually still in-play for Chelsea’s undignified UEFA Conference League run.
Please do note that a second Josephine has just opened in Marylebone – don’t make the mistake of booking in there if you’re tight on time before the game!
Website: josephinerestaurants.com
Address: 315A Fulham Rd., London SW10 9QH
The River Café
20 minute walk from Stamford Bridge
Ideal for special occasion Italian that just happens to be near the stadium…
Should your Stamford Bridge visit coincide with a celebration worthy of extravagance – or if someone else is footing the bill – this Thames-side institution could genuinely be called ‘iconic’, in an era when the term is thrown at everything from sarnies to doughnuts.
We’re not even sure the place needs introducing, but we’ll do so anyway. Founded by Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray in 1987, The River Café has maintained its position among London’s gastronomic elite for over three decades, earning a Michelin star while serving as an incubator for Britain’s most influential chefs. The bright, spacious dining room overlooking the Thames feels worlds apart from matchday commotion, the blue and white colour scheme strangely appropriate for fans of The Pensioners.
The menu champions authentic Italian cuisine through impeccably sourced seasonal ingredients. Daily-changing offerings might include handmade pappardelle with silky veal ragu, perfectly judged Anjou pigeon with pancetta, or their legendary chocolate nemesis – a flourless confection that hits you hard and lands you low.
The all-Italian wine selection starts at around £60 a bottle and goes north fast. In fact, prices across the board are famously eye-watering, but for a pre-match indulgence that might overshadow the football itself, few places anywhere in London can compete.
And if you are looking to make your money go a little further, then the slightly more affordable River Cafe Cafe opened next door in the summer of 2024.
Website: rivercafe.co.uk
Address: Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
Or, why not use the money to instead fly to Rome and eat your way around the city? You know it (kinda) makes sense…
