London Chelsea

Buona Sera, 289a King's Rd. (020 7352 8827) People haven't eaten like this since our ancestors moved out of the trees and onto the ground. The small restaurant manages to fit 14 tables into its tight space by stacking the booths one atop the other. It's sort of like a game of Tetris, except involving delicious and affordable Italian food. Plants on the upper level make the experience feel like it's taking place in the canopy of a tree, but the food will remind you of the pleasures of civilization. Sloane Sq. Exit the Tube and go straight down Sloane Sq. The street slanting gently left is King’s Rd. If you don’t want to walk the road (it’s manageable but long), the following buses service the area: 11, 19, 22, 211, 319. Salads £4.50-5.70, lunch entrees £7.90-8.50. Pasta and risotto £8.60-9.80. Meat and fish entrees £14.50-14.80. Pizza £3.80, plus £1.50 per topping set (tuna and onions, ham and mushrooms, etc.). Open M 6pm-midnight, Tu-F noon-3pm and 6pm-midnight, Sa-Su noon-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.

Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital Rd. (020 7352 4441; www.gordonramsay.com) Owned by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, this haven for those with cash to drop hides behind a simple black and white facade on a quiet stretch of Royal Hospital Rd. On the curb by the restaurant, you may see the sleeping drivers of the Masters of the Universe who dine within. You can join their charges for dinner only if you book exactly three months in advance. With a prix fixe menu (£90) offering three delicious courses of exquisite French food, Gordon Ramsay may be the splurge you're looking for. Sloane Sq. Straight onto Sloane Sq., left onto Lower Sloane St., right onto Royal Hospital Rd. See website for dress code. Jeans, T-shirts, or sportswear not accepted. Reservations for lunch do not need to be made as far in advance. Open M-F noon-2:30pm and 6:30-11pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.

La Bottega, 65 Lower Sloane St. (020 7730 8844; www.labottega65.co.uk) Some London cappuccino connoisseurs insist that there's no better cappuccino than the one at La Bottega. Made with Illy Coffee, their cappuccino transcends the health food kick and is always made with creamy whole milk. In addition to fantastic coffee, La Bottega offers handmade breadsticks and Italian favorites like meat lasagna and eggplant parmesan. Most of the ingredients are imported weekly from Italy, and a shelf opposite the counter houses select vinegars and olive oils straight from the culinary king of countries. Sloane Square. Left onto Lower Sloane St. Entrees from £4.90. Open M-F 8am-8pm, Sa 9am-7pm, Su 10am-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.

Cafes And Specialty Shops

The Chelsea Tea Pot, 402 Kings Rd. Sloane Sq. Newly opened in June 2009, this small, pastel cafe is all sugary sweetness and charm. The windows are piled high with colorful cakes, cookies, and pastries ...more