Following on from the original Bottles site in Spitalfields, comes this second iteration in Chelsea, at the Brompton Cross end of Draycott Avenue. Bottles Chelsea champions the pairing of wine with Italian cuisine, largely focusing on micro-producers, natural and fine wines.
The glass-fronted space is light and airy, with enough room for 50 punters. At the room’s centre, you’ll find a copper-topped bar alongside a glass-enclosed cheese and meat display. There’s also a white-and-blue tiled bar and dining area, while finishing touches are provided by copper fixtures and leather furnishings.
Bottles Chelsea’s extensive wine list features an ever-evolving range of styles and regions, with a particular focus on micro-producers in natural, biodynamic and organic wines. Example of brands and varieties you’ll find on the list include One & Only Vintage Prosecco, Barbaresco Rivella, and Chiavennasca Valtellina Sandro Fay.
The food menu kicks off at lunchtime, when you’ll find light Italian-style lunch dishes to be enjoyed alongside fresh juices. Later in the day, there is an aperitivo menu which is inspired by classic Italian tipples, while the food menu expands to include a wide range of Italian small plates, alongside more substantial offerings of pasta, seafood and meat-based dishes.
Some of the menu’s more unconventional dishes include an espresso-glazed ribeye steak and Viennese brioche topped with Malaysia crème anglais and candied capers. Otherwise, opt for the likes of a Sicilian chorizo hot dog with sauerkraut and mint mayonnaise or try paccheri pasta with langoustine, eryngii mushrooms and smoked butter.
If you’re worried about finding the wine list overwhelming, you’ll be glad to know that in-house sommeliers are on hand to help with recommendations, while if you take a shine to a particular tipple, you can check to see if it’s featured on the timber wine wall, from which everything is available to purchase and take home.