We cannot bear hawling ourselves out of bed for a lacklustre eggs benedict only to wish we’d stayed in bed with the papers. There are few restaurants that offer the three key marks to make a brunch truly special: exceptional coffee, healthy and unhealthy menu options and plenty of wiggle room to spread out the broadsheets. If they come with a resident dog we’d be over-the-moon but we understand that most of you don’t fancy a side of dog hairs with your croissant. So here’s our rundown to the best London brunch spots worth hauling yourself out from under the duvet. Be prepared to stay all day.
Ben’s Canteen, Clapham
Good old Ben delivers one of the finest brunch menus in London. You’;; be surprised to see some quirky options such as the breakfast chorizo, cheese and scrambled egg burrito or the pulled pork Eggs Benedict (genius). Team these with one of the best Bloody Mary’s in London and you’ll find that hangover has disappeared in a haze of dairy and tomato-laden bliss. We would strongly recommend going straight for the sweetcorn fritters with bacon, avocado and tomato salsa. It literally hits the spot.
BRUNCH IS SERVED 9AM – 5PM
Pear Tree Cafe, Battersea Park
With a mighty fine CV hailing from Petersham Nurseries before helping Skye Gyngell launch Spring at Somerset House, it’s no wonder that the Pear Tree Cafe has drawn the crowds since opening in Autumn 2016. Expect Instagram-worthy dishes from the kitchen. Celebrating their love of seasonal produce the menu is slobber-worthy; buttermilk pancakes with balsamic roasted figs and sweetened ricotta, sourdough toast with goats curd and strawberry jam and smashed avocado with watermelon radish and tahini. It’s a party for the taste buds in the delightful surroundings of Battersea Park. This is cafe style dining at its best.
ALL DAY BRUNCH SERVED 8AM – 3PM
Granger & Co, Notting Hill
Another Ben. Another brunch spot. Being the brainchild of famous Aussie chef, Bill Granger, you can expect a nod to healthy eating with beetroot smoothies and coconut water by the gallon. But it’s their coconut bread and ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter that they’re famed for so don’t go expecting your halo to stay intact. The only problem is that due to the lack of reservations you can expect to find a queue round the block on Sunday mornings. And a lot of buggies. So I’d head there early morning or you can expect a long wait.
BRUNCH IS SERVED 7AM – 12PM (8AM SUNDAY)
Angie’s Little Food Shop, Chiswick
Situated slap-bang in the middle of the yummy mummy mecca that is Chiswick High Road, Angie’s Little Food Shop unsurprisingly attracts a rather glamorous bunch. With a Cordon Bleu chef at the helm , Angie’s café-cum-restaurant – affectionately known as ALFS – has become the weekend destination what with their all-day brunch, with the best Eggs Benedict in London, toasted banana bread with espresso butter or corn fritters with maple bacon it’s no wonder they don’t take reservations: it’d be booked up for months in advance.
BRUNCH IS SERVED ALL DAY FROM 7.30AM (8.30AM SAT / 10AM SUN)
Hally’s, Fulham
Tucked away amidst the twin-sets that reside in this part of Fulham you’d be forgiven for thinking Hally’s would be one step too far. But don’t let the location fool you. The Cornish-inspired decor prompted my Mother to ask if she could move in. With a great menu – the chilli avocado on sourdough offers a genius hangover cure – there’s also chorizo, coriander and red onion omelette for the braver souls. A word of warning? Expect a lot of pink shirts and loafers, but on the bright side, you may see a ‘Made in Chelsea’ cast member. Every silver lining…
BRUNCH IS SERVED ALL DAY AT WEEKENDS
The Breakfast Club, Soho/Angel/Canary Wharf/Hoxton/Spitalfields/London Bridge/Battersea Rise
The name may give it away but for reliably good breakfasts, the Breakfast Club have been delivering the finest Full English and pancakes in edgy locations since 2005. Located around London, you will usually be greeted by a queue around the block. However come armed with patience as these facial haired types have start-ups to work on and they’re usually in and out. Unsurprisingly breakfast is their forte. French toast, eggs every which way or the more unusual fried eggs with chorizo will all banish the hangover. They have one of the most interesting menus of them all so if you can’t find something that floats your boat you’ve officially got too fussy.
BRUNCH IS SERVED 8AM – 5PM
The Grain Store, Kings Cross
It may look (and have the acoustics) of a school dining room, albeit a rather edgy school with exposed brick and sexy lighting, but The Grain Store has trumped all brunch menus with their clever, evocative take on brunch with a vegetarian twist. Exceptional hangover cures come in the shape of angelic of devilish food choices; chia seed, raw apple Bircher muesli for the yogis or Welsh rarebit muffin with baked ham and a fried egg for those needing a carb-load. The restaurant is the size of an aircraft hangar. We assume it’s because those London appetites won’t wait for anyone.
BRUNCH IS SERVED 10AM – 2.45PM (WEEKENDS ONLY)
Dishoom, Shoreditch
Paying homage to the Irani cafés with their wicker fans, stained mirrors and bentwood chairs that have all but disappeared from Bombay life, Dishoom has become the go-to for Londoners for elegant, exotic food, afternoon chai and spiced dinners. We wholeheartedly recommend a visit for their excellent brunch and give those tastebuds what for; their Akuri spicy scrambled eggs, bacon naan rolls and Kejriwal fried eggs on chilli cheese toast are a taste sensation all washed down with a ruby-red grapefruit juice. It’s unbelievably good.
BRUNCH IS SERVED 8.30AM – 11.30AM (9AM – 12PM WEEKENDS)
The Breakfast Tapa Room, Marylebone
Stumbling upon an impromptu breakfast whilst scoping out the boutiques of Marylebone High Street was a bit of an accident. Merging a relaxed Spanish atmosphere with a hugely eclectic tapas-style menu you can settle in to work your way through the menu. Everything is done to perfection. Boiled eggs with vegemite soldiers (why didn’t anyone else think of that?), banana and pecan French toast with a sizzling side of streaky bacon or eggs that have gone Turkish (on whipped yoghurt with hot chilli butter). Your tastebuds won’t know what hit ’em.
BRUNCH IS SERVED 10AM – 2.45PM (WEEKENDS ONLY)
