The Best Brunch Spots in London
No longer trailing behind avocado-loving Melbourne or Bloody Mary-obsessed New York, London’s brunch scene has been thriving for years now, thanks to some of the best restaurants in London starting to open their doors earlier, giving patrons many more tables to book.
Seemingly every corner of London has brunch favorites from all corners of the world: try an American feast at Sunday in Brooklyn in Notting Hill, order Tel Aviv-influenced small plates at Stoke Newington’s The Good Egg, or the must-order egg naan at branches of Dishoom across the capital. All of this, plus anyone extra thirsty can try one of the city’s best bottomless brunches, whereas purists can still get a proper old-school fry-up (we recommend St John’s Bread and Wine for the best bacon sandwich in town).
The best brunch in London at a glance
- Best for central London: Fallow and Mount St Restaurant
- Best for east London: Ottolenghi and BiBo
- Best for south London: Where The Pancakes Are and Peggy Jean
- Best for west London: Egg Slut and Farm Girl
- Best for north London: Double Standard and Coal Office
Where does brunch in London come with a view?
Some of London's restaurants have sweeping, widescreen cityscapes that can be spotted from the tables—and plenty of these spots do brunch, so you can watch the city waking up and stretching its legs. Ten floors up at The Standard in King's Cross is Decimo, where you can order jugs of margaritas and oozy Spanish tortilla. In the city, meanwhile, Duck and Waffle sits pretty 40 floors up the Heron Tower and is open all night.
How we choose the best brunches in London
Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing restaurants, our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for stand-out dishes, a great location, and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials.
Ahead are the tables to book for the best breakfast in London—plus our hot tip on the dish to order at each—for your next weekend in the capital.
Courtesy Fallow, St James'sFallow, St James's
Best brunch for: huge breakfast buns
Dish to order: Royale with cheese
You’ve probably seen the famous Fallow breakfast burger pop up on your Instagram feed with its layers of gooey cheese, runny egg, and juicy burger stacked between a flaky sweet croissant bun. If not, now is your time to get to know this creation from the Saturday brunch menu. Think luxe Mcdonald’s McMuffin after a massive glow-up, three times the height and made with premium ingredients. The royale comes in three variations: the infamous sausage burger option; a salmon belly royale with spinach, hollandaise, and egg; or a veggie option of portobello mushroom, mushroom parfait, cheese, and egg. If you aren’t into the royale, we will question your choices; however, there are two other brunch options. The Fallow granola—a mix of natural yogurt London honey and sweet strawberries—or the scrambled fluffy eggs on sourdough, drizzled with sriracha. Make sure to order a side of the crispy-coated Haymarket hashbrowns with a side of walnut ketchup for dipping. Drinks here are also pretty special: we loved the spicy bloody mary made with fresh tomato and beetroot juice. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the tequila iced coffee. —Sophie Knight
John Carey/Courtesy Mount St RestaurantMount St Restaurant
Best for: brunch with a side of art
Dish to order: roast heritage tomatoes on toast
Mayfair isn’t short of brunch spots. Talk a walk through this part of town at 11 a.m. on a sunny Saturday, and you’ll be tripping over linen-topped tables adorned with Bloody Marys and perfectly poached eggs as diners snap away for their Instagram feeds. Perhaps one of the most refreshing things about brunch at Mount St Restaurant—which opened in October 2022—is the absence of the more obvious breakfast choices. Eggs Royale has been replaced with smoked trout benedict, while avo on toast has been elbowed in favor of devilled kidneys on toast—all part of a menu devised by chef Jamie Shears that elevates traditional British classics.
The standout dish, though, is the roast heritage tomatoes on toast, which comes with dollops of creamy goat’s cheese curd that perfectly complements the tangy tomatoes. It’s simple and satisfying and has quickly become one of my most recommended breakfast orders.
The art collection is another not-so-minor detail that makes this spot so unique. All $63 million of it. Mount St is the first London-based project from hospitality group Artfarm—the same founders behind the renowned Hauser & Wirth galleries—so art is in the restaurant’s DNA. We sip breakfast martinis feet from a Freud and a Matisse. Even the palladiano mosaic floor by Rashid Johnson, salt and pepper shakers by Paul McCarthy, and red wiggly chairs are works of art. For a place that doesn't take itself too seriously, the menu packs a punch. And while the dishes aren’t cheap, it’s not often you can tick off brunch and an exhibition in one sitting. —Sarah Allard
Courtesy Lina Stores, MaryleboneLina Stores, Marylebone
Best for: sharing with friends
Dish to order: pork belly and fried egg sandwich
Iconic to the streets of London, Lina Stores has been at the forefront of providing authentic Italian produce to the communities of Soho since its namesake, “Ol’ Lina,” opened the first Brewer Street delicatessen in 1944. Despite shifting hands over the years, the mission to deliver a small slice of Italy to London has remained the same. Only a short walk from Bond Street tube station, the Marylebone location can be spotted on the corner of Marylebone Lane, recognizable by its mint green and white striped awning. We arrive pre-work and start as one should—with coffee. Freshly squeezed orange juice follows alongside a pear Danish and a selection of tropical fruit in a spice-infused syrup. With eyes bigger than our stomachs, we ordered the pork belly and fried egg sandwich to share. Perhaps the largest sandwich I have ever seen, it consists of thin shavings of pork belly with fennel seed and a large runny egg, bundled up in a toasted focaccia roll with sweet tomato ketchup on the side. My only regret after leaving this heaven-on-earth place was my lack of stamina to finish the whole thing myself. —Megan Wilkes
Anton Rodriguez/Courtesy Double Standard, King's CrossDouble Standard, King's Cross
Best for: build your own Bloody Mary’s
Dish to order: buttermilk chicken waffle
The Standard Hotel’s uber-modern exterior, with an inside-out lift to its muted retro interiors, is filled with cool guests donning baggy vintage Levi’s, leather jackets, and branded tote bags. Sunday brunch is served on the ground floor in the Double Standard restaurant and on the outdoor terrace. The 1970s-inspired space is covered in mosaic tiles, polished wooden tables, and a bar with leather stools spanning the whole back wall. There’s also a vintage photo booth to capture the mems.
It’s all about the Bloody Mary here. DIY your perfect concoction by choosing a desired spirit of gin, mezcal, or classic vodka. Toppings including gherkins, stilton, bacon crumbs, and prawns—yes, an actual prawn in a cocktail. Served in a pint glass, we’d be surprised if you could knock back more than two of these. Of course, bottomless mimosas and prosecco are also an option.
Brunch includes the classics from avo on toast to eggs benedict. Still, we are here for the indulgent American-inspired dishes, including the buttermilk chicken waffle, baby back pork ribs, and our favorite, the short rib mac’ n’ cheese. Dessert is a given: warm waffles topped with caramelized banana and salted caramel ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce. —Sophie Knight
Raffaella Bichiri/Courtesy Saltie Girl, MayfairSaltie Girl, Mayfair
Best brunch for: a seafood start to a Sunday
Dish to order: buttermilk waffles with fried lobster
This isn’t just any regular brunch spot in Mayfair. Yes, you’ll find avocado toast and eggs served multiple ways on the menu. But at Saltie Girl, these classics get reimagined with a seafood twist (all sustainably sourced, of course). Gone are the days of chicken and waffles, replaced with crispy yet fork-tender lobster. The eggs benedict and scrambled eggs are topped with caviar—and even their version of a Bloody Mary has it too. Oysters are starters, while spicy crab served on buttery brioche is considered a small plate. For something sweet, there’s a triple berry yogurt parfait with granola, but we hear the passionfruit cocktail with puree and grapefruit bitters hits the sweet spot.
Saltie Girl’s address is also part of its appeal—with its blue exterior jutting out against the Georgian-style facades of North Audley Street, it brings a new lively energy to the otherwise classically timeless neighborhood. We recommend nabbing a table by the window to truly marvel at the aquamarine-hued space, replete with sea-inspired art, a canned tuna-lined bar, and mermaid-embossed cutlery. Book well in advance, as brunch is only served on Sundays. —Zahra Surya Darma
Daisy Green/Courtesy Peggy Jean, RichmondPeggy Jean, Richmond
Best brunch for: Riverside munching
Dish to order: Mars Bar Cheesecake
There’s no denying Londoners are suckers for a unique new opening. Whether it has a sprawling rooftop terrace or walls lined with twinkling lights and thousands of bottles, we’re there—phone in hand, ready to capture it. One of the latest such openings comes courtesy of Daisy Green group, upon a renovated barge gently bobbing in the Thames for all of Richmond’s residents to see.
Aussie classics are on the menu for early risers at Peggy Jean, such as smashed avocado on charcoal toast, sweetcorn fritters, and full Bondi breakfasts with bacon, eggs, sausage, and mushrooms. Enjoy these dishes atop the barge over coffee, or plan to arrive for the lunch menu. Gargantuan pizzas are generously dotted with toppings and can quite easily be shared during late brunch sittings under the sun. We paired our pizza with a handful of side plates—while the squid wasn’t to our taste, the halloumi fries were some of the best we’d ever tried, accompanied by tangy lemon and mint yogurt. Frosé is in, judging by the popularity of the icy drink during our visit, and we slurped on glasses of the fruity tipple garnished with vibrant dried raspberries. Full from our spread of sides and pizzas, we opted to share the Mars Bar cheesecake after encouragement from the table next to ours. We were thankful we did—the spherical creation filled with cheesecake filling, molten caramel, and chunks of Mars Bar rocketed to the top of the tastiest desserts we’ve ever had after just a mouthful.
One warning: keep an eye on the tides. Richmond’s riverside is no stranger to being submerged as the Thames breaks its banks. And while the lure of such tasty fare means it’s no real deterrent, you’ll want to be well prepared for wading through the water when disembarking, hand rubbing your belly post-feast. —Connor Sturges
Nick IngramThe Wolseley, Green Park
Best for: Grand café culture
The dish to order: Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs
Technically this is breakfast, served until 11:30 a.m., but the Mayfair restaurant is too good not to list. It is smart and grand in black, gold, and cream. There's a no-photo rule at The Wolseley (you're bound to spot a famous face or two) and suited service includes pressed papers and silver teapots. The Scottish smoked salmon is top-notch and the eggs are bright and buttery. Frankly, you could have half a grapefruit and still feel that The Wolseley was London's ultimate brunch spot. Book well in advance because it's always packed.
Courtesy The Barbary Next Door, Covent GardenThe Barbary Next Door, Covent Garden
Best brunch for: pretending you’re on a sunny European holiday
Dish to order: Bus station eggs
Since opening in October 2021, The Barbary Next Door has easily become one of Covent Garden’s most popular spots, thanks to its knack for blending the smoky flavors of Moorish Spain with North African cooking. Breakfast is the latest addition to the restaurant's roster and head chef Daniel Alt is serving up a cheery array of dishes. Bus station eggs—inspired by the roadside meal eaten throughout North Africa and the Middle East—arrive on top of al dente butter beans with a warming hint of cumin. The crumbly, salty, four-cheese boureka pastries with zingy pickles and zhoug is how more days should start. Head there on a sunny day and set yourself up on the outdoor terrace to be instantly transported to a European pavement cafe far beyond Neal’s Yard. If you really want a treat, order an extra coffee and the ras-el-hanout pumpkin bread served with pumpkin and sunflower seed clotted cream. You won’t regret it. —Sarah Allard
Keiko OikawaOttolenghi, Spitalfields
Best brunch for: Ladies who brunch
The dish to order: Shakshuka
Ottolenghi is a seriously smart brunch spot from Yotam Ottolenghi himself, the chef who introduced Middle Eastern flavors to London. Nestled on Artillery Lane, there are plush velvet curtains and decadent bouquets, and the porridge comes with roasted plums and berry compote. You can't beat the shakshuka which comes in a mini skillet loaded with bubbling baked tomatoes and smoky labneh. Dunk toasted focaccia into the perfectly runny bright-orange yolks. Rumor has it the scrambled tofu with grated tomato and confit garlic is not one to miss either.
Courtesy Dishoom, Covent GardenDishoom, Covent Garden
Best brunch for: A spicy start to the day
The dish to order: Bacon naan roll
Dishoom changed the face of Indian restaurants in London when it opened its first Bombay-café-style restaurant in Covent Garden in 2010. The pillowy bacon naan roll filled with sticky-sweet Ginger Pig bacon, cream cheese, and chili jam has something of a cult following. There's also a Ludlow sausage naan and the option to add an egg. For the full Indian-English experience wash it down with a breakfast lassi made with banana, mango, and oats.
David LoftusWhere The Pancakes Are, London Bridge
Best brunch for: Pancakes
The dish to order: American pancakes
The festival favorite has opened its first permanent restaurant in Borough Market as part of Flat Iron Square's new foodie hub. The standard batter at Where the Pancakes Are is made with buttermilk which makes for perfect fluffy pancakes, but there are also vegan, dairy-, and wheat-free options on the menu. The American stack with Canadian maple syrup (healthier than honey, they say), streaky bacon, and blueberries is the go-to. For something a little different, the 20-minute oven-baked Dutch Baby is also excellent, made with goat's cheese, rosemary, and thyme.
Laurent at Cafe Royal
Best brunch for: a New York-inspired Sunday
Dish to order: Peanut butter and jam doughnuts
Brunch has been ubiquitous in New York for decades, and has been a London institution for nearly as long. Hotel Café Royal is bringing Manhattan’s classic style to Sunday mornings at first-floor restaurant Laurent, where a handsome jazz trio freestyles a tinkling, cheery soundtrack during the bustling brunch service. Start with the pastry basket, stacked with flaky peach and blackberry brioche, cinnamon-pecan buns, fluffy jalapeño cornbread, and sticky peanut butter and jam doughnuts. Bottomless brunch will set you back $57 for 90 minutes of umami-rich Bloody Marys or sweet mimosas and comes with a choice of main—a fairly good deal for such a fancy spot. Go classic with avocado, smoked salmon, and poached eggs on toast or thickly stacked pancakes with rum and banana. New York staples include bitter-almond French toast, a crispy buttermilk-fried-chicken sandwich, and truffle popovers. Or go rogue and order the Italian-NYC mash-up of silky scrambled eggs cacio e pepe. Try to bag a seat near the windows, which overlook the chaos of Regent Street at the perfect people-watching level, and stay to listen to the music and drink coffee. —Sarah James
Courtesy Decimo, Kings CrossDecimo, Kings Cross
Best brunch for: Spanish-Mexican dishes with views of King's Cross
Dish to order: Spanish Tortilla
Ten floors up in The Standard hotel, a live music brunch kicks off every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The menu at Decimo, by Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, highlights Spanish dishes with a Mexican twist and a cocktail menu full of margaritas (splash out on a jug if you’re feeling brave). It also serves up a house twist on the Bloody Mary—the Bloody Maria, made with tequila and tomato water. The menu is divided into snacks, tacos, eggs, meat and fish, and vegetables, all served as small plates for the table to share. Our favorites were the marinated red peppers, served on a cool marble stone with smoked bread dripping in olive oil, and the tacos—there’s a choice of three (cauliflower, Baja, and chistorra with black bean). We recommend ordering one each, since you won’t want to share. But the Spanish tortilla was the real highlight—cut through the soft potato and egg exterior and watch the egg ooze out from within. Eat with a selection of charred skewers and a generous helping of fried potatoes and potent aioli. —Sophie Knight
Sim Canetty-ClarkeBalthazar, Covent Garden
Best brunch for: Hungry brunchers in a New York state of mind
The dish to order: Almond waffles
A great spot for brunch and an afternoon in London, Balthazar London mimics the New York original perfectly with its red-leather booths, giant antique mirrored walls, and mosaic floors—a Manhattan interpretation of a traditional French brasserie. Luckily the brunch menu is available until 4 p.m. because the steak and egg served with pommes frites is a punchy start to any day. As an alternative, the Full English is a feast complete with fries and fried bread. For something sweet, the almond waffles with warm berries, crème fraîche, and maple syrup come highly recommended.
Sam Harris/Courtesy The Buttery, BelgraviaThe Buttery, Belgravia
Best brunch for: country-style dishes in London’s swishest postcode
Dish to order: nutella french toast
A couple of converted Georgian townhouses in the middle of Belgravia might not be the obvious place to go when you’re craving a country hit. But Lime Tree Hotel’s pandemic-inspired tip-to-toe makeover made it our favorite spot for pretending you’re on a bracing weekend away in a bucolic British corner. During the 2020 renovation, owners Matt and Charlotte gave the rooms a costume change and added a café at street level. It’s at The Buttery where brunch lovers in the neighborhood, guests at the hotel, and weekenders converge. Crowds head here for plates of Cumberland herbed sausages, smoked salmon, and poached St. Ewe eggs or scrambled eggs on Chestnut Bakery sourdough from their bakery up the road. Coffee is sourced from The Gentlemen Baristas in Borough, and pastries have been collected from Paul Rhodes Bakery in Greenwich. Inside, honey-hued wood, brushed velvet, and plenty of ferns ramp up the country feel. Pro tip: there’s a secret garden out-back for when the sun is shining, or nab the corner table inside for top-notch people-watching. —Sarah James
Courtesy Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, ClerkenwellBourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, Clerkenwell
Best brunch for: The best bottomless brunch with booze
The dish to order: Bottomless Bellinis; Eggs Benedict
Chairs are covered in tropical prints and potted plants spill from the ceiling at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, which is just around the corner from Exmouth Market. Every weekend the bar fills up with in-the-know foodies and local hipsters who are here primarily for the jugs brimming with spicy Bloody Mary and seasonal bellini. Go for the bottomless option for nonstop top-ups and the Eggs Benedict made with ham hock which is textbook good.
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Rusne Draz/Courtesy BiBo, ShoreditchBiBo, Shoreditch
Best brunch for: a taste of southern Spain
The dish to order: paella with fried eggs and cecina
Since opening in August 2021, BiBo has been the clever place to find a taste of Andalusia in a sophisticated, buzzy setting (downstairs at Mondrian Shoreditch). Headed up by Dani García, whose previous restaurants have won multiple Michelin stars, the tapas-bar-meets-brasserie has added a brunch menu to its roster. García takes dishes from the Spanish-inspired menu and gives them a breakfast twist—a twist so skillful, you’ll leave wondering why you haven’t been starting every day with tapas and paella.
For classic brunch fans, ham is swapped for jamón ibérico in the Eggs Benedict, while the avocado option comes grilled with coriander pesto, feta, and crème fraîche. Pan con tomate is fresh and perfectly seasoned; the ideal accompaniment to the cheesy, oozy fried croquetas. The hero dishes are the paellas, topped with whole lobster, chicken, or ribs. Ours arrives with four sunny-orange fried eggs and mounds of salty cecina; a moreish combination we happily spent an hour digging into. Wash it all down with a sangria Blanca and leave to plan your next Spanish holiday pronto. —Sarah Allard
Courtesy The MandrakeThe Mandrake
Best brunch for: tropical holiday vibes
Dish to order: buttermilk fried chicken bunOff a busy street in Fitzrovia, The Mandrake's terrace is a secluded hideaway far from the rush of shoppers nearby. Pray that it’s sunny on your visit—there's no need to board a flight to soak up that holiday feeling when the weather is good. The tropical Jurema terrace has hanging green vines, bamboo lounging chairs, and tassel umbrellas, while a DJ plays chilled tunes, all overlooking the courtyard where two huge Tasmanian ferns that unravel in the center. Bring the whole gang for the sharing brunch menu, which is served every Sunday between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Brunch comes with a choice of drink packages—four cocktails or six glasses of champagne—for an extra fee.
Start with homemade sourdough served with dipping oil and salty butter, Padron peppers dusted in chili salt, smooth guacamole, and bite-size crab and fennel tostadas. There are four mains to choose from—we went for the popular buttermilk fried chicken bun with a pickled Jalapeno coleslaw. If you’re after a more traditional brunch dish, we recommend the chorizo and poached egg muffin with a generous drizzling of chimichurri hollandaise. Other options include brioche french toast with bacon, banana, and maple butter and a veggie option of mushroom tacos. Sides are unlimited: fill up on house fries with chipotle aioli and a green salad of coriander and coconut dressing. Onto pudding—served in a marble bowl, the fresh strawberry parfait is a delightful ending to brunch; sweet, juicy, and saucy. The Guatemalan chocolate mousse is heavier but just as tasty. —Sophie Knight
David Robson/Courtesy Mortimer House KitchenMortimer House Kitchen
Best brunch for: kerbside catch-ups
Dish to order: Spiced ShakshukaA short walk from Oxford Circus is Mortimer House, an Art Deco building on a street corner with large windows and a sage-striped awning. The co-working, gym, and events spaces are just for members, but Mortimer House Kitchen is open to all. The restaurant is beautifully designed—classy but relaxed and full of plants, sofas, and armchairs. We arrived on a day with clear blue skies and sat outside for an alfresco brunch. Although the menu claims Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, the brunch has some classic touches: smoothies, avocado toast, granola, and eggs in various ways. The stand-out dish is the spiced shakshuka with rose harissa yogurt, guindilla peppers, and a very welcome chunk of smoky chorizo. Follow up with syrupy french toast, topped with cream and berries—crispy on the outside, cloud-like inside, and addictive. The cocktail menu is seasonal. We relived the holidays with fresh summery flavors, strawberry and balsamic in one, watermelon and thyme in another. Then (as all good things must come to an end) time to jump back to reality with a deliciously sharp espresso to go. —Lily Bonesso
rusne draz/Courtesy Park Chinois, MayfairPark Chinois, Mayfair
Best brunch for: circus acts and elite Asian food
Dish to order: chef’s selection of dim sum
When swanky Park Chinois launches a Saturday Dim Sum Soirée, you know to expect big things. Head down the spiral staircase into the dimly lit dining space, take a seat in a plush velvet chair, and wait for the show to begin. Once you're sipping on a frosty flute of Champagne, go about choosing from the three-course set menu. To start, we recommend dim sum: each intricate parcel is just as joyous and flavorsome as the next. Choose from 10 main dishes such as perfectly cooked steamed sea bass with chive and stir-fried wagyu bavette cooked in a fiery black bean sauce. Finish with the seasonal dessert chosen by the pastry chef. Throughout supper, the lights dim, red and blue stage lights flood the room, and the DJ cranks up the music to introduce five different acts who perform while you sip on cocktails—fire-breathing, drag, and a half-naked man hanging from the ceiling make this a mad showstopper of a brunch. —Sophie Knight
Courtesy The Good Egg, SohoThe Good Egg, Soho
Best brunch for: Jerusalem-style sharing plates
The dish to order: babka
The Stoke Newington institution, famous for its daily-changing babka, has landed in Kingly Court. And the Eastern European still-warm brioche-like bread (we recommend the pistachio and date) doesn’t disappoint. Inspired by the owners’ travels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (as well as California and Montreal), the brunch and breakfast menu at The Good Egg features highlights of deep-fried halloumi cooked with honey and thyme; marinated aubergine with tahini and pine nuts; and house labneh with preserved lemon and pumpkin seeds. Granola is also served with a thick labneh and sticky dates. The new central location is roomy and easy to book ahead.
Courtesy Hide, PiccadillyHide, Piccadilly
Best brunch for: fine dining
Dish to order: baked meatloaf with a fried egg and crispy potato
Hide was one of London’s most talked-about tables to book when it opened in 2018. The Michelin-starred follow-up to chef Ollie Dabbous’ sold-out debut, which he closed in 2017, is set in a sweeping building on a stretch of prime real estate on Piccadilly. There are three floors: below, ground, and above. Upstairs, in the fanciest of the three, the eight-course tasting menu with wine starts at $308 and the final bill can tot up to as much as $862. For a more affordable take on Dabbous’ food—and a better chance of bagging a table—book brunch on the ground floor.
The set menu costs $60, so it’s still far from the cheapest breakfast in town—but it might be one of the best-value options. First, a selection of snacks to share is sent out from the kitchen: plump olives, Porthilly oysters with Amalfi lemon, light Tempura aubergine, and, our favorite, fluffy flatbread cooked over charcoal. To start, order creamy foie gras parfait with a warm buckwheat waffle or thick-cut salmon served with deviled eggs, and follow up with mains of silky crab linguine, 50-day aged beef short rib, or comforting meatloaf. If you have room—these aren’t dinky, fine-dining portions—definitely order dessert. We liked the classic crumpets with honey. —Sarah James
Courtesy Abuelo, Covent GardenAbuelo, Covent Garden
Best brunch for: a laidback bite in the middle of Covent Garden
The dish to order: huevos divorciados de turco
Step inside Abuelo and you’ll completely forget you’re bang in the middle of tourist hub Covent Garden. The dinky, wood-filled space is occupied by a long, family-style table and countertops overflowing with impressive cakes—this is the sort of laidback spot you’d expect to find in one of London’s cooler, far-flung neighborhoods. The interiors are dominated by muted, earthy browns and greens, but Abuelo doesn’t hold back on color when it comes to the food. Plates arrive adorned with a rainbow of edible petals and herbs and are nearly too pretty to eat. The menu is a South American-Aussie fusion—inspired by the Australian mother-daughter team who own the place and their family’s Argentinian heritage (abuelo means grandfather in Spanish).
The huevos divorciados de turco are a spicy version of baked eggs with labneh, salsa roja, and chimichurri, served alongside a generous portion of crispy sourdough for mopping up the juice. There’s also the classic avocado on toast (a Bondi Beach mainstay) and a barbecue croque monsieur stuffed with slow-cooked pulled pork and caramelized onions. The coffee is great too: strong and smooth—the best we’ve found in the area. For something different, the vegan green smoothie is a delicately sweet and creamy blend of spinach, banana, dates, and almond milk. It’s a popular place and they don’t take bookings so we’d suggest turning up early. If you do have to wait, order a coffee and make friends with your neighbors in the queue—you’ll probably end up sitting next to them at the communal table anyway. —Olivia Holborow
James McDonaldJermyn St, St James's
Best brunch for: Traditional British breakfast
The dish to order: The Full English
Round the back of Fortnum & Masons, 45 Jermyn St is buzzing before 8 a.m. and still full at 11 a.m. when the media types show up. Replacing the slightly stiff café that preceded it, the interiors are a breath of fresh air, with bright orange leather sofas and a sign to the loos that reads “Peas and Leeks.” The breakfast menu also reflects both the classic and the slightly surprising: there's kedgeree and Orkney kippers, and then there's salty Marmite on soft crumpets topped with giant duck eggs. Everything pairs, of course, with Fortnum & Mason tea and coffee.
Courtesy Duck & Waffle, The CityDuck & Waffle, The City
Best brunch for: Sky-high views of East London
The dish to order: Duck & Waffle
Brunch here is not for the faint-hearted—and not only because of the height at which it's served (40 floors up the Heron Tower). The menu at Duck & Waffle lists crispy pig's ears and raw tuna alongside an ox cheek Benedict, and the restaurant's namesake Duck & Waffle: crispy duck-leg confit and fried egg served on a waffle with mustard maple syrup. Service is 24 hours, so millennials who've seen the sun rise over East London might be on their way out as businessmen arrive for their morning meetings.
Leyla Kazim/Courtesy Darcie and May Green, PaddingtonDarcie and May Green, Paddington
Best brunch for: Antipodean dishes with a side of people-watching
The dish to order: banana bread sandwich
These cozy, colorful barges moored outside Paddington station have fluffy blankets slung over each seat and sunlight pouring in through the windowed walls. The menu at Darcie and May Green is Aussie-inspired: a banana bread sandwich overflowing with vanilla cream and berries comes listed under light bites. But don’t be fooled—it’s substantial, delicious, and completely worthy of comprising your entire meal around. Elsewhere on the menu, the bacon roll—served in a crispy roti with plenty of chili—is a fresh take on a hangover staple and the smashed avocado comes on super-trendy charcoal toast. Plus, there’s an open upper deck overlooking the canal for when the weather turns warm. —Sarah James
Karl Davies/Courtesy Grains, Covent Garden26 Grains, Covent Garden
Best brunch for: Wholesome bowls of pretty porridge
The dish to order: Banana and cacao nib porridge
British porridge is reimagined at 26 Grains, a Scandinavian-style courtyard Covent Garden restaurant in the health-food hotspot of Neal's Yard. Oats are cooked in a variety of milks (coconut, cashew, almond) or juice, and flavored with cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, and star anise. Toppings are also inspired: We love the cacao nibs with banana and date syrup and the almond milk oats with poached quince, cashew maple cream, redcurrants and redwood sorrel. For those who would never opt for porridge for brunch, there are options. A flatbread with halloumi, pickles, garlic yogurt, and golden beetroot is just as pretty as the porridge bowls and a wholesome roasted delica pumpkin is served with lentils, goat’s curd, and scattered chillis. There's also a savory oat dish which comes with shiitake mushrooms and a soft-boiled egg.
Thomas AlexanderAvenue, St James's
Best brunch for: champagne and dancing
The dish to order: Hoisin confit duck with fried egg, fried rice balls, and Avenue slaw
Like an airy slice of Nikki Beach or gleaming Dubai in the midst of St James's, Avenue has the art of the party brunch down to a finely-timed confetti gun. Diners arrive dressed to the nines, 10's, and 11's from 11 a.m. onwards, and there's a palpable gear change in the air whenever the first brave soul rises to their feet to start grooving, table-side (from around 3 p.m.) before slowly progressing to the restaurant’s small dancefloor. Ambitious Champagne fountains, chandeliers crafted from large wine glasses, and chipper waiters with man-buns all help fuel the free-flowing weekend cheer.
Food plays second fiddle to the drinks (Moët & Chandon chills in ice buckets at the end of each table), but among the handful of options on the menu, there are, surprisingly, some relatively wholesome finds—choose from Greek, sheep's, or soya yogurt with fresh fruit salad and honey granola and hoisin duck with special slaw. Alternatively, skip straight to the scrambled egg and white toasted sourdough, chased by mac 'n' cheese and lobster. Anything to absorb the bottomless bubbles and Bloody Marys, yours for a small extra fee. —Becky Lucas
Courtesy Modern Pantry, ClerkenwellModern Pantry, Clerkenwell
Best brunch for: fusion flavors
The dish to order: ricotta pancakes
There are plenty of trend-led touches at the pretty Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell: white-washed brick walls, copper light fixtures, plants abounding. The stripped-back tables and chairs are sometimes shoved together for big groups, sometimes jostled neatly in twos and fours for young friends and couples who have sought refuge on a hungover weekend morning.
New Zealand-born chef Anna Hansen (previously of The Providores in Marylebone) specializes in fusion food, overseeing a menu that features dishes such as eggs with chorizo and fried plantain, coconut and ricotta pancakes, and a sugar-cured prawn omelet. If you’re feeling super decadent, you can finish off your brunch with ice cream or a cheese board.
It’s a very chilled-out place: settle in for a cocktail, or skip out and make the most of the food-central location: head across dinky St John’s Square for a drink at Zetter Townhouse or around the corner for tacos and margaritas at punchy Breddos Tacos. —Sarah James
Courtesy Caravan, ClerkenwellCaravan, Clerkenwell
Best brunch for: Kiwis and coffee connoisseurs
The dish to order: Aubergine purée, poached eggs, za'atar, yogurt
Artisan coffee-roasters Caravan have created a mini empire. Their original Clerkenwell restaurant is always rammed and their King's Cross and Southwark spots are lively too. People come for the coffee and stay for the brunch menu which has influences from all over the world. Add a merguez sausage to the aubergine and poached eggs or try the Mexican-inspired jalapeño cornbread with black bean frijoles negro, fried eggs and chipotle.
Find out how to make a flat white with Caravan's Simon Lewthwaite
Courtesy Lantana, ShoreditchLantana, Shoreditch
Best brunch for: Vegetarian brunch
The dish to order: Smashed avocado
This lively, pared-back Shoreditch restaurant is always full, because although you can find avocado on toast everywhere these days, this is London's most delicious. At Lantana it comes on sourdough with labneh, hazelnut dukkah, a fresh herb salad and the option of beetroot-cured salmon. The French toast is also next-level—served with poached rhubarb, orange mousse and pistachio crumble; while the sweetcorn fritters are topped with roast tomatoes and a lemon crème fraîche.
Courtesy Ozone, Hackney and ShoreditchOzone, Hackney and Shoreditch
Best brunch for: twists on classics
The dish to order: eggs Benedict on bubble-and-squeak cakes
Ozone started out as a small roastery and café in a New Zealand surf town, and brought the same edgy-cool, easygoing charm to this side of the world in 2012 with its first UK outpost in Shoreditch. It’s now one of the best brunch bets in east London, and hungry diners flock to the Old Street spot every weekend, braving the formidable queue. To our delight, a second—sizable—London branch has finally opened, just off Hackney Road, serving up eggs Benedict on crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside bubble-and-squeak cakes (order with gin-cured trout) and veggie brekkie with tangy kimchi greens, a fluffy hash brown and halloumi made in London. In true Antipodean style, there are also more adventurous options such as feta and quinoa tortillas and braised mince on focaccia with smoked cheddar and piccalilli. Plus those nursing a hangover will be pleased to hear pizzas are served from 12pm—with both red- and white-sauce bases and toppings such as pork and fennel salumi with caramelised fennel and fermented chilli. And as you’d expect for a roastery (you can buy their beans by the bag), the coffee is fresh and perfectly potent. Sonya Barber
Ozone Coffee is available for delivery of coffee beans at ozonecoffee.co.uk
Patricia NivenSt John, Spitalfields
Best brunch for: A meatlover's hangover cure
The dish to order: The rare breed bacon sandwich (but do save room for a doughnut)
Chef Fergus Henderson's bacon sandwich is legendary and the rest of the menu is pleasingly old-school too. You won't find ham, eggs and fried bread at many top London restaurants. Try the sausage bun with brown sauce or a grilled kipper on sourdough toast. Everyone raves about the custard doughnuts (almost as much as the bacon sarnie) but we don't think you can beat the raspberry-jam-packed classic.
St Leonards, Shoreditch
Best brunch for: grown-up dishes and drinks
The dish to order: hot-smoked salmon
Shoreditch restaurant St Leonards has been standing out on its own since opening in 2018—an enormous, airy space filled with natural, organic textures and materials (polished concrete walls, toffee-colored wooden tables, little trees lining the front wall along huge picture windows) and simple but bang on-trend details (the warmly lit globe pendant lights are an interior-junkie’s dream). Tattooed, bearded chefs Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke marry simple charcoal-kissed dishes from the hearth with delicate raw dishes from the ice bar.
Kick off with a breakfast cocktail that’s got a little more edge than your standard Bellini—the beef-stock Bloody Mary is super-savoury, with a brothy quality that some might find challenging, but others will love. That reluctance to create safe dishes continues as you move onto the food, where each dish has an unusual element (or five) to pique interest. The pork hash is crispy and fluffy, topped with gooey eggs, while the bavette steak is cooked over an open fire, and left silky, soft and pink. The hot-smoked salmon was our standout, a Scandi-style smörgåsbord with peppery and spicy fish, pickled vegetables, rye bread and a dollop of tart beetroot yogurt. Sarah James
Courtesy Morito, HackneyMorito, Hackney
Best brunch for: exotic flavours
The dish to order: traditional Turkish menemen
In the evenings Morito is a tapas joint and sharing is how we think the weekend-only brunch here should be approached too. The menu is on the brief side, but you’ll want everything on it. Humble eggs are spiced up with Mediterranean flavours. The traditional Turkish menemen, a creamy pile of eggs scrambled with tomato, peppers and feta, with a hunk of toast for mopping up juices, is the crowd favourite and ends up on nearly every table. For the sweet-toothed, the bougatsa, a filo pastry stuffed with fresh cheese and coated with cinnamon and sugar, is tiny (you might need two) but tasty. Coffee is served fresh and strong any way you like, or for something different try the Cretan mountain tea, an extraction of sage and thyme that was described to us as ‘the Cretan grandmother’s remedy for everything’. It’s lovely sweetened with a drop of honey. Join the East Londoners soaking up last night’s revelry and then walk it all off with a stroll along nearby Regent’s Canal. Olivia Holborow
Courtesy Pavilion Café, Victoria ParkPavilion Café, Victoria Park
Best brunch for: Sri-Lankan inspired dishes
The dish to order: cardamom buns
This cute little café, with its glass dome ceiling and cool monochromatic colour scheme, is an East London icon. Sat at the edge of the boating lake in vast Victoria Park, Pavilion Café makes nearly everything on its plant-based menu in house. The result is seriously delicious baked goods (the cardamom buns are must-try, and you may well leave with your bag stuffed with sourdough loaves) and a menu of wholesome brunch dishes. There’s a Sri-Lankan spice to the food: Sri Lankan Hoppers feature, and pancakes are served with coconut as well as maple syrup and crème fraiche. In a city that doesn’t think twice about dropping £20 on avocado toast and a flat white, it’s a joy to find that builders tea here costs just £1. In the summer, occupy a picnic bench looking out over the park, or walk off your brunch with a stroll around the park’s glittery lake. Sarah James
The Farmer’s Mistress, Battersea
Best brunch for: treat days without the guilt
As the Battersea café’s neon sign describes it, the ‘naturally naughty’ food focuses on high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and plenty of gluten-free and vegan options, and avoids refined sugars. For brunch this means an expansive menu of greatest hits and inventive plates. The organic buttermilk waffles are served with streaky bacon, just the right amount of maple syrup and a fried Clarence Court egg with a sunset-orange yolk. For something experimental, a gluten-free and vegan brunch option is the salt-baked beetroot served with non-dairy goat’s cheese, beetroot hummus, multi-seed toast, pumpkin seeds and beetroot crisp.
The café’s signature is its healthy twist on the English breakfast, a generous plate of beans, bacon, sausages and mushrooms, but with poached eggs, hash browns that are more like chubby veggie cakes, made from potato, carrot and spinach, and charcoal sourdough toast (apparently better for digestion) from Celtic Bakers in Tottenham. Even the dog treats on offer have charcoal in them. To drink, there’s organic coffee from The Gentlemen Baristas, plus healthy fresh juices and smoothies including the Morning Glory with banana, oats, honey, espresso, maca and oat milk. But it’s in the cocktails that things start to get clever, such as a Margarita served with apple kombucha or a quinoa vodka Bloody Mary. Lauren Burvill
Lina Stores, Marylebone
Best brunch for: an Italian start to the weekend
Lina Stores has long since expanded from its original mint-green deli in Soho. After opening a tiny fresh-pasta place a few minutes away from the shop, Umbrian chef Masha Rener moved north to King’s Cross to open an outpost just behind Granary Square—and another high-profile launch followed in Marylebone. It’s decked out in the same fresh scheme as the mothership deli on Brewer Street: green-and-white stripes, marble tabletops and leather diner-style booths. The brunch menu is as pared-back and full-throttle Italian as the supper offering: a spicy Tuscan fennel sausage is served with gloriously stodgy cannellini beans and sweet tomatoes, all soaked up with a chunk of Apulian bread, while scrambled eggs are made with a delicate hit of truffle. The show-stopping breakfast dish has to be the focaccia sandwich: stacked with Tuscan sausage, a sunny-side-up fried egg and Scamorza cheese, it’s the Umbrian take on the sausage-and-egg bap that you never knew you needed. Sarah James
Courtesy Coal Office, Kings CrossCoal Office, Kings Cross
Best brunch for: urban-cool Middle Eastern flavours
The dish to order: Shikshukit 2.0
With Coal Office, Assaf Granit and Tom Dixon’s Middle Eastern restaurant, emerging as one of the most exciting additions to King’s Cross’s shiny new Coal Drops Yard, the brunch menu was unlikely to disappoint. Head chef Granit (previously of Soho restaurant The Palomar, and Covent Garden restaurant The Barbary) created a menu split into Coal & Wood, To Start and To Share, meaning you could feasibly spend a few hours here grazing through the highlights, including Kubalah (a sort of Jewish pull-apart bread served with reduced yogurt, tomato confit and oregano) and spicy, punchy Shakshuka Adama.
The must-order dish, though, is the Shikshukit 2.0—a melt-in-the-mouth lamb and beef kebab that’s rich in meaty flavor, served with a homemade pita and a whole host of dipping sauces including aubergine and labneh. If you have room for pudding, say yes when it’s offered: it might sound unconventional but the deconstructed cheesecake (a layer of cheesecake coated on the plate, with a pistachio sponge placed meticulously on top) will set you up for a Sunday morning surprisingly well.
Outside, there’s plenty of space for dining with uninterrupted views of the Yard in the summer, set against the red brick, the warehouse-style building. Inside, Dixon has stayed true to the urban-industrial feel of his surroundings: tables are black granite (which feels like an ice-cold take on Dixon’s white terrazzo table tops at Pastaio) while the walls feature lots of exposed brick.
Sarah James
Plaquemine Lock, Islington
Best for: New Orleans soul food and jazz
A morning amble along a canal, a spicy Bloody Mary and some swinging Dixieland jazz—aren’t these the things that Sundays are made for? A little bit of New Orleans on the backstreets of Islington, this is the work of Jacob Kenedy, whose other restaurant, Bocca di Lupo in Soho, plates up very satisfying regional Italian dishes. Here at Plaquemine, though, it’s swaggering Deep South flavours on the menu—crawfish and fried chicken, gumbo and jambalaya. If you think the Cajun hits come from binge-watching Treme, fear not: Jacob’s grandmother was born in Louisiana and this is a tribute to her—spot her on the wall mural, standing outside the plantation house.
As for brunch itself, well, there’s pickled okra pinned to the Bloody Mary, and eggs over Big Easy—with crab meat or asparagus, perhaps, or poached in a gumbo with andouille sausage and shrimp, with a plate of fried chicken and a pot of pineapple and maple syrup. Sazerac beignets if there’s still space. Look over to the piano and you’ll see oysters on ice. Too early? Shucks, is there an oyster o’clock? Laissez les bon temps rouler, indeed. One thing can easily lead to another here. A glass of white port and tonic, or a pint of Hammerton APA. Are those gators on the canal outside? Rick Jordan
Jean CazalsGranary Square Brasserie, King's Cross
Best brunch for: sophisticated breakfast classics
The 2019 opening of Coal Drops Yard has properly put King's Cross on the map, and so this all-day dining spot from the team behind The Ivy in Granary Square has become something of a sleeper hit on the London brunch scene. Inside, there are bold blue walls, coral leather bar stools and palm-print chairs. The brunch menu features a long list of crowd-pleasers. The hot buttermilk pancakes are thick and pillowy, served with fresh fruit, Greek yoghurt and warm raspberry compote to drown them in, while the HLT open sandwich is a vegetarian’s dream: grilled halloumi, avocado, black olives, red pepper, tomato, baby gem and herb mayonnaise. The steak sandwich is the star of the show, though, with roast beef and caramelised onions served with horseradish mustard mayo and a Burgundy sauce to dunk the crusty baguette into.
Egg Slut, Notting Hill
Best brunch for: a quick, rich fix
Dish to order: Fairfax sandwich
Eggslut has come a long way since its days as one of the most-photographed street trucks in Los Angeles. Now, with three brick-and-mortar spots across LA, and others in Las Vegas and Lebanon, the latest from the US mini-chain has landed on Notting Hill’s busy Portobello Road.
There’s already a regular queue outside for its Bread Ahead buns—our favorite is the Fairfax, filled with scrambled Clarence Court eggs, chives, Cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and sriracha mayo. But this isn’t a place to lounge over a leisurely breakfast (and we’d recommend avoiding the crowds on a Saturday when the market is on), the design reflecting its food-truck origins—but with a team that includes Cordon Bleu-trained chefs with experience in Michelin-star restaurants, it’s a good spot to pick up some of the best en-masse scrambled eggs we’ve ever tasted. Other highlights include the Slut, a just-poached egg served on top of buttery pomme purée to be mixed together before spreading on crisp toast.
Press/Courtesy Egg Break, Notting HillEgg Break, Notting Hill
Best brunch for: Eggs with a twist
Dish to order: Sweet potato rosti with goat’s cheese, kale, dill yoghurt and poached eggs
No prizes for guessing which ingredient takes centre stage at this Notting Hill joint from the people behind the Hoxton hotel. Weekend queues snake around the block for a serious menu of familiar yolky favourites (eggs Benedict, shakshuka, poached eggs with smashed avo) but there are a couple of more creative dishes on the menu too. A sweet potato rosti is served with dill yoghurt and a salt-beef hash with fried eggs and doorstop-thick sourdough to mop it all up. The interiors are urban but with a touch of farmhouse: creamy tongue and groove walls, chipped painted metal chairs and food served up on mismatched kitschy china plates. It’s not all eggs though; open all-day, there’s a downright dirty fried chicken burger, and, to wash it all down—a sizable wine and cocktail list too. Teddy Wolstenholme
Wild by Tart, Belgravia
Best brunch for: farm-to-plate sustainable produce
Dish to order: slow-braised smoky beans with ham hock and poached egg
Duo Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison are the brains behind Wild by Tart—a pair passionate about sourcing sustainable produce and creating healthy, fresh and fun dishes. Sip on Tart’s Bloody Marys, pear Bellinis or a fresh pressed juice in the spacious hall, which was a power station in another life. The space is filled with Scandi-style wicker chairs and bold woven wall hangings, with green foliage snaking around the exposed pipework on the ceiling. The long bar is lined with stools that allow you to peer into the open kitchen, where chefs cook up ingredients on a coal grill.
At brunch we recommend sharing a few small plates. Don’t miss the squash, coriander and chilli fritter with curry leaf mayo and lime. Large plates, which also cover gluten-free and vegan options, include cured ChalkStream trout with celeriac remoulade, rocket, ricotta and rye. Or for a lighter option, order the roast pumpkin with coconut, turmeric and ginger. No brunch menu would be complete without eggs—Wild by Tart’s tasty slow-braised smoky beans with ham hock and poached egg turned out to be our favorite dish of all. But the sweet treats aren’t to be skipped either—the must-try is the freshly baked banana cake with cashew nut butter and raspberry jam. Sophie Knight
Courtesy Farm Girl, Notting HillFarm Girl, Notting Hill
Best brunch for: Every brunch food trend going
The dish to order: Coconut BLT
This Aussie café fills up quickly at weekends with girls fresh from spinning. Here is no ordinary BLT—vegan coconut 'bacon' is as sweet as nectar and the sandwich is fat with guacamole, beef tomatoes and cashew cream. For a post-workout protein boost try the buckwheat pancakes and add a sprinkle of hemp or flaxseed. The coffee is excellent and there's also a choice of kombucha—a fermented tea which is all the rage in LA and oh-so-good for the gut.
Kristin PerersGranger & Co, Notting Hill
Best brunch for: Australian flavours
The dish to order: Ricotta hotcakes, banana and honeycomb butter
On weekends there's always a queue outside the original (and still the best) London brasserie from Aussie chef Bill Granger (he has restaurants in King's Cross, Clerkenwell and Chelsea now too). Scrambled eggs are cloud-like, the ricotta pancakes served with melting honeycomb butter are famous and the corn fritters are wonderfully light, stacked with savoury spinach and crispy bacon.
Paul Winch-Furness/Courtesy Café Biltmore Restaurant & Terrace at The Biltmore Hotel, MayfairCafé Biltmore Restaurant & Terrace at The Biltmore Hotel, Mayfair
Best brunch for: non-stop bubbles
Dish to order: the signature buttermilk fried chicken sandwich
The Biltmore Hotel's heated outdoor terrace, decked out with glorious green foliage, is a wonderful space to work your way through a two- or three-course breakfast of classics. The menu is delivered courtesy of Michelin-tipped Jason Atherton and executive chef Paul Walsh. We recommend choosing eggs to start. Whether a Benedict, Florentine or Royale fan, there’s every style going, perched atop toasted English muffins or sourdough. The sweet-toothed, meanwhile, should order fluffy pancakes with vanilla cream and berries to kick off a sugar-filled day. The ultimate buttermilk fried chicken sandwich on a sweet brioche bun is our must-have—or try the veggie sweetcorn and saffron risotto with Scottish girolles for a rich and creamy meat-free option. And if you’re going the full nine yards, die-hard brunch fans should order the Vahlrona chocolate moelleux to end on a real chocolatey high—it’s devilishly good, and that alone will be the reason I return.
Opt for bottomless prosecco throughout your brunch to end up singing merrily along with the live music from acoustic roaming band The Travelling Hands as they serenade the crowd (you get to request items on the set list). Watch as your glass is attentively topped up—the staff are some of the most dedicated out there— and leave blurry-eyed. This is a brunch in the heart of Mayfair to set aside a Saturday for.
The Biltmore Brunch is available every Saturday from 11am-5pm. Two courses £32, three courses £38. Drink packages for 90 minutes start from £18. Cordelia Aspinall
Courtesy Wun's Tea Room, SohoWun's Tea Room, Soho
Best brunch for: dining in an old-school Asian tearoom
Dish to order: sugar skin Iberico char siu
Parked on the busy corner of Greek Street in Soho, Wuns Tea Room and Bar frequently has guests queuing at the door. Either head upstairs to the intimate dining room which mimics an old-school Hong Kong tea house, or sit downstairs in the speakeasy neon-lit bar. The brunch menu is just as popular as supper so make sure you book ahead. The menu has been designed by founder Z, who experiments with Chinese and European cooking. Start with the Sichuan Jungle Mary, likely the most potent Bloody Mary you'll ever try, or, for something lighter, order the Hong Kong Ice Milk Tea—a blend of condensed milk and strong Ceylon tea leaves.
Regulars will be happy to see the famous sugar skin Iberico char siu on the brunch menu—a slice of sweet juicy pork with a crispy sugar-coated skin. We also recommend the char siu scramble and egg fried rice served in a traditional stone pot. Order the soy mackerel devilled egg, scallop prawn toast and spicy Sichuan pepper rosti, with a refreshing smacked cucumber bitter green salad on the side. Attention sweet-tooths: the Hong Kong toast with a cheese and peanut butter centre is a must-order. Sophie Knight
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Courtesy Mr BaoMr Bao
Best brunch for: A Taiwanese twist on a breakfast menu
Dish to order: Bacon bao (and a side of fried chicken)
Peckham’s Mr Bao is one of the most in-demand restaurants in the area; regularly booked-up and with a fun vibe that’s great for groups of friends. So it makes sense that the brand would want to expand their offering into brunch—but how to make a Friday night favourite work for hungover Sundays? With bacon, of course. The brunch menu features many classics you’ll find on the evening list (smacked cucumber, pork dumplings and fried chicken are must-haves) but with new options such as a bacon bao, which is technically a smoked ham hock fritter with a deliciously tangy plum sauce, or salmon and onsen egg bao—and yes, the egg ‘pops’. Depending on your frame of mind, there’s an option to add bottomless cocktails for an extra £18 per person for an hour, and the Zenzee Lychee, with white rum, hazelnut syrup and lychee juice was a favourite, while their take on a bloody mary, the Wasabi Mary, mops up a hangover beautifully. Abigail Malbon
David Cotsworth/Courtesy Sunday in Brooklyn, Notting HillSunday in Brooklyn, Notting Hill
Best brunch for: an all-American feast
Dish to order: Sunday Pancakes
Eager Londoners have been anticipating the opening of Sunday in Brooklyn—the first international restaurant from the team behind one of New York's buzziest bunch spots. With a dedicated following, it’s no surprise the Notting Hill site was already jam-packed when we visited days after it opened in August 2021.
Soaring windows flood the space with natural light—there is a floating central table set under hanging vines, perfect for large groups, and seating out front under sunshiny striped parasols for blue-sky days. The brunch menu includes plenty of American classics. Order steak and eggs (7oz hanger steak, cheddar and scrambled eggs), the Don Ruben omelette (mole sauce, goat's cheese, roasted mushrooms and feta), or a very American dish of biscuits and white sausage gravy, served with poached eggs and hot sauce. One must-order is the much-hyped hazelnut maple praline and brown butter pancakes. The playful cocktail menu, meanwhile, has a few surprises. We enjoyed the twist on a Bloody Mary—mezcal, tomato, horseradish, sambal, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, lemon and bay salt. Sophie Knight
Courtesy Cavita, MaryleboneCavita, Marylebone
Best brunch for: a Mexican feast
Dish to order: Tacos de Cochinita Pibil
Forget eggs benedict, pancakes and avocado on toast. Instead feast on Cavita’s delicious Mexican brunch, served every Saturday and Sunday between 11:30am-2:30pm. Chef Adrina Cavita, the brains behind Cavita, brings with her traditional fire-cooking techniques and ingredients reminiscent of her childhood in Mexico to her small but concise menu, making decisions easier and options top-notch. Eggs here are served Mexican style. We loved the Huevos Rancheros—a deep-fried tortilla topped with red and green Salsa, fried eggs, coriander and smoked streaky bacon. Our favourite dish—and the house staple—was the Tacos de Cochinita Pibil. This juicy slow-cooked pork shoulder is packed inside a banana leaf which you’ll cut open with golden scissors. It’s served with a basket of warm tacos, smooth suacasalsa, pickled onions, and a wedge of lime for squeezing over once you’ve constructed your pocket of joy. Wash brunch down with potent mezcal and tequila cocktails. From the spicy Margarita topped with a wedge of fresh jalapeno, to the sweeter hibiscus Margarita—there’s a Margarita mix for all tastes. Sophie Knight
MILK BEACH/Courtesy Milk Beach, Queen's ParkMilk Beach, Queen's Park
Best brunch for: Eggs every way
It used to be that parts of North West London were more synonymous with chain restaurants and coffee shops than independent places for breakfast. But this 2018 arrival from Aussie Elliot Milne and two-time UK coffee-roasting champion Matthew Robley-Siemonsma is one of a new influx of arrivals that’s changing those perceptions. Taking over an abandoned warehouse on increasingly cool Lonsdale Road, this white-washed, airy space has been given an Antipodean, stripped-back feel. Outside, picnic tables look out over the cobbled street; inside, there are plenty of plants, huge rattan lights and a letter board for the menu behind the counter.
Coffee is roasted in-house, with the blend rotating each month, featuring beans from Ethiopian farmers who Elliot previously worked with. The food menu is as Aussie as the interiors: ultra-healthy açai bowls topped with crunchy, nutty granola; poached eggs with avocado and goat’s cheese; soft-boiled eggs in a jar served with sour cream and sourdough soldiers. You shouldn’t leave without a pastry—the owners tried a dozen London bakeries before settling on the sweet treats from The Little Bread Pedlar, which changed its delivery routes to be able to supply Milk Beach. Leave with a warm chocolate brownie in your pocket for later. Sarah James
MATTHEW HAGUE/Courtesy AkubAkub
Best brush for: Palestinian small plates
Dish to order: the grilled nabulsi cheese
There were many grumblings resounding through the pastel-hued streets of Hillgate Village when much-loved Indian restaurant Malabar closed during the pandemic after nearly 40 years. But the opening of Akub in January 2023 in Malabar's old digs quickly put a stop to that. The Palestinian restaurant offers a soothing, light-filled haven in Notting Hill’s backstreets. Whitewashed walls, copper tables, dangling plants and potted olive trees exude tranquillity inside the sage-green facade. During the day, sunlight streams through the vast skylight into the main dining area—making the space a perfect spot for a sunny weekend brunch. The menu blends traditional flavours of the Middle East with seasonal ingredients, curated into sharing plates of dips, loaded flatbreads and slow-roasted dishes.
Start with the beyd (fried eggs sprinkled with sumac served on fluffy bread) and as many dips as you can manage—the labneh drizzled olive oil and zaatar, smooth and moreish hummus and stewed fava beans in a tomato and garlic sauce should be spooned onto the selection of homemade breads. Order some fatteh for a traditional Palestinian breakfast dish of torn bread topped with slow-cooked beef short ribs with garlic yoghurt and pomegranate or aubergine in a spiced tomato sauce. A side nabulsi is a must, a salty Palestinian cheese grilled and topped with crunchy nigella seeds. Save room for the Arabic coffee French toast, crispy brioche with laban (a Middle Eastern yoghurt) and a dusting of cocoa and pistachio chunks. Wash it all down with a spicy zataar bloody mary. Olivia Morelli
Chris Terry/Courtesy The Maine, MayfairThe Maine, Mayfair
Best for: Summer terrace vibes
Dish to order: Lobster roll
Just a stone’s throw from Bond Street’s hustle and bustle, this hidden gem is perfectly placed for lunchtime shopping breaks or birthday brunches. With a newly renovated garden square and a sunny terrace, sit outside to soak up the sun or cosy up inside the townhouse’s Georgian drawing room—a stylish haven for any unpredictable weather spells.
The DJ gives this smart outfit a casual Ibiza vibe, and the New England-inspired menu—a nod to Canadian founder Joey Ghazal’s love for Maine’s famous seafood—features everything from traditional lobster rolls to oyster platters presented on an impressive multi-tier serving stand. Lighter bites packed with flavor include the fresh, zingy tuna tartar, fish tacos and Instagram-friendly berry meringue. For meat lovers, the filet mignon is buttery soft and complemented by the truffle mac and cheese, while the white chocolate cheesecake served in ice cream scoops will have you dreaming about it for days afterwards. Finish with a gin-based ‘Fairy Touch’ cocktail, garnished with lavender sprigs to keep you calm for your return to the concrete jungle. Jessica Rach
Courtesy Dipna Anand at Somerset HouseDipna Anand at Somerset House
Best for: river views
Dish to order: bottomless Thali
Somerset House might be London’s prettiest building, so it only makes sense that its restaurant follows suit. The super high ceiling, art-filled space is flooded with light through its huge windows with views of the Thames—the prettiest backdrop to enjoy Punjabi and South Indian-inspired plates by the talented Dipna Anand.
Dishes include a Tandoori chicken tikka burger, Chollay bhatura with mango chutney and the aromatic Chicken tikka naan with masala fries. However, we couldn’t recommend the bottomless meat thali enough. Served on a traditional silver platter, little curry pots including fragrant chicken, Lamb Kofta and black lentils Dal Makhani are accompanied by a buttery naan, a generous serving of rice, mini crunchy poppadoms and the tastiest samosa and onion bhaji. But the best bit, bottomless thali means the curry keeps coming. Feast until you’re ready to pop, but save just enough room for spiced cheesecake covered in sweet, juicy mandarin. Sophie Knight
Courtesy Side Hustle at NomadSide Hustle at Nomad
Best for: an extensive tequila menu
Dish to order: Dulce de Leche pancakes
There’s plenty to say about the NoMad Hotel, once the Bow Street Magistrates Court in a previous life, where Oscar Wilde, Emmeline Pankhurst and the Kray Twins have all stood trial. But skip to the side entrance and you’ll find Mexican-themed bar Side Hustle, home of its weekend brunch, decked out in suitably-chic dark woods, deep greens and plenty of brass flourishes. Start with a good dollop of caviar, salty and rich, along with some pillowy croquettes topped generously with parmesan shavings. Next, the tallest, fluffiest stack of pancakes I’ve ever seen, finished with a gleaming swirl of corn custard and a side of punchy tequila cream. Portions are generous—I managed only half before admitting defeat. But if you come for the food, you’ll stay for the cocktails. Naturally, the menu is predominantly tequila and mezcal-based, and all of the mixers and syrups are made in house; each recipe expertly memorized and concocted by the bar team each morning. A favorite was the Sergeant Pepper, Cachaça heavy with a jalapeno kick, but do also try the Batanga with the in-house cola. Subtler and smoother than the original, it’s made more interesting by adding a splash of Earl Grey tea. Be warned, though, you may feel shortchanged the next time you order a regular Coke at the pub. Charley Ward
A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller.
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