Gallery Mess

Visitors from Los Angeles.
VERY MEDIOCRE FOOD.
Food was not as described and portions were meagre. We asked for bread..took 10 minutes and came after we had finished(despite asking 3 times..and the next door table getting it 10 seconds after they asked for it).
Location was nice..but would not recommend...

Visited here on my recent trip to London. If you are looking for a great place to enjoy an afternoon tea, this is one I would recommend. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere was fantastic.

My parents and I stopped in at Gallery Mess for a quick, light bite to eat before heading to the the theatre. It's a lovely place for lunch. Both the interior and the outside terrace are breath-taking spaces. The setting and ambiance are very nice and it would be even more lovely on a warm summer day.

We didn't have a reservation, but were able to get a table. The service was excellent. None of us were terribly hungry. My Mom ordered the Truffle french fries, I had a delicious Rocket and Parmesan salad, my Dad had a bowl of soup and we all shared the British cheese plate that came with seasonal British and Irish cheeses, balsamic Roscoff onion petals, chutney and artisan bread. The cheese plate was delicious, and the amount of food overall was perfect.

They offered a nice selection of wine by the glass and I had a lovely Rose from Provence.

We were disappointed the gallery was not open, but were pleasantly surprised by a wonderful experience and meal at Gallery Mess. I would highly recommend the cafe/restaurant and would go back the next time I am in Chelsea.

Amazing service for a lovely venue with a view on the Saatchi Gallery's gardens. Absolutely loved their Champagne afternoon tea with perfect cakes and yummy sandwiches. They also have a kids' tea option that's as cute as it gets - you can decorate your own cakes! Loved it.

HOW did this place wind up on a best afternoon tea in London list?

We were visiting London from L.A. and wanted to avoid the splashy (touristy) tea at the hotels, but the afternoon tea at the Gallery Mess was disappointing.

I made reservations for 4pm, but we didn't need them as the place was mostly empty. Service was awful. Nobody came to check on us after tea arrived and I had to stand up and wait at the bar to get our check. The food itself was just ok and the scones were cold. Despite the nice setting, it's a pretty basic museum cafe.

Just down the street, The Ivy Chelsea Gardens has MUCH better afternoon tea for about the same price.

We booked a table for 3 people on Sunday for afternoon tea at 4:00 pm. Reservations did not seem to be needed as the inside was pretty empty, although the seats outdoors were filled. What I liked about this place right off the bat is that we did not each have to order a tower. We ordered 1 tower amongst the 3 of us and then ordered a couple of other things.

The tower (£16) came with 1 lemon macaroon, 1 tiny sliver of a chocolate tart, 1 even tinier vanilla/strawberry cupcake, 1 raisin scone, 1 chicken sandwich (curry, raisins, chicken, mayo), 1 smoked salmon sandwich, and 1 cucumber and butter sandwich. None of us are that crazy about tea food, so 1 tower amongst the 3 of us was perfect. We also ordered 1 extra side of scones (3 fruit scones for £7) and 1 Americano.

I will say that everything was great quality. The sandwiches and mini desserts were great for what they were and the ingredients were fresh. The scones were good, not great (a bit dry - and why no plain scone option?), and were served with the traditional sides of clotted cream and strawberry jam, both of which were great quality. The tower is served with your choice of one of about ten teas. We chose jasmine, which was white tea based. It was a nice jasmine tea. Americano was good quality, albeit tiny.

Ambiance is nice and it would be extra nice to sit outside in the courtyard. The inside is very nice, too, though. Clean, modern, upscale. The service is good, but nothing spectacular. We had a nice experience and would recommend it particularly because of the quality, ambiance, and flexibility of the place.

Gallery Mess is definitely not a mess. Lovely, light and airy place. Clean unfussy decor, making the most of the old building structure. An inviting bar runs half its length to make you feel relaxed and at home, with equally friendly and welcoming staff.


Bag a table by one of the huge sunny windows and look out at the statuesque trees silhouted against the green sports ground fronting the Saatchi Gallery.


Wide food selection from a bowl of hot soup to full meals and of course a range of drinks to inebriate or to invigorate depending on your mood.


Just round the corner from Sloane Square tube and right next door to the excellent Gallery, really easy to get to and then to wander off round to feast on the arty offerings.


Of course, this all comes at a price, these are not corner cafe costs. But then neither are they ridiculously top end either and for a special afternoon treat (or to be trendily impressive in a smart but casual environment) - perfect!

Afternoon tea here is portioned petitely, rather than the usual struggle to see whether you can wash one more cupcake or macaron down with your pot of tea. Each of the bites are truly just about 2 bites worth... which means we actually still had room for another portion of scones and OH the scones!! Warm and airy, but with a nice golden edge to the outside. Would just get these next time (tea and scones is £9.50, and comes with 4 petite scones) and purchase an extra pot of tea, rather than the full afternoon tea shebang (£23.00 for two).

The sweets were very tasty, mini morsels with a nice flavor. But the sandwiches were less than forgettable. Bland and, except for the traditional cucumber on brown bread (also flavorless), the others were served open faced on a soggy chewy roll.

This has possibly the most inappropriate title of any restaurant I've been to, since it's definitely not a mess, and it's not really a gallery either.


Walk in, and you're greeted by a friendly manager who guides you to your table. My table happened to be by the glass front so I got a stunning view of the park outside, and didn't realise that the space behind me had some discreetly placed artworks. But then I'm not an art-lover instead.


What I am is a food lover, and the food was certainly tasty enough (although as usual, as a lardo, I'd quibble with the portions). There was a Spanish meat'n'cheese platter which was lovely, and the meatballs with mash were much more luxurious than the title suggests, with a nice bit of bite and texture.


In short, better than average food for Chelsea prices!

The Mess is an unexpected gem, and one that puts the rest of more expensive restaurants in the 'hood to shame.


Whether just passing by for a coffee and croissant, or going for a chicken salad lunch, they hit the spot. I am yet to be disappointed, though no doubt there will be someone who comes along and is.


The mess is a full service establishment and can more than take care of your drinking and dining needs.