Azzurra, Chelsea – Where the Amalfi Coast Meets London Luxury
By the time you’ve taken your seat at Azzurra on Sloane Street, Chelsea, it’s clear this is more than just another Italian restaurant. The Robert Angell–designed interior unfolds like a love letter to the Amalfi Coast — an airy, light-filled space punctuated by a 16-metre marble bar, sea-blue banquettes, and just enough nautical whimsy to transport you, momentarily, from SW1 to the Ligurian shore. It’s here that the maritime scent of oysters, the briny allure of scallop crudo, and the bright, citrus lift of Amalfi lemons converge in a singular dining experience.
This year, Azzurra’s story has taken on a fresh layer of intrigue: the restaurant has been nominated for Best Restaurant in London at the 7th Annual British Restaurant Awards. For the uninitiated, the BRA is one of the UK’s most respected culinary accolades, unique in that nominations and votes come entirely from the public. Unlike industry-only awards, this is an honour determined by those who matter most — the diners themselves. To be named among London’s best is to have your craft publicly endorsed by the city’s notoriously discerning restaurant-goers.
It’s an achievement that speaks volumes about what Azzurra is doing right. Their boat-to-table ethos sees seafood sourced from British waters and reimagined with Italian precision. The menu moves with tidal rhythms — from raw bar oysters and scallop crudo (served with compressed watermelon and delicate olive oil pearls) to fresh pasta like lorighittas al polpo, and generous seafood platters that feel as celebratory as they do restorative. The risotto gamberi e zucchine is a particular standout — a vibrant green canvas crowned with Sicilian prawns, the flavour both comforting and quietly extravagant.
Even the theatre extends to dessert. The pistachio tiramisu is assembled tableside — a deft final act that speaks to Azzurra’s confidence and commitment to experience as much as flavour.
Winning Best Restaurant in London would be an extraordinary accolade, not simply for the prestige of the BRA name, but because it would signify that Londoners themselves — amid the capital’s fiercely competitive dining scene — have decided Azzurra belongs at the very top. For now, the nomination alone serves as a public declaration that Chelsea has a contender worthy of the city’s highest praise.
If you haven’t yet cast your vote, you might consider that the best way to decide is to book a table, order the crudo, and see whether you, too, feel transported from Sloane Street to the sun-drenched Amalfi coast. Chances are, you’ll leave ready to vote with both your ballot and your appetite.
Register and Vote for Azzurra at the British Restaurant Awards by clicking here or via Telephonos
