London’s story of gin, brunches and afternoon teas seems to have no end, and now there’s a whole host of new brunches coming our way. From Mariah Carey-themed ones (yes, really) to brunches serenaded by a live gospel choir, decadent Mexican menus to classic NY-style feasts, here are our top picks to get stuck into this winter.
Flesh & Buns Fitzrovia
It’s all about the bao at Flesh & Buns Fitzrovia, one of our favourite bottomless brunches in the capital. The steaming, fluffy buns come stuffed with the likes of piglet belly, rabbit katsu, miso aubergine, grilled sweet potato or beef short ribs. Don’t like choosing? Then go for the mixed smoked meat plate to share, which includes chilli miso brisket, pork cheek and beef with plenty of buns. To finish, there are two puddings; a Nutella croissant Tai Yaki and a sticky ginger pudding.
Where: 32 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3LR
Website: www.fleshandbuns.com
The Perception at W London
Those with a sweet tooth are going to think all their Christmases have come at once with the W Hotel’s Perception Bar Candy Brunch. Indulge in one and a half hours of bottomless cookies and cream cocktails or prosecco, with pulled pork burgers, crab Benedict or huevos rancheros.
PLUS a candy station featuring candies and cookies and a smore-station with sugar-laden spreads and toppings. Indulge but don’t tell your dentist.
Where: 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London, W1D 6QF, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus (0.2 miles)
Website: www.theperceptionbar.com
The Piano Works West End
Take respite from the winter chill the best way possible – comfort food, bottomless booze and banging tunes. Brunch to the Beat at The Piano Works (Farringdon and West End) is London’s only non-stop live audience-requested brunch. In short: you request the tunes; they play and sing them. Add to that bottomless St Germain Spritz, Bloody Mary’s, Italian pink sparkling wine, Prosecco, Bellini, Rossini or mocktails, plus comfort food such as buttermilk chicken and waffles, and your Saturday just got a whole lot better. Tiered packages are available from just £25 per person, too.
Where: 47 Whitcomb Street, London WC2H 7DH, UK (Off Leicester Square)
Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus (0.2 miles)
Website: www.pianoworks.bar
M Threadneedle Street
Have you made it on to the naughty or the nice list this year? Find out at M Restaurant’s ‘Naughty Santa Brunches’, featuring a DJ, free flowing Martini Prosecco, festive cocktails, liquor laced sweets and candy cane shots galore. Oh, and a mischievous cheeky Santa will be schmoozing the crowd.
Where: 2-3 Threadneedle Walk, 60 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8HP
Nearest station: Bank (0.2 miles)
Website: www.mrestaurants.co.uk
Red Rooster
Do you know who does brunch food best? New Yorkers. So head to Red Rooster, the first ever international outpost of the Harlem-based soul food restaurant, serving up British takes on beloved American classics for an epic Sunday service. Devour soul food classics – their signature Sammy’s Chicken ‘N’ Waffles is a must-try – with sharing drinks on tap. Providing a dramatic soundtrack will be East London’s very own House Gospel Choir, singing guests into the end of the weekend. Join them for one of their three Sunday services, with performances at 12.15pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.
Where: Red Rooster Shoreditch, 45 Curtain Road, EC2A 3PT
Website: www.thecurtain.com/red-rooster
Sea Containers London
If you’re into sharing plates, bookmark Sea Containers for your next boozy brunch. Dishes range from tacos to shakshuka, mac and cheese with braised beef and garlic crumbs to the classic avo on toast. Oh, and not to mention wow-factor Tom Dixon interiors and views across the Thames. If roasts are more your thing, order one of their famous weekend sharing roasts which include whole grilled trout, slow cooked short ribs and a whole roast chicken, each with all the trimmings, naturally.
Where: 20 Upper Ground, London, UK
Nearest station: London Waterloo East (0.3 miles)
Website: www.seacontainerslondon.com
South Place Hotel
Start your Saturday right with South Place Hotel’s lively brunch. From classic eggs benny to chop house burgers and shakshuka, there’s something for everyone. Go bottomless with bubbles, bellinis or mimosas for £18. Two courses comes in at just £22.50, but make room for pudding with decadent dessert of warm waffles, chocolate fudge sauce and bananas or the Valrhona chocolate delice with raspberry ice cream. Yum.
Where: 3 South Place, London, EC2M 2AF, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Moorgate (Great Northern) (0.2 miles)
Website: www.southplacehotel.com
Robata
If you’re into Japanese cuisine, ROBATA should be top of your weekend plans list. Start off with small plates of edamame, salmon rolls, fried chicken karaage, to name just a few. Plus, mains of miso aubergine, skewers or fillet steak and two hours of bottomless prosecco. You’ll leave belly-full and perhaps a little giddy.
Where: 56 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4UE, UK
Nearest station: Leicester Square (0.3 miles)
Website: www.robata.co.uk
Mercante
If endless pancakes, eggs on everything and avo on toast aren’t your bag, check out Mercante’s brunch instead. The bottomless brunch comes with an Italian twist – think classic caprese salad or mussels to start, followed by hearty roast chicken, delicate sea bream or comforting pasta for main. Finish off with tasty tiramisu, panna cotta or Sicilian lemon curd.
Where: Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Green Park (0.4 miles)
Website: www.mercanterestaurant.com
Art Yard Bar And Kitchen
Here’s a place that has brunch down to a fine art. Art Yard at the Bankside Hotel marries chilled out beats from the resident DJ with eclectic artwork on the walls and a tasty menu that sits somewhere between breakfast and lunch. Choose the burrata to start, followed by DIY eggs Benedict (you can add anything from crushed peas to black pudding) and wash it all down with free flowing bubbles.
Where: Bankside Hotel, 2 Blackfriars Road, SE1 9JU
Website: www.opentable.co.uk
The Prince Akatoki - TOKii
TOKii, inside The Prince Akatoki hotel, serves up weekend brunches with a Japanese twist. Make sure you skip breakfast entirely as the mammoth brunch boasts a whopping 10 courses which include sweet potato with lotus root crisps and miso aioli; prawn tempura, a choice of traditional skewers, and the best best bit, miso glazed black cod. TOKii’s brunch is priced at £39 or £49 with bottomless prosecco, white or red wine.
Read our full review of The Prince Akatoki, here.
Website: www.theprinceakatokilondon.com
Jefferson's
OK, so ice cream is best suited to hot summer days, but nothing’s more fun that breaking the rules. Book into Jefferson’s in Balham to load up on weekend waffles, ice cream, indulgent hot chocolates and more. Ice cream might be their big thing but they’re brunches are looking pretty good, too. The waffles (that you can top with anything sundae bar-style) are a must-order and it would be sacrilege to leave without even one scoop of the cold stuff.
Where: Jefferson's, 191B Balham High Road, Balham SW12 9BE
Website: www.jeffersonsicecream.com
Ella Canta
A decadent brunch calls for a decadent restaurant. Ella Canta is easily London’s best Mexican restaurant thanks to the dishes that are as colourful as the incredible interiors. The brunch menu packs a punch when it comes to flavour with highlights including sea bass ceviche with kumquat and chilli powder, octopus huarache with bean purée and watercress and beef corundas. Don’t leave without trying their signature guac (the best we’ve tried) that comes topped with an Instagrammable golden cricket. The menu is priced at £45 per person with unlimited margaritas and sparkling wine.
Where: 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, Mayfair, W1J 7QY
Website: www.ellacanta.com
Park Chinois
Step inside Park Chinois and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped inside a Bond film. The seriously glam interiors are just waiting to be Instagrammed, from the elaborate walls to the iconic red staircase and even the gold bird taps in the bathrooms. Guests are welcomed to the brunch with a cocktail before tucking into a signature three-course lunch and half a bottle of Charles Heidseick Champagne per person – beats a warm, flat Prosecco – and Djs will be spinning tunes all afternoon. Definitely not a brunch you can wear your gym kit to.
Where: Park Chinois, 17 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8EA
Nearest station: Green Park (0.2 miles)
Website: www.parkchinois.com
Lucky Voice Islington
Mariah Carey fever sees no sign of waning this festive season as she’s popping up everywhere from crisp packets to karaoke bars. This year on the 14th December partygoers can get stuck into Lucky Voice’s Mariah Carey-themed bottomless brunch, including two hours of booze, food, party games and belting out All I Want For Christmas Is You. An hour of even more singing in a private karaoke room for your group follows – if you still have a voice left.
Where: 173-174 Upper Street, London N1 1RG, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Essex Road (0.3 miles)
Website: www.luckyvoice.com
Balthazar
Go big or go home with Balthazar’s American-style brunch. The Covent Garden brasserie has a range of delicious comfort food, from juicy steak and eggs with pommes frites to towering New York pancakes with fresh banana and maple syrup, as well as brunch classics like eggs Royale.
Where: 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HZ
Nearest station: Covent Garden (0.2 miles)
Website: www.balthazarlondon.com
Hotel Café Royal
If avo on toast is a bit basic for you, head to Laurent at Hotel Café Royal for a brunch that’s better than most. Tuck into New York dishes with a twist, including truffle popovers benedict and crispy salt beef steamed buns. Plus, the towering, garnish-loaded Bloody Marys are some of the best you’ll find in the city.
Where: 68 Regent Street, Piccadilly, W1B 4DY
Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus (0.1 miles)
Website: www.hotelcaferoyal.com
Mews of Mayfair
Where: 10 Lancashire Court New Bond Street W1S 1EY
Nearest station: Bond Street (0.3 miles)
Website: www.mewsofmayfair.com
Searcys at The Gherkin
Head to the top of the Gherkin for a brunch with a side of some of the best views in London. The iconic building puts on four-course brunch every weekend, kicking off with pastries, followed by the likes of sherry smoked salmon, seeded bread, pesto, spring onion and soured cream or a meat board with a selection of British choices. Followed by eggs whether you like them Royale, Benny or Florentine and rounded off with sweet treats from Eaton Mess to chocolate tart.
Where: 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), Saint Mary Axe, London, United Kingdom
Nearest station: London Fenchurch Street (0.2 miles)
Website: www.searcysatthegherkin.co.uk
