London Brunch
Recent years have seen brunch become a bit of a trend and London is bursting with cafes, delis and restaurants that are perfect to idle away the morning hours. So, read ahead for LondonTown's definitive lowdown on the best brunch venues all around the capital, whether you're after something casual, modern, fancy or pricey.
Mature - Eggs in all styles are served here, with a long list of imaginative topping options.
34 Mayfair
34 Mayfair,
34 Grosvenor Square London, W1K 2HD
American Cuisine
34 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London, W1K 2HD
Tube: Bond Street Station
A steakhouse by the people behind Le Caprice and The Ivy, 34 shares the same niche as most restaurants owed by Caprice Holdings, including nearby sister restaurant Scott's, which manages to be both luxurious and informal at the same time. On the corner of South Audley Street and Reeves Mews, 34 was designed by Martin Brudnizki, whose previous work includes The Club at The Ivy, Wentworth Grill and Le Caprice New York. Putting the slick Art Deco inspired interior to one side, it's the steak that is the main attraction at 34 and they've brought in a custom-made grill all the way from Argentina to make sure the Scottish dry-aged steak is cooked exactly right. The restaurant also boasts an impressive brunch menu and encapsulates everything you could wish to eat. From eggs in all styles - Florentine, Arlington, Benedict, Scotch, fried, poached, boiled, scrambled and omelettes - to the imaginative toppings that go with them. Diners can choose from lobster, crab, black pudding, chorizo and many more. Further options include buttermilk pancakes, served with cured bacon and maple syrup, and a ranged of grilled sandwiches.
Upmarket - Combine a glamorous breakfast with some shopping at this concept store.
202
202,
Nicole Farhi, 202 Westbourne Grove London, W11 2RH
Cafes and Delis
Nicole Farhi, 202 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London, W11 2RH
Tube: Notting Hill Gate Station
Nicole Farhi's Westbourne Grove concept store includes everything you need to buy into the Farhi lifestyle - from clothes to soft furnishings for the home. Once you're done kitting your life out (you'll certainly need a break after that), sit down and enjoy the scrambled eggs or sweet potato, pepper and pancetta hash at the wonderful 202 café, which serves an array of world food, modern bistro essentials and dinner classics. There's no need to set foot outside the store but if you do, the terrace is especially lovely in summer.
Casual - A splendid caff with hearty breakfast options.
Albion
Albion,
2-4 Boundary Street London, E2 7DD
Cafes and Delis
2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, London, E2 7DD
Tube: Old Street Station
This Shoreditch caff, bakery and small shop is the first venture by Terence Conran since he sold his restaurant empire - Quaglino's, Orrery and the rest - to D & D. Teaming up with his wife and their former operations director, Peter Prescott, Conran has come back with Boundary, a former warehouse building with two restaurants, hotel rooms and a rooftop bar with views of Canary Wharf and The Gherkin. This ground floor caff offers simple British dishes like Welsh rarebit and Irish stew which can be eaten on the tractor seat stools or outside at the pavement tables. Breakfast options include a hearty English - complete with black pudding - bacon and eggs on toasts, kidneys on toast and kipper. As well as fried duck eggs on toast, omelettes and eggs in any style.
Casual - This popular London chain is a great choice for a relaxed brunch.
Bill's
Bill's,
28 St Martin's Courtyard London, WC2E 9AB
Delicatessens
28 St Martin's Courtyard, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9AB
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Leicester Square Station
Combining an old-fashioned grocer with an appealing delicatessen and an informal café serving a British and Mediterranean-influenced menu, the first London outlet of Bill's boasts a plum spot in the new St Martin's Courtyard development in Covent Garden. The flagship Bill's all-day café and deli opened in Lewes back in 2001 and outlets have followed in Brighton and Reading since. It's a great addition to this extremely central location - whether you're after an early breakfast, a lazy late brunch, a quick lunch, an afternoon coffee or a more substantial pre- or post-theatre dinner (there's a fully licensed bar, to boot). Service goes over two floors, joined by an imposing steel staircase. The walls are adorned with shelves stacked with produce; bunches of chillies hang from above; appealing menus are propped up all over the place on blackboards; staff are down-to-earth and attentive. Breakfast is served till noon, but the choice is so huge you're bound to find something that appeals if you arrive any later. Definitely worth a pit-stop if you find yourself at a loose end in the West End.
Modern - Breakfast classics are served in this dapper minimalist warehouse.
Bistrotheque
Bistrotheque,
23-27 Wadeson Street London, E2 9DN
French Cuisine
23-27 Wadeson Street, Hackney, London, E2 9DN
Tube: Bethnal Green Underground Station
Despite the minimalist warehouse lightning white interiors, brunch in Bistrotheque is always a colourful affair. Staff are dressed dapperly, resident pianist Xavior beats out a meaty selection of pop classics on a baby grand piano ladened with weekend newspapers and magazines for you to pick and chose from, while the menu draws from an array of dinner dishes alongside breakfast classics such as Eggs Benedict. Combined with a peek into nearby Vyner Street's numerous private art galleries or with a stroll along the canal towards Victoria Park, a Bistrotheque brunch comes heartily recommended. You feel special, the place gives good vibes, the food is tip-top and the whole curious set-up will have you eager to come back for more - and not just to gawp at the rather lewd murials in the loos.
Modern - This laid back venue is the place to come for good quality coffee.
11-13 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 4QD
Tube: Farringdon Station
There's a fusion of styles as well as flavours at the laid back Caravan in Exmouth Market which combines a main dining room with a bar and coffee roastery in the basement. From the freshly made flat whites to the clued-up but casual staff, it's easy to see the influence of the owners - all four of whom hail from New Zealand. These include head chef Miles Kirby, who moved from the Providores & Tapa Room in Marylebone - where he's been receiving glowing reviews for the last six years - to join general manager, Chris Ammermann, who can often be found welcoming customers front of house. With Caravan they take you on a culinary journey from China to Japan, the Middle East and Austria, with the fry-up the only nod to Antipodean tastes. The focus is on all-day dishes divided into snacks, small plates and big plates, sides and puddings presented as breakfast, all-day and brunch menus on weekends. It's delivered with a relaxed vibe that's entirely in keeping with the Exmouth Market ethos and can only add to the appeal of a night out in the pedestrianised area lit by twinkling fairy lights overhead.
Mature - A modern Italian restaurant that's ideal for a luxury brunch.
Cecconi's
Cecconi's,
5A Burlington Gardens London, W1S 3EW
Italian Cuisine
5A Burlington Gardens, Mayfair, London, W1S 3EW
Tube: Green Park Station
, Piccadilly Circus Station
Cecconi's is a wonderful Italian restaurant where you should eat at least once, even if it is just for tapas. A 2005 refurb means this institution has remained thoroughly modern and one of the trendiest places to eat, particularly in this part of town. The location just off Old Bond Street may suggest stuffiness but there's no such airs and graces here. It's fun and buzzing but in a very sophisticated, smart way. The food is excellent too. First set up in 1978 by Enzo Cecconi, manager of the Cipriani in Venice, it soon became an eighties establishment. Now under the ownership of Soho House with Andrea Cavaliere from Neal Street in the kitchen and Giacomo Maccioni as the excellent manager it continues to impress. The all day menu, served from 7am until 1am weekdays, 8am to 1am or midnight on weekends, is a delight with choices of chargrilled squid, wild seabass and roast duck as mains. While brunch and breakfast offer eggs of all styles, an array of baked goods and healthier options. If prices seem a little steep, order a glass of wine and a salad and sit up at the bar just to experience the Cecconi's charm.
Upmarket - An all-day grand cafe that boasts an extensive breakfast menu.
Colbert
Colbert,
50-52 Sloane Square London, SW1W 8AX
Brasseries
50-52 Sloane Square, Belgravia, London, SW1W 8AX
Tube: Sloane Square Station
On the site where Oriel stood for 20 years, Colbert is on the Sloane Square block and was transformed by Chris Corbin and Jeremy King. The 6,000 metre square restaurant from the men who brought you The Wolseley, The Delaunay and Brasserie Zedel is billed as "a true all-day 'grand cafe', providing eating and grazing from breakfast through to later evening". It brings to Chelsea the Wolseley style and format, something that is no doubt music to the ears for diners in this part of town. Such a prominent site deserves a destination restaurant and with 30 years' experience in the industry Corbin and King are past masters at producing the kind of restaurants celebrities go to and the rest of us follow. They proved their mettle with upmarket restaurants like The Ivy and Le Caprice which they sold to Richard Caring who also expressed an interest in this Sloane Square site. You can decide for yourself whether Colbert, like its predecessor, will remain 30 years on this spot.
Pricey - Relaxed Sunday brunch is served alongside chilled tunes from an in-house DJ.
Cookbook Cafe
Cookbook Cafe,
InterContinental London Park Lane, 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane London, W1J 7QY
Modern European Cuisine
InterContinental Park Lane, 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1J 7QY
Tube: Hyde Park Corner Station
This casual restaurant at the InterContinental London Park Lane is designed as a venue for aspiring chefs and sommeliers. Guests can experience wine and food tastings, book launches, drinks master classes, cooking demonstrations and roundtable discussions with renowned visiting chefs. The cafe is quirkily decorated with installations and flooded with natural daylight from enormous windows that face towards Hyde Park. Cookbook Cafe features over 200 original cookery books ranging from rare antiques to modern day collections. Cooking stations are centrally located, allowing the restaurant's artisan chefs to demonstrate their skills and interact with the customers. With an atmosphere that is casual and comfortable, staff that are friendly and informed, and a bright inviting decor, this venue is a breath of fresh air. A permanent fixture at Cookbook Cafe is the relaxed Sunday Brunch which includes Bellinis, Bloody Marys and Ice Tea Martinis, with chilled tunes from the DJ, weekly from 12 noon to 4pm. Cookbook Cafe runs regular Master Classes and Cooking Workshops.
Pricey - The first of Wolfgang Puck's CUT restaurants to offer a breakfast menu.
45 Park Lane, Hyde Park, London, W1K 1PN
Tube: Hyde Park Corner Station
If you've never heard of Wolfgang Puck you're clearly from this side of the Atlantic. The Austrian-American chef is a household name in the US and he has chosen London as the city to launch his first European restaurant. The CUT at 45 Park Lane, housed within the Dorchester Collection's new Mayfair hotel, 45 Park Lane, is his fourth such restaurant and follows the same formula as the original and award-winning CUT in Beverly Hills. Puck's 74-seat London steakhouse places an emphasis on grilled food. The menu offers "contemporary interpretations of the classic steak restaurant" with Puck's signature cuts of beef including filet, sirloin, ribeye, rib-chop, Porterhouse, bone-in New York and bone-in filet. Guests can also sample an extensive array of seafood and salad dishes such as the pan roasted Scottish lobster with black truffle sabayon and Heirloom tomato salad with Neal's Yard goat curd and aged balsamic. For pudding, a collection of traditional British and American favourites include baked Alaska and banana cream pie. And there's a first for a CUT restaurant: a breakfast menu, featuring blackberry buttermilk pancakes and salt beef hash cake. If that isn't enough to make Wolfgang Puck a household name in Britain maybe his extracurricular activities will: he's the one voicing the chef in The Smurfs, the film.
Upmarket - Enjoy a variety of Bloody Marys alongside hearty breakfasts at this British restaurant.
69-71 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3SE
Tube: Leicester Square Station
, Tottenham Court Road Station, Piccadilly Circus Station
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. The brunch is no different, with a range of baked goods and hearty breakfasts, plus a generous variety of Bloody Marys. 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.
Upmarket - Start your day on a high at this high rise restaurant.
Duck & Waffle
Duck & Waffle,
40th Floor, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate London, EC2N 4AY
British Cuisine
40th Floor, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY
Tube: Liverpool Street Station
, Aldgate Station
On the 40th floor of Heron Tower, Duck & Waffle offers diners spectacular views over The City and a European menu which changes throughout the day. Choose a Foie Gras 'All Day Breakfast' to start your day - quite literally 'on a high' - whilst looking out over The City's high rise towers. Alternatively, opt for the Duck &Waffle and you'll get a fried duck egg served with mustard maple syrup. An all-day menu is on offer at the stainless steel and frosted glass 98-seat restaurant with comforting choices like Old Spot pork pie with smoked quail egg, homemade Black Pudding with gooseberry chutney, bacon-wrapped dates with linguica sausage and endive salad, lamb sweetbreads, and a cheesey fourme d'Ambert tart based on an Eccles Cake. The restaurant offers a late night menu, featuring, among other dishes, roasted Galloway veal marrow bones with ox cheek marmalade, pickled girolles and parsley. The Duck & Waffle is one of two restaurants at Heron Tower which, along with SushiSamba on the 38th and 39th floors, is operated by US restaurant group Samba Brands Management.
Modern - Australian comfort food is served in this casual restaurant.
175 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London, W11 2SB
Tube: Notting Hill Gate Station
Australian chef and restaurateur Bill Granger opened his first restaurant, Bill's, in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 22 and, 20 years later, launched his first London restaurant, Granger & Co, in 2011 and now has three London restaurants - in Notting Hill, Clerkenwell and King's Cross. Best known for his Asian fusion style food, Granger's aim is to provide "convenience food that's delicious." With his Westbourne Grove restaurant Granger has set up a Bill's-style cafe - a 'British Bills' - ideal for casual all-day dining, but with more Asian food on the menu (comforting in the cold winter months) than in the Sydney restaurant. Bill's classics include comfort food favourites scrambled eggs with sourdough toast, sweet corn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon, and a full Aussie breakfast which comes with scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, bacon, roast tomato, chipolatas and mushrooms.
Casual - This cafe's popular banana bread is the perfect mid-morning indulgence.
13 Charlotte Place, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 1SN
Tube: Goodge Street Station
, Tottenham Court Road Station
Tucked away down a lane off Goodge Street, Lantana [lan-tan-uh] is a trendy Australian cafe named after a hardy weed that thrives in unlikely environments - an apt name for a cafe which has flourished on foreign soil since opening in 2008. Flat white coffee, corn fritters and toasted banana bread are the most popular orders but it's worth trying others things from the menu which often changes to keep it interesting. Choose from shredded confit duck hash, a salmon poke bowl, and breakfast tacos. Though small, the cafe has outdoor seating and the kind of individuality you get from an independent cafe when its owner, Shelagh Ryan, has grown up infused with an enthusiasm for the cafe culture of her home town, Melbourne. Such has been the success of Lantana that there are now two more branches with one in London Bridge and one in Shoreditch.
Mature - One of London's best-loved restaurant offers an extensive brunch menu.
Le Caprice
Le Caprice,
20 Arlington Street London, SW1A 1RJ
Modern European Cuisine
20 Arlington Street, St James's, London, SW1A 1RJ
Tube: Green Park Station
The glitteratti have made Le Caprice their eaterie of choice for the last three decades. The long-standing restaurant may have celebrated its thirtieth birthday in 2011 but it's been around far longer than that. One of London's best-loved restaurants, Le Caprice was originally opened by Mario Gallati in the West End in 1947, thirty years after he'd launched The Ivy. Both now come under Caprice Holdings who also own Scott's, Daphne's, J Sheekey and Rivington Bar & Grill, among others. Restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King bought and relaunched Le Caprice in September 1981, creating the restaurant as it is today, bought by Richard Caring in 2005. Following a thirtieth birthday facelift, the black and white interior reminds Jay Rayner of an "Art Deco ocean liner, all chrome panels, uplighters and friendly buzz". Jesus Adorno, who has graduated from head waiter in 1981 to director and 'face' of Le Caprice, is like "one of the fixtures its customers expect to see" (The Guardian). Le Caprice's menu mixes long-standing favourites like fish cakes with sorrel sauce, and their famed iced berries with white chocolate sauce with more exotic offerings of sashimi, seared foie gras, and good quality seared scallops.
Several traders serve a series of indulgent brunch dishes alongside a menu of signature cocktails.
Market Hall Fulham
Market Hall Fulham,
Old Underground Station, Fulham Broadway London, SW6 1BY
Old Underground Station, Fulham Broadway, London, SW6 1BY
Tube: Fulham Broadway Station
West London's brunch options increased tenfold with the arrival of Market Hall Fulham. Home to ten different traders, the spot proved popular from the offset with everything from curry and kebab to fried chicken and fresh salads, and the choice expanded further with the launch of the weekend brunch. Available every Saturday and Sunday, the brunch sees several of the traders present a menu of tempting dishes. Butchies presents a fried buttermilk chicken English muffin; Hotbox serves avo toast, pancakes, pork belly benedict, and a breakfast burger; and Fanny's offer a spiced sausage brekkie kebab and an avo'bab. Claude's Deli also gets in on the action with a selection of grab and go breakfast bowls, toasted breakfast sandwiches, egg dishes and baked goods. Wash it all down with one of the signature brunch cocktails or opt for the DIY Bloody Mary kit, available for groups of four to six.
Casual - A Mediterranean restaurant with great breakfast options.
287 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 2TZ
Tube: Highbury & Islington Station
This southern Mediterranean restaurant and deli has become a cast-iron favourite with Islington's socialites, who love the all-white decor, the sharing tables and the exotic cuisine, that mixes a dash of Italy and a spot of North Africa with a selection of Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern dishes. Takeaway options include salads, dips and superb patisserie, while if you eat in, you can expect a subtly flavoured and healthy meal. Renowned for its excellent breakfasts - voted "the finest in town" by The Observer Food Monthly, options include cinnamon French toast, Welsh rarebit and Shakshuka, a North African dish with eggs, peppers and tomatoes.
Upmarket - A fancy brunch from the Hart brothers.
Quo Vadis
Quo Vadis,
26-29 Dean Street London, W1D 3LL
Modern European Cuisine
26-29 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3LL
Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station
, Leicester Square Station, Piccadilly Circus Station
Fino and Barrafina owners brothers Eddie and Sam Hart, best known for their Spanish cuisine, have taken over Quo Vadis, an Italian stalwart in Soho - and a landmark since 1926, sold off by Marco Pierre White in 2007. They've smartened up the place with a new paint job, leaving the stained glass windows in place and adding a private members' club upstairs. The classic Italian menu has been largely overhauled. British and Modern European dishes take centre stage and include such delicacies as veal cutlet from the grill, pan-fried with sage butter, and crab tagliatelle. Inevitably, given this is a Hart brothers' venture, there is a Spanish bent found in dishes like the starter of crayfish tails with crčme fraîche and tomato and razor clams a la plancha with a drizzle of garlic, chilli and olive oil dressing. Breakfast dishes include porridge, granola fruit and yoghurt, eggs with buttery fried bread, and kipper. On the popularity of Fino and Barrafina alone, this is another winning eaterie from the Hart brothers.
Modern - New Zealand fusion food is served in this popular establishment.
Providores & Tapa Room
Providores & Tapa Room,
109 Marylebone High Street London, W1U 4RX
International Cuisine
109 Marylebone High Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 4RX
Tube: Baker Street Station
The downstairs Tapa room of this New Zealand fusion food establishment is an ideal setting for an original and healthy brunch - providing you can get in! So popular is the Providores on the weekends that there are often queues streaming out onto the pavement outside - even in the bleak mid winter. It's a sign of the place's delightful cooking that people are prepared to wait. Inside may be a little cramped, but the staff are super efficient and attentive, never rushing you even if hungry punters are banging on the door to get in. The reason for its popularity is, of course, the divine food: grilled sardines on roast tomato bruschetta, grilled chorizo on a courgette and potato gratin with a soft boiled egg, French toast stuffed with banana and pecans with streaky bacon - to name but a few. In short, the inventive ingredients on show put our British breakfasts to shame. But if it is a fry up that you want, then the Providores also offers perhaps the most flavoursome and healthy fry-ups in town - indescribably tasty.
Casual - Breakfast is served from dusk 'til dawn at this pitstop.
33 D'Arblay Street, Soho, London, W1F 8EU
Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station
, Oxford Circus Station
This relaxed Soho pitstop isn't named after the 80s film, it just does exactly what it says on the tin, serving a selection of eats to start your day - and then continues its good work till dusk. The breakfasts are unexpectedly not the standard fry-up; you can choose from a load of normal stuff you might have at home, and some more unusual treats like their interesting toastie range. They carry on dishing out the tasty snacks throughout the day. Inside the split level café is decorated in a welcoming blend of old and new - with some bold primary colours, aged chests, glossy leather arm chairs, battered signs decorating the walls and some optimistic sunflowers on each table. With free Wifi and a couple of Macs for customers to fiddle about on the net, it's a fine spot to refuel. Brunch can also be enjoyed at The Breakfast Club's other locations: Angel, Spitalfields and Hoxton.
Mature - Brunch is served in a glamorous, 1920's setting at this high profile establishment.
The Delaunay
The Delaunay,
55 Aldwych London, WC2B 4BB
Brasseries
55 Aldwych, Holborn, London, WC2B 4BB
Tube: Temple Station
, Holborn Station
Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, "the nation's most polished and enterprising restaurateurs" (The Independent), the pair responsible for The Wolseley, have taken inspiration from the grand cafes of Old Europe for The Delaunay, a restaurant which lives up to the great expectations such a high profile establishment attractThe Delaunays. Within weeks of opening the accolades were pouring in: "another surefire winner" (The Guardian), "you feel you've found the perfect restaurant" (The Independent), and "another success for this dynamic duo" (Hardens). The only voice of dissent was Zoe Williams who wrote, "I was not set on fire by the menu" in The Telegraph; though she too was seduced by the "unspeakable glamour", green leather banquettes and elegant 1920's decor created by David Collins Studios. The all-day dining menu includes favourites from The Wolseley (Birchermuesli, steak frites, chicken soup, and oysters), as well as a wide selection of Wieners and Schnitzels. While the weekend brunch menu ranges from egg classics to lunch favourites. The adjacent Counter at The Delaunay, with its own separate entrance on Aldwych, offers sitting space for walk-ins and serves take-out or eat-in food throughout the day.
Modern - Quirky brunch options are served alongside the traditional favourites.
The Modern Pantry
The Modern Pantry,
47-48 St John's Square London, EC1V 4JJ
International Cuisine
47-48 St John's Square, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 4JJ
Tube: Farringdon Station
, Barbican Station
After ten successful years Anna Hansen left The Modern Pantry in 2019, passing the baton on to head chef Robert Mcleary, who joined the restaurant overlooking St John's Square shortly after it opened in August 2008. With a ground floor cafe, first floor restaurant and pantry (deli) under one roof, you can sample the internationally influenced three course menu, order birthday cake or take a sandwich away for lunch. We'd recommended settling in for the full experience, sampling innovative dishes like red cabbage and miso soup and cassava chips served with tomato chilli jam and crème fraiche. Mains continue the treat for adventurous eaters - with choices of sake and soy butternut squash risotto dressed with cashew and mint pesto, and roast pork belly with chocolate and balsamic vinaigrette. For afters, Earl Grey panna cotta served with blackberry and liquorice jelly or chocolate mousse cake with tamarind caramel and cocoa chilli crumbs are typical of the tempting choices that you'll surely find room for.
Modern - Brunch ranges from pancakes to burgers at this shabby chic restaurant.
43-51 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1W 7PQ
Tube: Oxford Circus Station
, Goodge Street Station
Originally opened in 2011, the Riding House Cafe underwent a bit of a makeover in 2019, revealing marble table tops, newly sanded parquet flooring, softer lighting and a brighter interior. Well known - and loved - for its all-day dining, the brasserie builds on crowd pleasing classics like mac 'n' cheese and pancakes with a five course tasting menu paired with wine flights, offered alongside the a la carte evening menu. Housed in a terrific light filled ex-rag trade showroom, the space is 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 ingredients, cooked by head chef Henry Omereye, and a fabulous breakfast spread recommended Riding House Cafe and it's also ideal for a relaxed Sunday lunch. This sister restaurant to Bermondsey's Village East is a wonderful addition to the somewhat sparsely populated restaurant scene north of Oxford Street.
Casual - A self-serve cafe with an award-winning weekend brunch.
The Table
The Table,
83 Southwark Street London, SE1 0HX
Cafes and Delis
83 Southwark Street, Bankside, London, SE1 0HX
Tube: Southwark Station
On the ground floor of the offices of award-winning architects Allies and Morrison The Table makes an excellent staff canteen (a bit like The River Cafe only here it really is a cafe). When the practice came to design their own offices they decided to convert the bike shed underneath into a cafe. They are also responsible for the entire Blue Fin Building just across the road, as well as landmark projects like the Royal Festival Hall refit and the Peter Harrison Planetarium. King's Cross and the Olympic site's media centre are also significant projects. At The Table prices are surprisingly affordable - especially given the modern architecturally designed space. You can serve yourself from the counter, eat in or takeaway, choosing from the daily changing menu, which is likely to include a fish of the day, homemade tart and sandwiches, complemented by Monmouth's excellent coffee. We recommend coming here for the award-winning weekend brunch - it's what you've worked hard all week for. A real pleasure.
Mature - An extravagant venue that often welcomes celebrities to its premises.
The Wolseley
The Wolseley,
160 Piccadilly London, W1J 9EB
Brasseries
160 Piccadilly, St James's, London, W1J 9EB
Tube: Green Park Station
The great Brasseries of France are the most obvious inspiration for this hugely popular restaurant, but there are few places in Paris that can match The Wolseley for sheer plushness. Originally a 1920s car showroom, it was built on such an extravagant scale that it bankrupted Wolseley Motors. Swift black-clad waiters glide across the patterned marble floor, carrying groaning platters of fruits de mer, steak frites and lobster bisque between the pillars and archways of this Italian-influenced dining room. It's packed with celebrities at all times of day - we spotted a relaxed looking Ralph Fiennes brunching here last time - and booking a table is usually done months in advance if you don't happen to be Michael Winner.
Modern - Fantastic fry-ups, sophisticated dishes and great comfort food.
Tom's Kitchen
Tom's Kitchen,
27 Cale Street, Chelsea Green London, SW3 3QP
Brasseries
27 Cale Street, Chelsea Green, Chelsea, London, SW3 3QP
Tube: South Kensington Station
Tom Aikens' casual Tom's Kitchen has branches in Chelsea, close to the Kings Road, Somerset House, Canary Wharf and St Katherine Docks. These cafes are relaxed affairs with a butcher's block and an open kitchen offering curious diners an insight into the mechanics of the machine. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, they serve everything from sophisticated nose-to-tail cuts of meat to simple (and fantastic) fry-ups - or you can pop into the 'Games Room' for a cocktail. Simple ingredients, plain presentation and lots of comfort food have proved a winning formula. Opt for the pan fried foie gras with bacon and duck egg, follow with the spit roast shoulder of lamb for a full-on meaty meal, and complement with sides of mashed potato, savoy cabbage with bacon or parsnips. Or just opt for a macaroni cheese - reputated to be the best in London.