Welcoming Chelsea's All-Day Terrace Spot, Cafe Linea

Cafe Linea is Here

For those familiar with the Chelsea scene, the little corner of the Royal Borough tucked behind Duke of York Square has long seemed destined for more… The bare-brick building beside the Saatchi Gallery overlooks a glossy green square that stretches out towards Edwardian townhouses and across to the King’s Road. At the weekend, as you strolled through the archway and onto the stony path, you would see groups claiming seats wherever they could with bites from the market in hand. During the week, this hidden nook achieved a surprising calm for such a notoriously busy part of west London. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who saw its potential—with husband-and-wife duo Greg and Felicity Godik swooping in to make something special of the spot: Cafe Linea.

Dawn till Dusk

Designed with the concept of all-day European dining in mind, Cafe Linea aims to welcome all sorts of peckish scenarios — from a choux everything bagel and morning cortado, to oysters and spritzes in the midday sun, through to three courses of Mediterranean fare and a nightcap of sipping on a Pear Old Fashioned or sweet wine to send you on your way. Point being… this newfound resto is there for you morning, noon and night. Better still, you can take it al fresco.

On the Terrace

With sage green wicker chairs framed by sleek greenery, the terrace is an area that oozes soft cosmopolitan chic. The restaurant interior follows suit, with abstract art pieces adorning the walls, chartreuse velvet cushions, vintage garden furniture, and the same high ceilings and bare-brick walls retained from the venue’s previous form.

This design vision is the brainchild of Dion & Arles — the same studio behind the interiors of Michelin-starred restaurant Dovetale and Marylebone staple Chiltern Firehouse — both venues prized for honouring and enhancing the buildings’ original features in their designs.

In the Kitchen

Onto what everyone is here for — the food! The chefs behind this versatile, around-the-clock menu each have quite the curriculum vitae, with Head Chef Simon Merrick leading the pack, having worked under the likes of Adam Handling, Richard Corrigan, and Tom Sellers. As for the Chef Partner, we introduce Argentine chef Carolina Ferpozzi, who has worked alongside South American chefs Fernando Trocca and Narda Lepes.

As you move from delicately folded pastries and brunch classics, the lunch and dinner service offer light, elegantly crafted dishes that push local produce into the spotlight. From fresh and verdant salads laced with burrata and peach, to balanced mains centred around key elements like buttery hake or hearty roast chicken. This is all the comfort food of winter, injected with the Mediterranean vibrancy of summertime.

Take a close look at Cafe Linea's menus here from breakfast to a la carte, weekend brunch and what's in the bakery.

Beyond the Restaurant

As well as being a cafe restaurant, Cafe Linea is also a patisserie and… a florist? With dish accompaniments from voluminous meringues to table butter each adorned with edible flowers, it’s no surprise that florals are a blooming part of the catch. Tucked within the entrance, each bouquet is put together using British-grown blooms wherever possible, with sizes offered at three price points so everyone can fill their vases without burning a hole in their pocket. Whoever says they didn’t need peonies with their pastries clearly doesn’t know what they’re missing.

The patisserie section, Minis by Linea, is just as dainty — offering ‘jewellery boxes’ of pick-and-mix patisseries ready to grab and go. Choose from traditional choux creations to meticulously handcrafted treats made on-site with modern flavour combinations. If you’re just after a taste, you can also take away these miniature tarts and cakes individually — perfect for enjoying at home or whenever a sugar hit calls.

Find out more about Cafe Linea and book via linealondon.com