THE TATLER GUIDE TO CHELSEA

THE TATLER GUIDE TO CHELSEA

Heading to the Chelsea Flower Show? Then you'll want to know the hottest spots to check out while you're in the Royal Borough. By Luciana Bellini...

1) Where to sleep
The Matthew Williamson


THE MATTHEW WILLIAMSON GARDEN AT BLAKES HOTEL
Looking to stay right in the middle of Sloane heartland but don't want even the tiniest hint of chintz or taffeta? Then Blakes is the place for you. This Anouska Hempel-designed hotel has jewel-box-pretty rooms with dramatic decor (there's a LOT of black and gold) - each room is inspired by a different country, from India to China to Russia. They've even got their own Horticultural Oasis, opening in their courtyard today and running until mid-July. Designed by Matthew Williamson and installation artist Rebecca Louise Law, it's full of tropical prints, hot pink feathers and Hendrick's gin cocktails. Race you there!

2) Where to eat
Cheyne Walk

CHEYNE WALK BRASSERIE
Traipsing through novelty gardens can be hungry work, but under NO circumstances should you eat the flowers - well, unless they're the edible ones on the Cross Keys' floral-infusion menu. There you can stuff yourself silly with jasmine and mango macarons, and chocolate and beetroot cake with hibiscus, then wash it all down with rose-water bellinis. If you're after something less plant-based, then head to the Cheyne Walk Brasserie and order oysters, followed by anything cooked on their open grill - the chateaubriand for two is a firm favourite with locals out on a hot date. Sort of like an upmarket version of that spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp.

3) Where to drink
The Ivy

THE IVY CHELSEA GARDEN
How CLEVER of those people at the Ivy Chelsea Garden to open up just in time to cater for the horticulturally obsessed Flower Show crowd. Book a table in their delightful ivy-trellised garden and drink glass after glass of the palest rosé, served from a jeroboam almost as big as the waitress (well, this is SW3). Or head to the sun-dappled terrace at Manicomio for some Flower Show-inspired cocktails - our favourite is the Amelia's Aviator with gin, Cointreau, lavender and lychee.

4) Where to party
MAGGIE'S CLUB

As you know, Sloanes love a bit of fancy dress, which means every single nightclub in Chelsea is themed. Don some leg warmers and head to Eighties throwback Maggie's to celebrate the recent election results with fellow Tories, drink piña coladas out of fishbowls and be serenaded by Margaret Thatcher herself as you sit on the loo. Or throw on some leather chaps and pay a visit to Beaver Lodge, where you can challenge James Middleton to a beer-pong battle and down shots of bourbon with cowboys and lumberjacks. Yee-ha!

5) What to watch
The Royal Court

THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE
So you're drunk, stuffed and wearing a ridiculous outfit, but have you actually learned anything? Thought not. Time to get a culture fix then by heading to the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square. Go now to catch their totally bonkers version of Roald Dahl's The Twits, complete with a revolving set and a family of monkeys. Or book in for one of their backstage tours to learn all about the history of the building and check out where the scripts are read and rehearsals take place. There's also a rather nice bar downstairs. You know, just in case…