The vibrant, 170-cover Mexican restaurant and tequila bar pairs authentic flavours, ingredient-led cooking and one of London’s most distinctive agave offerings across two atmospheric floors in Chelsea.

Ixchel, the modern Mexican restaurant and tequila bar from ALUX Hospitality, brings the colour, energy and flavours of Mexico to the heart of Chelsea’s King’s Road.

Set across two floors, the restaurant takes its name from Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of the moon and textiles. From its light-filled ground-floor restaurant and striking Moon Bar to the seductive downstairs Nocturna lounge, Ixchel is designed for long lunches, lively dinners, dates, celebrations and late-night drinks.

At the heart of Ixchel is Mexican-born Head Chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez, whose career spans celebrated kitchens in both Mexico City and London. Before joining Ixchel, Gonzalez worked at Michelin-starred Brat in Shoreditch, Ella Canta in Mayfair, Dulce Patria in Mexico City under renowned chef Martha Ortiz, and Madera at Treehouse London.

Inspired by the way people eat in Mexico, Gonzalez has created an evolving menu centred on sharing. Quality produce is paramount, with ingredients sourced locally wherever possible, grass-fed and free-range meats and seed oil-free cooking methods used throughout the kitchen wherever possible. The result is generous, expressive food that celebrates Mexico’s culinary heritage through a contemporary London lens.

The current menu moves from bright seafood plates and tostadas to tacos, quesadillas and substantial dishes from the robata grill. Highlights include yellowfin tuna tostada with salsa macha, pico de gallo, garlic chips and chipotle crema; tiger prawn green aguachile with cucumber and charred avocado; and aged Hereford fillet tataki with chilmole rub, crispy shallots, spring onion and coriander.

Larger plates include grilled stone bass with green pipián, fennel salad, sage butter and Mexican dukkah; short rib with smoky adobo and pineapple salsa; half grilled chicken with adobo enchilado sauce and pickled red onions; and an aged bone-in ribeye with chilmole jus and chiles toreados. Sides such as crispy potatoes with chipotle crema and salsa verde, and queso fundido with chorizo, are made for the table.

Desserts continue the story with Ixchel’s signature tres leches cake, served with cinnamon custard crème, fresh strawberries and corn meringue, alongside burnt cheesecake with orange jam and Mexican dark chocolate sorbet.

Beyond lunch and dinner, Ixchel now offers a £25 set lunch from Tuesday to Friday, with dishes including its renowned short rib quesadilla and rock shrimp tempura. Antes de las Cinco brings £5 tacos and quesadillas, alongside £8 Tommy’s Margaritas, to the King’s Road from 3–5 pm, Tuesday to Friday. At weekends, breakfast is served from 9–11.30 am on Saturday and Sunday, with Mexican takes on morning favourites, while Sunday lunch gives the traditional British ritual a distinctly Ixchel twist.

The drinks programme is led by Mexican Beverage Manager Manuel Lema, previously of Cavita and La Bodega Negra. Flavour sits at the centre of an imaginative cocktail list spanning house signatures, Mexican-inspired twists and after-dinner serves, supported by an extensive collection of tequila, mezcal and other agave spirits. Bottlings range from celebrated names to artisanal producers, while a carefully curated list of New World and European wines complements the bold flavours of the food.

Ixchel’s interiors translate the mythology of its namesake into a contemporary, brutalist setting. Designed by the female-founded team at Behind the Door Designs, the restaurant is rich in texture, craft and bold detail. Brass handles, bespoke tiling, a reeded ceiling and large-scale macramé reference Ixchel’s associations with the moon and weaving, while handwoven artworks, sculpture and lighting celebrate Mexican makers and traditions.

Guests enter beneath a vivid mural by Mexican artist Rafael Uriegas, whose work brings ancient mythology into conversation with contemporary Mexican art. Terracotta and stone tables, glazed planters and abundant foliage lead towards the Moon Bar, where glowing lunar phases and a sculptural serpent create one of the restaurant’s defining visual moments.

Downstairs, the mood shifts. The intimate Nocturna lounge offers a darker, more seductive setting for cocktails, music, private events and mezcal-fuelled nights, while flexible tables and a 20-seat sharing table make Ixchel equally suited to intimate dinners and larger celebrations. A high-spec Bang & Olufsen sound system completes the experience across both floors.

More than a restaurant, Ixchel is an immersive celebration of modern Mexico: a place where food, agave, music, art and design come together on one of London’s most iconic streets.

W: Ixchel London