Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Chelsea (London)

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Chelsea.

My name is Angie and my blog SilverSpoon London is a luxury lifestyle and travel blog covering all my favorite things in London and recommendations from my world travels. I was born on the outskirts of London but I’ve lived in London for ten years, I’m always out and about and the borough of Chelsea contains some of London’s most glamorous places.

What makes Chelsea a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Chelsea is one of the most exclusive and up-scale areas of London; the residence of choice for many affluent people and a hang out for the rich and famous, even royalty. With that being the case there are plenty of fabulous restaurants and bars and the shopping is some of the best in London.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Chelsea?

The super deluxe London hotels are generally to found in Mayfair but Chelsea is home to some gorgeous boutique hotels. The Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel (review here) is one of my favorites. It’s chic and modern with a gorgeous upscale restaurant serving fresh and seasonal cuisine. The hotel is also perfectly situated for shopping in Knightsbridge or Sloane street. Click here for rates and availability.

What about boutique hotels in Chelsea, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

For a hotel with history, check out 11 Cadogan Gardens, (review here) a gorgeous boutique hotel originally built as four Victorian Townhouses. The interior design of the hotel is traditional, with dark wood and Gothic features such as a dramatic sweeping stair case and large gilt mirrors and hanging lights. Located in one of the mews streets leading off Sloane Square, it’s a little hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of Central London. The afternoon tea is very reasonably priced and it’s a great way to refresh after a day of shopping. Click here for rates and availability.

Are there any fun activities that allow you to see another side of Chelsea?

A walking tour is a great way to get to know London. Chelsea is known for being the home of many great authors and if you explore the side streets you can see where Bram Stoker lived, where Mark Twain stayed and the home of Oscar Wilde. For something a little less high brow you can explore the favorite haunts of the cast of Made in Chelsea, a popular reality TV series.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Chelsea?

There are some great places to go for brunch, check out the Bluebird Café with its beautiful outdoor space or Tom’s Kitchen for Modern British comfort food. There are also some great stylish pubs that are always bustling with people, two of my favorites are the Botantist and the Phene. Or you’re craving some green space, check out the Chelsea Physic Garden, London’s oldest botanical garden with a collection of over 5,000 edible, medicinal and historical plants. If you’re interested in art, there’s a wealth of choice including the Serpentine Gallery, Tate Britain and the Saatchi Gallery.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Chelsea and what are their best dishes?

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, a three Michelin starred restaurant and one of London’s most highly rated, is located in Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea. If you’re a sushi lover like me, check out trendy Japanese restaurant, Kurobuta on the King’s Road. For somewhere, laid back super-stylish and a bit of celebrity spotting, The Ivy Chelsea Garden is also one of my favorites – and you simply have to try their chocolate bomb!

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

If you’re coming to London, you have to try afternoon tea at least once, I’d highly recommend the Italian themed afternoon tea at The Baglioni in nearby Kensington. For waffles and both sweet and savoury pancakes, check out My Old Dutch, London’s first ever pancake house founded in 1958.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers in Chelsea?

If you like shopping you’ve definitely come to the right place in London. For luxury designers, take a walk along Sloane Street. The famous King’s Road is perfect for finding more affordable fashion and French Connection, Reiss and Karen Millen are some British favorites. For upscale department stores, Harvey Nichols is great for fashion and Harrods has everything from clothing to homeware and toys to pets! If you’re a foodie take a look at artisan food shop, Partridges, and stop by on Saturday for a farmer’s market featuring local and international producers.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Chelsea?

For a quick blow dry in a cool environment, check out Duck & Dry, and for everything from waxing to manicures, to massages there’s the world renowned Bliss Spa.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

I love Bart’s, a difficult to find speakeasy-style bar with quirky décor and a cool cocktail list. I’d also recommend super glamourous, Beaufort House for a glass of champagne before you hit the town.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Chelsea, which one do you head towards?

Raffles night club is a Chelsea institution with a history of celebrity visitors, including royalty. A more recently opened hotspot is Tonteria, a Mexican themed bar and club where you can enjoy tapas and Tequila cocktails in fun and slightly outrageous environment.

Angie Silver is the blogger behind SilverSpoon London, a leading UK lifestyle, food and luxury travel blog, following Angie’s adventures in her hometown of London and around the world. Angie aims to give the low-down on London’s hottest new restaurants as well as cool and inspiring destinations globally. You can follow her luxury travels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google Plus.