Focaccia Mia Chelsea

Following its popular Bethnal Green location, Focaccia Mia has made its west London debut with a Chelsea bakery. Tucked around the corner from King’s Road, this sandwich shop serves hearty artisan lunches. The chicken parm might be their bestseller but their parmigiana is the luxe choice; rich and comforting, it manages to deliver on deep flavour without being overly filling.

This is in part down to their expertly crafted bread. Focaccia Mia makes 200 loaves a night – both for their own stores and wholesale. They’ve got the light, airy texture down to a tee, and it makes for a satisfyingly soft bite. It’s no surprise, given the shop’s origins. Born in Naples, owner Ida spent decades honing her skills as a caterer across London. Now, she and her sons have created their very own Italian bakehouse using Ida’s own focaccia recipe. 

It’s not just sandwiches: the shop sells potato wedges, pizzette del bars (soft, snack-sized pizzas) and a daily dessert. The raspberry and sea salt brownie was a real treat; intensely flavourful, and perhaps the gooiest I’ve ever had. 

With upbeat tunes and a couple of tables out in the sun, Focaccia Mia is great for a catch-up, lunch break, or a grab-and-go bakery run.