Worldwide icon-chevron-right Europe icon-chevron-right United Kingdom icon-chevron-right England icon-chevron-right London icon-chevron-right The Botanist

The Botanist

Restaurants, Contemporary European Sloane Square
3 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 stars
(23user reviews)

Time Out says

3 out of 5 stars

A brasserie right on Sloane Square with a lively bar scene.

Location, location, location – it can make or break a restaurant; fortunately, for this swanky brasserie, its position on Sloane Square pretty much guarantees a crowd. On my visit, the elegant, light-filled space was packed and diners had spilled out onto the street outside.

A plate of sweet roasted fennel, tender beets and sprigs of dill smothered in creamy, light goat’s cheese wasn’t the most beautifully presented, but the flavours were fantastic. Another winner was golden-crusted skate wing, sautéed to perfection with a crisp exterior and flaky, moist interior. Lemon sauce and garlicky spinach added citrus and mineral notes. I wanted to like the fries with pomegranate yogurt but they seemed like a bland attempt at creating a fashionable veggie option. Desserts were also disappointing – the lime posset felt overly fussy, it just had too much going on. Similarly overwhelming was the service, which was attentive to the point of hovering. Not that the crowds of Sloane Rangers seemed to mind. Stick to the classics, and you’ll get The Botanist at its best.

The Botanist says
From the botanical images thoughtfully dispersed around this refined venue, to the magnificent selection of seasonal cocktails and the well-groomed waiters at your beck and call, every aspect of The Botanist screams character and taste. And that's before you even open the menu.

By: Brooke Jackson

Posted:

Details
Static map showing venue location
Address: 7 Sloane Square
London
SW1W 8EE
Transport: Tube: Sloane Square
Price: Dinner for two with drinks and service: £150.
Do you own this business?

Users say (23)

3 out of 5 stars

Average User Rating

3.2 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:5
  • 4 star:6
  • 3 star:3
  • 2 star:2
  • 1 star:5
LiveReviews|23
2 people listening
tastemaker

A pretty decent place to come for breakfast or a weekday brunch. My friend and I both went for the Omelette. This came stuffed with cheese and herbs, and served with two small slices of toast. I thought it was pretty decent given the generous amount of cheese in the omelette and how moist the omelette was. There could have been more toast to go along with the omelette but I substituted with a side of Bacon. 


As we came on a Monday morning, it was rather empty and we didn't really need a reservation. 

Tastemaker

Cocktails are most certainly the forte here although if you haven't booked ahead and don't intend to enjoy them over dinner then you'll be hard pushed for space at the bar at busy hours. 

This is a decorated setting fit for Sloane Square, the menu is in no way adventurous and so there will be something available for everyone although none of it will be anything to write home about. I was glad I ordered a burger as it was easily the most generously portioned plate, whereas my mum's filled fresh pasta was great but starter-sized.


Not an experience I like to recall.


I naively booked a table for a Friday night and sure as hell didn't expect the mess that followed. The entry should have been a warning sign - unfriendly bouncers do nothing to help you fight your way through the ridiculous crowd to the restaurant entrance.


The restaurant is separated from the immensely crowded bar only by a thin, glass window which does practically nothing to drown out the noise. Having a conversation in the restaurant is practically impossible, unless you're a group of hen-do girls screaming at the top of your lungs (we had the pleasure to sit next to this lovely bunch).


The waiters are ignorant, impolite and ready to ignore you at any given moment - all I wished for was for the dinner to be over, but they kept making even that difficult by ignoring my request for the bill several times.


An expensive bill, dry bread, albeit tasty dishes and exhaustion are the main memories I have of my experience at the Botanist. Apart from a few butterflies on the wall, I'm not seeing much effort for decor either. Maybe they should turn into the Marine Biologist, surely the water theme would be a bit more muffled...




Overpriced and poor quality of food.  The service was appalling - I had to ask for my drink three times.  Albeit the location is nice, and the bustle of the bar, which spills out onto the street, proves that it has a certain reputation as "a place to be seen" but I thought the staff were rude, especially when we did not order more wine with our meal.  I have had better food elsewhere and will not be returning 


With a great location, this restaurant is right on Sloane Sqaure so really handy for shopping on the Kings Road or a pre-theatre meal before visiting the Royal Court. The service was a bit slow for the impression this place is trying to give, but the food was great (I recommend the monkfish and chocolate desert). You need to book at the weekend - the Botanist will be packed with people having brunch which is served until 4pm.


After hearing good things about The Botanist, I was fairly excited to go check it out on the weekend. We had booked a table in the restaurant for brunch, for which we arrived slightly early (I was hungry...). We were seated straight away which was a bonus as it was a Saturday morning and it was fairly busy. I ordered a hot chocolate which came a Rococo chocolate stick, which was yummy. For food we ordered the scrambled eggs with salmon and avocado on toast. They were OK - nothing amazing. If anything they were quite bland and lacked seasoning. The toast also arrived and went cold almost straight away. The service was good and the waiters were attentive. All in all, I probably wouldn't go back again as it was definitely a place where style is considered to be more important than substance.

Tastemaker

Only ever been here for drinks but we went for an early pre-theatre dinner which was really nice.  We chose from the set menu and I can highly recommend the schnitzel, it's huge and every tasty.  The service is a bit slow but as long as you're not shy you'll get served and the manager was particularly accommodating to us.  


 It was the worst experience in a long time.  Customer service absolutely the worst - ignorant, not helpful and poorly informed.  Won't be going back anytime soon. 

Tastemaker

The Botanist on Sloane Square is the kind of place you might actually see half of Made in Chelsea. Most of the time alarmingly attractive men and women, usually suited and booted will be hanging by the bar, in the restaurant and spilling out onto the streets. It's so near the tube it's super easy and the inside is modern and cool. I've been four times (which is a lot for a London venue in a city of so much choice). First time I went for a cup of tea at breakfast with a colleague, second time I went for lunch with another brand I was collaborating with, third time was an impromptu glass of vino with a friend and the final time I met a girl I was looking to work with. In short this is the perfect place for a quick lunch or breakfast or a bottle of vino. It's a great spot for catching up. It's busy enough without being distracting. You'd think it would be crazy overpriced but it's not as bad as you'd be expecting with around £20 for a bottle of wine. So if you're after something rather swanky, relatively quick and a lot of bang for your buck, try the Botanist.

tastemaker

It is my favourite place on Sloane Square to get drinks. Yes, it is crowded and the mix of people can be a bit intimidating from far away, but once you make yourself comfortable, and by that I mean- once you finally magange to ge a drink from the bar, and you look around, it is actually quite charming.

I will always be a reguar customer!

Staff WriterStaff Comp

The Botanist is a great lively, sophisticated Chelsea bar and restaurant, with a broad drinks menu, some lovely wine and delicate bar nibbles.  The salmon and rye bread sharing plate always goes well with a glass of champagne or Rose in the summer. I have eaten in the restaurant once, but I would recommend this establishment more for a drink after shopping or after work rather than going for an evening meal.


After being informed that to dine at The Botanist a booking had to be made in advance I had done so to celebrate my mothers birthday. On arrival the restaurant was empty however I was notified that we were 20 minutes early for our table and would have to wait in the heaving bar area. Around 10 minutes later we were shown to our table. The glass wall shutting off the noisy bar area was perfect to enjoy a lovely meal, one which you pay a small fortune for. Shortly after ordering our food the waitress sat down next to us two young males who I can only describe as what is entirely wrong with our society. They were loud, disrespectful and were the beginning of the end to our evening. The aforementioned males sat playing loud music on their phones, swearing and being vulgar. They blatantly, and very loudly, admitted to the waitress that they had lied about wanting to eat and had only said so to have a table not in the bar. At this point, surely, they should have been asked to leave and have their drinks in the bar area as per the 'rules' that everyone else had been made to follow. Alas, nothing was done, therefore after another 10 minutes of their awful behaviour I quietly complained, yet again nothing was done. Our food was served and their debauchery continued. I was paying the fees of Chelsea yet had the atmosphere of a men's toilet. In the end, after more vulgar comments I had to say something to the 'boys' however their lack of respect shone through as they laughed at me when I asked them to be mindful of other guests. At this point, halfway through our meal, I requested the bill, suddenly the manager appeared and simply asked the gentlemen to move to the bar area however because they then decided to order food, just to keep the table, they were allowed to stay. I paid the full £70 for this grim evening and all I got was a 'I'm so sorry' from the manager. I will never be returning to The Botanist - whose disrespect to us was I feel,worse than the idiots they let in


I brought my mother and sister here for a late lunch last month. After sitting at the table unacknowledged for a long time our waiter didn't even look at us when he asked to take our order. My sister asked how the mussels were done and the waiter replied 'cooked'. He was very short with us and extremely rude. I even asked if there was a reason why he was being short with us and I was informed that he wasn't and I was in the wrong. I was totally embarrassed as my family was visiting from Canada. I asked the hostess for another server and in the end we had a friendly woman who served the rest of the meal. The manager came around but clearly didn't really care and we didn't see the point in saying anything. I will never go there again.


Charming staff! Great food! I tripped over whilst walking outside the botanist and was helped up by the manager on duty whose name was Karen I believe. I took a seat inside to check my ankle out and she returned with a complimentary coffee. It's the little things! I stayed on too have Lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere! Will definetley be returning to The Botanist to enjoy more food and more friendly service from managers and staff.


My husband and I popped in to The Botanist last night for a quick bite to eat. What was going to be a main course and a glass of wine turned into a three course extravaganza with after dinner cocktails (not unusual for us!). My dinner was lovely with scallops to start, steak for main and crème brulee to finish. Not cheap but then again so is nowhere in Chelsea!


I went to the Botanist for the first time this week, and it was a poor, poor experience|! This was a Wednesday evening, and even though we had a reservation, we didn't get seated until 40 minutes later. The service was incredibly slow, in fact our waiter ignored us to the fact that I had to get up twice, once to remind him we we were waiting for bread, and the second time to ask if we could order our mains. I ordered the Wiener Schnitzel, and the meat was so chewy that I left half of it on my plate. Sorry, but the Botanist is completely overrated, and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody!


Popped into the Botanist for a quick after dinner cocktail and was very impressed! I went for the Kings Road Buchaneer as I love rum and it was delicious. My friend decided on the espresso martini and said it was equally as good. Will definitely go back!


Loved dinner at The Botanist on Monday. Super slick service, amazing food. Really fun atmosphere. Can't wait till the next time and will be having cocktails in the bar too!


Love the cocktails at the Botanist. Just amazing. The bar is always buzzing with beautiful women!


I absolutely love visiting The Botanist. The friendly attentive service and buzzing atmosphere make the place so inviting. And the food is delicious, the fish cakes are a personal favourite!


Quite disappointed by my last meal here, since I was going to the Cadogan Hall with my partner and we wanted a nice dinner before we thought we should give it a try. We could have had better service at a kebabs place. Firstly, even they were almost empty they played hard to get in, once seated water was brought to the table promptly, unfortunately we can't say the same for any server, we had to wait well over 20 minutes and it wasn't until my partner called one of the many wandering servers who seemed lost on the floor that we were able to order. Two tables next to us were served way before even though we were there half an hour before them. Food was nothing amazing and we had zero contact from any server to ask for more drinks or even if our food was OK. Given the fact that they weren't even busy and yet we had such a lousy service, I'd never recommend it.

View all reviews

Nearby Restaurants