Renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi has chosen Chelsea for the location of his latest deli, one of the largest and most striking yet. 

The new Ottolenghi Chelsea deli and restaurant is set on Pavilion Road with a completely new look styled by interior designer Alex Meitlis, who chose a palette of warm pink and red hues for the space, moving away from the signature all-white spaces previously employed in the popular London delis. 

However, the displays of salads are still opulently presented on a classic Ottolenghi Corian counter for a distinctly Ottolenghi experience, and there is a thoroughly tempting array of cakes and treats on show in the window. 

The deli is open at 8am for pastries, morning coffees and hot breakfast, through to lunch and teatime, closing at 7pm every day apart from Sunday, when hours are 9am – 5pm. You can’t make reservations but you are invited to grab a bite to eat at the large communal table or at the tables dotted around the room. Top tip: get there before 10am to improve your odds of nabbing a table for breakfast.

Among the highlights for breakfast are Bircher muesli with coconut, apple, nuts and honey; shakshuka with braised eggs, labneh and grilled focaccia; scrambled eggs with London cured salmon, grilled focaccia and crème fraîche; and a Dutch baby pancake with mixed berry jam and orange yoghurt.

Lunch is served from 11am (eat in or take away), and includes hot or cold main dishes served with a selection of salads. Sample hot dishes include grilled cod with spiced tomato and coconut spring greens, or grilled lamb chop with Merguez spice, whipped goat’s cheese and pistachio pesto. On sunny days, why not enjoy your lunch on one of Pavilion Road’s al fresco seats? 

The ever-changing selection of dishes will be made with the best ingredients in season, with all fruit and vegetables delivered daily by Ottolenghi’s Pavilion Road neighbours, Natoora. 

Example salads include cauliflower and Romanesco with capers, ricotta and golden raisins; kale tahini-caesar with za’atar chickpea and roasted grapes; or sweet, spiced mushroom and rice pilaf with apricot and herbs. 

The team’s commitment to provenance and seasonality is evident in exclusive, never-served-before dishes at the new Chelsea deli, such as the herb- and peppercorn-crusted sirloin, made with beef supplied by Lake District Farmers, who are renowned for the quality of their British Heritage breed beef. 

Top tip: get there before 10 am to improve your odds of nabbing a table for breakfast

Visually, Ottolenghi Chelsea is a departure from other Ottolenghi delis where the look tends to be more bright and minimal. Here, however, interior designer Alex Meitlis has created a multi-tonal space, emphasised by curving bare plaster walls made from recycled bricks and a bold terrazzo floor created by artist Ivo Bisignano (a long-time collaborator of the Ottolenghi family). 

The curves are echoed by banquettes upholstered in a striking red fabric with eye-catching cylindrical cushions, paired with simple white circular tables and the sinuous lines of rattan MR Chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe.

Outside, the shopfront and signage feature bright pops of yellow, blue and turquoise, colours that long-time Ottolenghi fans will associate with his best-selling cookbooks.

On the shelves, you’ll find Ottolenghi pantry essentials such as pomegranate molasses and Aleppo chilli flakes piled next to those inspiring cookbooks if you’d like to try your hand at recreating the chef’s remarkable fare yourself. 

Monday to Saturday, 8am – 7pm

Sunday, 9am – 5pm

Ottolenghi, 261 Pavilion Road, SW1X 0BP