All About BookBar in Chelsea, London

Jun 26

I visited the brand new branch of BookBar, located in the Chelsea borough of London.

BookBar first launched in north London in 2021 and is a fabulous bookshop, wine bar, coffee shop and social space. To my delight, they recently opened a second branch in Chelsea, which is much easier for me to reach during a trip into the city.

BookBar Chelsea is decked out in the brand’s signature purple colour, with a shopfront that is eye catching and lined with seating - ideal for drinking wine in the sunshine. The interiors are cosy and welcoming, with plumb coloured shelves, low lighting, and plenty of space to sit down and relax.

The vibe feels more akin to a chilled bar than your typical bookshop, serving a variety of wines, beer and hot drinks. After trudging through the summer rain to reach the shop, I was gasping for a cup of tea and settled down for a natter with my friend Matina.

Bear in mind that while there’s lots of space to relax, laptops are only permitted at the Chelsea branch on weekdays before 6pm, and not at all over the weekend. Writing by hand or reading a book, even one brought from home, is of course allowed at any time.

This is very much a place not just to buy books, but to spend time in and enjoy, catch up with friends and chat about your latest reads. Tables, chairs and sofas are scattered around the space, and there’s plenty of shelves filled with books to peruse too.

I treated myself to a copy of the brand new Taylor Jenkins Reid book, Atmostphere, which was a special signed independent bookshop edition with pretty sprayed edges.

Bookshops like these really make me miss living in London - not just for the shopping opportunities - but for the fun events that give people the chance to mingle with other book lovers.

Similarly to the original shop, BookBar in Chelsea is set to host a variety of events including author talks and book clubs, while the Highbury branch has previously hosted DJ nights, supper clubs, singles events and coffee tastings.

You don’t have to be local to enjoy what BookBar has to offer; their Shelf Medicate subscription service offers a carefully selected book delivery scheme. Curated by literary experts, there’s a choice between a hardback and paperback subscription, available for either six or twelve months.

You can sign up for a BookBar Shelf Medicate subscription here.

If you prefer something more social, then it’s definitely worth signing up to their virtual book club, which, for a monthly fee of £15, includes a paperback book and online author event each month. Other benefits offered to virtual book club members include 10% off their Hardback Book of the Month, virtual author events, an in-person discussion group as well as other promotions and deals throughout the year.

Alternatively, single book club events can be attended for £18 (including the book).

Opening Hours

Monday & Tuesday: 10am - 6pm

Wednesday - Saturday: 10am - 9pm

Sunday: 11am - 6pm

How to Find BookBar in Chelsea

Full address: 11 Chelsea Manor Street, SW3 3TW

The shop is easily accessible by bus, with the closest stop just a two minute walk away. Alternatively, you can catch a tube to either Sloane Square or South Kensington and then either walk or take an Uber to the shop.

Have you stopped by BookBar yet, either in Highbury or Chelsea? Leave a comment and let me know.