A warm and friendly gastro-pub on the famous King's Road in Chelsea, The Cadogan Arms offers great food, drink and atmosphere to give you an evening to remember. Some great retro hunting lodge decor gave a welcoming feel to the pub, we'll definitely be coming back that's for sure!
The Look
From the outside The Cadogan Arms looks much like many other London pubs, with it's corner plot offering that now classic image of Londoners standing on street corners, clutching drinks, enjoying a cigarette. When you venture inside though, it's far from your average London pub; a warm and cosy vibe hits you as soon as you push through the doors and you're greeted by a well laid out and spacious bar area with small wooden tables lining the walls which were packed with groups of friends catching up and having a laugh over a few drinks.
The dining area is equally spacious and offers a good level of privacy to your experience; not forcing you to listen to other diners conversations - an underated quality in my book. This area is adorned with deer antlers and hunting plaques which only adds to the hunting vibe The Cadogan Arms has going on. A particularly favourite feature of mine was a huge bison's head which stood over the chimney breast; something to talk about if the conversation is flat.
The Cadogan Arms' wood panelling gives it a traditional feel which is comfortbale and friendly
The Food and Drink
You may be forgiven for thinking that a London pub equals large hearty portions of stodgy pub favourites. The Cadogan Arms takes a slightly different approach however; with food that looks and tastes like something you'd get at a far swankier London restaurant it really does give diners a nice surprise with pub dishes served with a twist.
I had the pumpkin soup to start and my friend had one of the special starters, which was a fish board of eel, scallops and whitebait. The soup was hearty and really tasty, with a dollop of creme fraiche which gave it a creamy consistency and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds also added a nice texture. The fish board looked stunning; beautifully presented and with three tasty elements that really impressed my friend and I, we could quickly see why the waitress had recommended it.
Main course was mussels for me and slow braised lamb with devilled kidney for my friend. The mussels had opened perfectly and were both steamy and meaty, just how any seafood lover likes them; the garlic and white wine sauce was flavourful and rich, the perfect accompaniment. The lamb was again really nicely presented and fell apart with the touch of a fork. The side of greens we ordered was also a nice touch to the meal and was far from boring with a good mix of leeks and asparagus spears. Being beer drinkers we stuck to a pint of Amstel each, just one of 22 different draught and bottled beers, ciders and ales. The wine list is also equally impressive for a pub and seemed to be a hit with diners and drinker alike all evening.
The puddings all looked good, but after a lengthy decision making process we went for chocolate parfait and sorbet respectively. The chocolate parfait was rich, creamy and decadent - but it didn't stop me from practically inhaling it, so so tasty. The mint and cinnamon sorbet was also a great flavour combination and stopped my friend being envious enough to attempt to try my parfait, so a win win.
The food at The Cadogan Arms is pub dishes served with restaurant flair and quality
The Atmosphere
Everyone around us seemed happy and content with their food and drinks and this created a nice buzz through the pub. Around 10pm the bar area started to fill up more and there was a nice mix of suits, friends and pre-club drinkers that gave the feel that The Cadogan Arms' quality attracts a nice mixed clientele. A special mention should go to the waiting staff whose service really does add to the vibe at The Cadogan Arms, they were all friendly and extremely efficient keeping the mood light and conversation flowing throughout the evening. Another welcome touch is that there is no loud music to drown out conversation, with an audible atmosphere which is more than enough in this cosy pub.
Summary
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable evening at a great Chelsea pub; The Cadogan Arms has stunning restaurant quality food, a great drinks selection and a top atmosphere to match. The pool tables upstairs are also worth a mention, perfect for private parties and corporate events they can be hired all week also come as part of a package where you can 'Eat, Drink and Play Pool' for only £10 - a real steal at the heart of the King's Road. We highly recommend The Cadogan Arms for dinner and drinks; maybe we'll see you down there, because we're definitely going back!
