Best Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl London

If you’re a Londoner, you might be quick to call ‘click bait’ on a pub crawl on King’s Road. While there are many pubs in Chelsea, there are hardly any pubs actually on the King’s Road. It’s actually known for being one of the most popular streets for shopping in London.

However, the pubs that are in Chelsea are very impressive. I know this because I put my London born husband (who is a self-proclaimed pub expert) in charge of a King’s Road Pub Crawl. And- he certainly didn’t disappoint!

If you’re new Sunny in London, or need some Tips for Visiting London Pubs, it’s something we write about and include as social media videos often.

Initially this wasn’t too much of a challenge for him because he spent part of his childhood living in Chelsea. He and his family had a few local favourites that he wanted to visit. However, some of them haven’t stood the test of time. And some have morphed through the times in to a different experience.

Nonetheless, Mr Sunny put together a list of pubs that will impress anyone visiting London as well as has local knowledge of the pubs in Chelsea.

King’s Road Pub Crawl

Chelsea Potter is one of the few pubs on King’s Road. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you know that Mr Sunny recommends a pub of the week.

Around the Corner

The Cross Keys

Mr Sunny was eager to suggest The Cross Keys. This pub should not to be confused with the ‘classic old boozer’ pub in Covent Garden on Endell Street with the iconic floral front. The Cross Keys in Chelsea is discreet and tucked away on a residential street. In fact, this is the description of many of our choices in the Best Pubs in Chelsea Pub Crawl.

Location: 1 Lawrence St, London SW3 5NB

What Mr Sunny likes: It’s near King’s Road and the Embankment, so it’s a great escape while the ‘Mrs is shopping’. The pub is passionate about British produce and menus reflect this. They also emphasise a ‘field to fork’ philosophy. It seems to be frequented by mostly locals. That’s always a good sign. Another good sign is the list of celebrities who drank at The Cross Keys.

The Phene

This is a Young’s Pub and is currently being refurbished. Mr Sunny feels it is still a local’s pub but is definitely more of a gastropub.

Location: 9 Phene Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY

What Mr Sunny likes: The beer garden is fabulous and the Sunday lunch looked delicious. On the day we stopped by before it closed for a refurb, it was packed. So make sure when it reopens that you consider this and book ahead of time so you aren’t disappointed.

Cooper’s Arms

When we visited, the pub did a great job of combining contemporary and traditional design. It’s set to reopen in mid-February 2026. We’ll update this article with the new photos when they’re ready.

Location: 87 Flood Street, Chelsea SW3 5TB

What Mr Sunny likes: The food at Young’s pubs is always at the top of our list for people visiting London. So, we look forward to visiting again when this pub reopens.

The Surprise

This was at the top of Mr Sunny’s list because it was his dad and mum’s local when he was a child. He remembers when locals clearly had one side of The Surprise pub and the other side was devoted to the public.

Location: 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea SW3 4AJ

What Mr Sunny likes: He says he is a bit disappointed that over the years it has made such a change to a gastropub. However, since it’s a Young’s Pub, we know the menu and food are top notch too.

The Phoenix

Mr Sunny feels this pub off of the King’s Road is more of a traditional London pub. He thinks they offer good beer, fine ales and lager. Currently, Sunday night is their Pub Quiz night.

Location: 23 Smith Street, Chelsea SW3 4EE

What Mr Sunny likes: While we note the above mentioned strengths, this pub represents nostalgia for Mr Sunny too. He would love to know if anyone remembers the curry house that previously was next to this pub. It was one of his family’s favourites. His parents would enjoy drinks in the pub and the curry house owner would signal them when their take away order was ready.

The Antelope

Of all the pubs in his suggested Chelsea Pub Crawl, this is Mr Sunny’s favourite.

Location: Eaton Terrace, Belgravia SW11W 8EZ

What Mr Sunny likes: We know that it’s a tad bit on the edge of Chelsea, but it’s well worth a visit. As a traditional Fuller’s pub, The Antelope has London Pride. This was always Mr Sunny’s dad’s daily beer choice.

He loved seeing a nice horseshoe shaped bar and enjoyed seeing a bar full of locals watching live sports when we were there.

Pubs in Chelsea: Out of Range

You could also have a drink at The Botanist. While it suits me just fine, Mr Sunny isn’t thrilled about drinking here because it is quite posh. Londoners won’t be surprised to hear that Mr Sunny said it was full of ‘Sloane Rangers.’

Location: 7 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EE

What Mr Sunny likes: ‘This is a great place to use to loo before you leave Chelsea.’ What can I say???

Pubs in Chelsea- Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny has an excellent memory, when it comes to recalling pub locations and what their unique selling points are. As you can see, through time pubs change names, ownership and style.

If you’re visiting London and need help with restaurants and pubs, you’ll want our Insider’s Guide to London Restaurants!

We hope you enjoyed this Best Pubs in Chelsea pub crawl. If you’d like regular recommendations from Mr Sunny, don’t forget email subscribers regularly receive his pub suggestions! You’ll also find a Tips for Visiting London Pubs article on our website for those who want to walk in like a local.

What are your favourite pubs in London? Have they changed through the years? Do you still visit them when you’re in the neighbourhood?