Best Sunday Lunch in London

Sunday lunch is one British tradition worth observing. All you need is a lazy afternoon, an expandable waist line, good company and more Sunday papers than you could ever hope to read. A cracking hangover from the night before is an additional extra which can always be soothed by a potent Bloody Mary. London is packed with places offering fantastic Sunday menus covering everything from authentic roasts with full trimmings to lighter lunch options which will leave you able to walk, rather than waddle, home.

Bistrotheque

23 - 27 Wadeson Street, London, E2 9DN
For minimalist warehouse chic in the middle of the East End head down to this converted factory. Its whiteness, high ceiling and hanging lights (not too bright) just add to the effect, which is elegant and stylish. You'll find unpretentious classic dishes, bringing together choice influences from French and English food. The whole vibe is effortless - understated sophistication at its best. Strangely, the restaurant is not open for lunch during the week. This is a shame for both them and us as they'd do a roaring trade and the brunch menu looks like a real treat. Downstairs there's an antique mahogany bar (perfect for a pre-dinner apperitif) and a cabaret room, which is a great place to catch some lively acts in a style reminiscent of the old school music hall tradition. Regular shows begin every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 21:30 with camp musical entertainment from boys-as-girls starring Jonny Woo and The Lip Sinkers, experts in the silent art of lipsynching. Guest acts are by the likes of Lavinia - an original member of Bloolips, an international award winning gay drag theatre musical-comedy troupe. Drag queens and show queens, glad rags and hand bags; it's absurd, comical and very silly fun.

More info: Bistrotheque Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Duke of Cambridge

30 St Peter's Street, London, N1 8JT
This pioneering organic pub has done a good job of going gastro without losing the atmosphere of a proper boozer. In part, this is due to the quantity of tables and chairs they've crammed into the stripped pine main bar, forcing people to share and creating a buzzy, convivial atmosphere that works well whether you're on a birthday party or a date. It's also due to an excellent range of organic micro-brewery beers, which keeps the CAMRA types happy, even though the decor's a bit lighter and airier than they might like. They are exceedingly proud of their title as Britain's first and only certified organic pub and the ethical values mean the food is really thoughtfully prepared. The short menu - pies, roasts, whole fish, stews, and a veggie option or two - seems pricy for such simple food, but you're paying for superb ingredients, and it's not hard to see why the Islington locals keep coming back for more.

More info: Duke of Cambridge Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Riding House Cafe

43-51 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PQ
They've conquered Bermondsey Street, and now the team behind the excellent Garrison and Village East are working their brasserie magic in the West end. Bric a brac, shabby chic in design but executed perfectly with many restored elements The Riding House Cafe is housed in a terrific light filled ex-rag trade showroom. Split into three sections including the 'Campbell's Tomato soup' coloured dining room, a large bar lined with comfy stools and a huge central table seating 19 on surprisingly comfortable vintage theatre chairs, and a small lounge area on the far side. Great locally sourced British cooking and a fabulous breakfast spread, also a highly recommended destination for a relaxed Sunday lunch. A wonderful addition to the somewhat sparsely populated restaurant scene north of Oxford Street.

More info: The Riding House Cafe Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Hawksmoor Seven Dials

11 Langley Street, Seven Dials, , WC2H 9JG
Carnivores will be delighted with the opening of this branch of Hawksmoor restaurant in Covent Garden's Seven Dials. Will Beckett and Huw Gott's British steakhouse and cocktail bar, whose flagship venture in Spitalfields fast became a favourite amongst the capital's meat lovers, gets a West End makeover with this second enterprise on Langley Street which opened in November 2010. The subterranean venue (which seats 128 in the restaurant and 50 in its stylish cocktail bar) is housed in a former brewery and looks slick: Victorian cast iron columns hold up a vaulted ceiling above Manhattan-style exposed brickwork walls and oak panelling; the tables are spruced up casts-offs from old laboratories, while the lower walls are also covered from tiles sourced from London Underground. But it's all about the steak: sourced from the Ginger Pig's Yorkshire farm, some of these succulent slices are aged and hung for a whopping 55 days. Besides the steaks, the Hawksmoor Burger with crunchy beef-dripping chips has legendary status, while the menu also boasts the likes of lamb chops, lobster, ribs, oysters and sausages. There's an express menu for lunch and pre-/post-theatre which includes two courses for £20 or three for £22.50, while the Hawksmoor Sunday roasts have been championed by the Observer Food Monthly. It's rather expensive, but for steak this good it's money well spent.

More info: The Hawksmoor Seven Dials Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Cross Keys

1 Lawrence Street, London, SW3 5NB
This Chelsea landmark close to the river, sister to The Artesian Well, can trace its history back to 1765 and names many of Chelsea's famous residents among its regulars. Well known visitors from the past who've supped a pint here include poets Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Dylan Thomas. There's a continuing artistic theme thanks to co-owner and sculptor Rudy Weller, who created The Horses of Helios & The Three Graces, prominently positioned in Piccadilly Circus. He's also the man responsible for the 'Three Synchronised Divers' leaping from the roof of the Criterion Building above. For The Cross Keys he's created a "magical kingdom" throughout the four rooms: the bar, the conservatory restaurant, gallery and a room at the top. The decor and relief sculptures are inspired by the pub's name. It's a common one among pubs and comes from a Christian sign, symbolizing the keys which Jesus gave to St Peter, so that he could enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

More info: The Cross Keys Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Boundary

2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, , London, E2 7JE
This Shoreditch project is the first from Terence Conran since he signed over his well known restaurants - Bluebird, Quaglino's and plenty more besides - to D & D. The creation of Boundary saw an impressive makeover of this imposing building, a former Victorian warehouse, includes two restaurants (Boundary and Albion), twelve spacious hotel rooms and a rooftop bar, all stylishly done up - as you'd expect from the man behind Habitat and largely responsible for the 1990s revolution on London's restaurant scene. The guest rooms are named after famous designers and themed in their style, so you can stay in the Eames room or sit in the Corbusier chair. The more formal of the two restaurants, the Boundary, is located in the basement, cooking up a choice of classic French and English recipes including a top-notch traditional Sunday roast. The Albion caff is a more casual affair, offering British classics like fish pie from its ground floor spot, with pavement seating spilling out onto the street. Steeped in history, the bar includes the boundary stone which originally marked the end of the land belonging to drapers Jeremiah Rotherham & Co and the start of the London County Council's property. Today, Boundary Street separates Hackney from Tower Hamlets. The weekend lunch menus are great value at £19.50 for two courses or £24.50 for three.

More info: Boundary Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Compass

58 Penton Street, London, N1 9PZ
Set your bearings north to Islington where Penton Street meets Chapel Market and you'll find The Compass pub. Along with a name change (dropping the fishy sounding part of its previous moniker, 'The Salmon & Compass', in June 2009) comes a shift in atmosphere away from party venue to gastro pub. Under the ownership of John Rentsen and Charlie Silver (who also own The Green in Clerkenwell) The Compass exchanges weekly DJs for a seasonally adjusted daily changing menu. The refurbished space has a shabby chic appeal with exposed brick walls teamed with chandeliers and a 30 foot oak panelled bar. At the bar you'll find lots of independent beers from breweries like Otter and Wooden Hand, as well as bottled beers like Modello from Mexico and Portugese favourite Super Bock. An extensive wine list complements the offerings from the open kitchen - how about a rich glass of Argentinean Malbec to go with your duck scotch egg; or a Muscadet Sévre et Maine to set off a sea bass based fish stew? On a hungover morning, head straight for the black pudding sausage roll washed down with a bloody mary. The Compass have built up a reputation for putting on an unbeatable roast dinner so be sure to book if you want to guarantee a table for Sunday lunch. They haven't completely done away with the music and DJs - upstairs there's an elegant private room with its own bar, PA sound system, projector and decks.

More info: The Compass Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Harwood Arms

Walham Grove, London, SW6 1QR
The Harwood Arms has upped its gastro offering, moving away from being just another West London pub and blossoming into a place where fine food flourishes. The critics seem to agree and the Harwood has steadily built up a collection of awards and accolades, including the first and only London pub to be awarded a Michelin star. From the people who own the highly rated Pot Kiln in Frilsham, the food is along the same best of British lines, think great game and wild produce, much of which is sourced from the nearby Berkshire countryside. Resolutely down to earth, they get the basics just right. Their signature dish, to give an example, is a venison Scotch egg, to be enjoyed as a bar snack, and they serve the best potatoes in London - crushed and fried to perfection. Sunday is a celebration of all things delicious and British, try choosing between roast Wicks Manor pork belly with sweet and sour turnips or the rib of red ruby beef with smoked bone marrow and Yorkshire puds. If you haven't exploded with satisfaction by this point then you must try a bowl of warm rhubarb jam doughnuts with ginger sugar and sour cream.

More info: The Harwood Arms Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Dean Street Townhouse Dining Room

69-71 Dean Street, W1D 3SE
Everything about the Dean Street Townhouse is very British from the Grade II listed four-storey Georgian building to the Dining Room with its "nursery-food menu" and "Brit-art in the restaurant" (The Independent). The first joint production by Nick Jones, founder of Soho House, and Richard Caring, who owns The Ivy, Le Caprice, Scott's, Annabel's and others, Dean Street Townhouse feels like it's been on this Soho street for a hundred years even though it only opened in 2009. It's not easy to do but with this restaurant the duo have created "the perfect French brasserie serving delectably simple English food" (observes Matthew Norman in The Guardian). And unlike its sister establishments - exclusive London members' clubs Soho House, The Electric and Shoreditch House - you don't have to be a member to eat or stay here. The menu is full of nostalgic comfort food from mince and potatoes to fish and chips with mushy peas with fruit scones for afternoon tea. The style is fashionably homey and the roast dinners are seriously indulgent, Banham chicken or Hereford beef both come with Yorkshire puddings, roasties, cauliflower cheese and honey-roasted veg. You can sit on red leather banquettes in the main dining room, in vintage armchairs in the lounge, or on high stools at the bar while taking in the impressive art collection featuring works by contemporary British artists like Paul Noble, Keith Tyson, Peter Blake, Tracey Emin, Mark Titchner, Fiona Banner, Keith Coventry and Mat Collishaw. Accusations of style over substance haven't stopped this place from building up a chic loyal clientele and a smattering of celebrity supporters.

More info: Dean Street Townhouse Dining Room Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Bumpkin

209 Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 1EA
Bumpkin is the word townies use to describe their country cousins. These bumpkins can be easily spotted when they come to town by their lack of street cred or trendy attire. So it's funny that Bumpkin the restaurant is everything its namesake isn't. It's achingly hip and, in keeping with the holy grail of hip eateries, all meat is free-range and free of additives and antibiotics. In fact, the only connection with the country is the ingredients. Aberdeen Angus beef is served up with locally grown veggies from Secretts Farm, just outside Guildford, grown without use of chemicals or pesticides. Pie, delicious salads and grilled surf 'n' turf are served in rustic portions - by which we mean the kind of servings that would keep Farmer Fred tilling the fields till sundown. You can't book the brasserie however the restaurant upstairs which offers the same menu plus the specials is entirely reserved for reservations. The Sunday roast, served from 12pm to 4pm, is a particular favourite and the perfect way to spend a long, relaxed winter's afternoon.

More info: Bumpkin Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube