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I've been living in London for 14 years and I've had a lot of brunches during that time. A guide to my favourite places to enjoy my favourite meal is, therefore, long overdue. I've been brunching at some of the venues on the list for more than a decade, while others are more recent discoveries. You'll probably notice that savoury dishes feature prominently in the photos below because it's fairly rare for me to order something sweet for brunch unless a) it sounds unmissably great or b) I am able to order a savoury main course followed by a smaller dessert. And if you're also into speciality coffee, fear not; most of these places will have you covered.
I've linked any reviews or mini-reviews I've written, although some of these are now a few years old. Read on to find out more about my favourite London brunches.
The one with the beautiful savoury dishes...
Abuelo | Covent Garden
If you like your brunch with an Aussie/South American twist, Abuelo is the place to go. The Covent Garden cafe is named for the owners' beloved abuelo ('grandfather'), and it certainly has a cosy, home-like feel, as well as serving great coffee and creative brunch dishes. Even the savoury ones (like the pea and jalapeño fritters pictured) are beautifully presented. It's a small space, so try to book in advance. Full review.
The one in East 17...
Bühler and Co | Walthamstow
Behind what has to be one of the most colourful front windows, Meg and Rosie Bühler's Walthamstow café serves a mean brunch menu, taking inspiration from cuisines from around the world. Even I was tempted into ordering a sweet dish — the brioche French toast with maple-poached peach, elderflower cream, thyme and pistachios — and it didn't disappoint. But it's hard to go wrong, whatever you order. Full review.
The one with the New York Parisian brunch...
Buvette | Notting Hill
It's now been over two years since I last visited New York — my longest absence in almost two decades. I'm rectifying that soon, but during the past couple of years of COVID, I have taken comfort in enjoying New York brunches in London. In the case of Buvette, it's more of an NYC take on a Parisian brunch. My mum's croque monsieur (pictured) might raise a few eyebrows in the Marais but went down a treat in Notting Hill. I had 'le sandwich' (waffles with crispy bacon, fried egg and cheese, liberally doused in maple syrup), which was superb. Le people watching is very good here too. Mini-review.
The creative Antipodean one...
Caravan | Bankside, Exmouth Market, King's Cross, and other locations
Back in 2012, when I'd been working in King's Cross for a couple of years and mourning the absence of interesting coffee shops and eateries, Caravan opened in Granary Square and it was a sign of things to come for the neighbourhood. I now tend to visit the Bankside location more often, but whichever Caravan I'm at, I know I'll get to enjoy warm service, great coffee and creative brunch plates — even the healthy-sounding ones are super-delicious. The outdoor seating area at Bankside is a great little sun trap, too. Full review (Bankside).
The one with the Asian-fusion menu...
Craving | Tottenham
I'm known for only travelling north of King's Cross very rarely, but when the coffee and food waiting for you at the other end is as good as at Craving in Tottenham, it's well worth the journey. The coffee is from Climpson's, and an excellent Asian-fusion brunch menu (top marks for the banh mi and the full English breakfast ramen!). There's covered outdoor seating for when you and the weather disagree about whether sitting outside is a good plan. Full review.
The one with the pillowy parmesan clouds...
Crispin | Spitalfields
Crispin easily wins the award for 'best use of parmesan in a brunch setting.' Ever since I had the scrambled eggs on sourdough with avocado and chorizo at this all-day eatery in Spitafields, it has set impossibly high standards. Of an evening, it has a winier vibe. The building in which it's located also has a pleasing geometry (if you like that sort of thing). Full review.
The one with the bacon naan...
Dishoom | Covent Garden, King's Cross, Shoreditch, and other locations
A large number of people in the UK let out a cheer during the depths of lockdown when Dishoom started selling meal kits to create your very own version of their much-loved bacon naan at home. I hate cooking so I had to wait longer to enjoy the dish in one of their restaurants again, but it was worth the wait. The King's Cross location was the treat-worthy lunch or dinner venue of choice when I was working nearby, and the multi-floor restaurant is beautifully designed. Try to book if you can or be prepared for a long wait at peak times.
The Aussie one (part 1)...
District | Mayfair, Nine Elms, Parsons Green
During lockdown, when indoor dining was banned, I quickly came round to the idea of takeaway brunch, and although Nine Elms is a bit of a walk from Bermondsey, the District café there gave me plenty of joy with their excellent coffee and avocado toast, among other offerings. Their laid-back Nine Elms café is also a beautiful, airy space, with leafy outdoor seating. It's also very handy for the US Embassy! Full review (Nine Elms).
The one with the duck and the waffle...
Duck & Waffle | City of London
I was going to call this one 'the one with the view,' but my photos didn't include both the view and the brunch so I've chosen to highlight Duck & Waffle's signature dish instead. You'll have to take my word for it on the view front (or check out the photos in my full review), but the food and service are excellent, and brunch in the sky, looking down on the City of London, is a very special experience. Full review.
The one everyone wants to befriend...
Friends of Ours | Hoxton
Up in Hoxton, Friends of Ours serves a whole host of 'Australasian-inspired' brunch classics, like this BLT of dreams (focaccia with bacon, beef tomatoes, rocket and sriracha mayo) — often with a twist or two — in a cosy, neighbourhood-cafe setting. Go hungry, leave happy. Oh, and don't forget to enjoy the coffee from Dark Arts, bread and pastries from The Dusty Knuckle — or a brunch cocktail or two. Full review.
The one where the cup is more than half full...
Half Cup | City of London, King's Cross
Half Cup is another favourite brunch spot of mine from my King's Cross days, but I went back a couple of times during lockdown for takeaway brunch, enjoyed in the sunshine in the nearby park. The menu changes often, but there's always a great selection of dishes, and the cosy, colourful cafe is a lovely place to hang out. Full review (King's Cross).
The one that really is worth the visit...
Juliet's Quality Foods | Tooting
'Worth the visit,' declared the saucer accompanying my piccolo at Juliet's Quality Foods. It was quite right: the coffee (from The Barn) and the brunch made the trip to Tooting well worth it. The brunch menu is very interesting and there are always a couple of specials that make the choice even harder. Their signature dish is the 'Young Betty' — poached eggs on sourdough with eel (yes!) and espresso and chilli hollandaise. But I've had other variations of the Betty before at Milk (see below), and so decided to luxe up my Saturday by ordering the smoked caviar folded eggs on sourdough, with a side of crispy bacon. Because why the heck not? It looked beautiful and tasted even better. And if you don't have room for a slice of banana and cascara bread, they also sell small loaves to take home.
The Aussie one (part 2)...
Lantana | Fitzrovia, London Bridge, Shoreditch
Lantana is another of the Aussie bruncherias I've been frequenting since the relative London brunch dark ages of the early 2010s. I used to go to the cosy, bustling Fitzrovia café but usually visit their Southwark Street station near London Bridge these days. The menu is extensive and there are so many great options it can be hard to choose. You don't have to order the corn fritters, but you won't regret it if you do. Full review (London Bridge).
The one with the Young Betty...
Milk | Balham
At Milk in Balham, the menu takes a bit of deciphering — from Young Betty and Sweet Maria to the Convict, there's a lot to dissect! I do usually order the Young Betty — an eggs Benedict by any other name, but as my beloved and much-missed grandmother was called Betty, ordering it feels like a tribute to her. The coffee is excellent too. Full review.
The one in the railway arch...
Origin Coffee | Southwark
Origin has several coffee shops in London, but its Southwark location, in one of the railway arches in Scoresby Street, is the best option if you're in the market for brunch to accompany your single-origin coffee. The menu changes regularly and the weekly specials are always very tempting. The space is beautifully designed, from the speckled coffee bar to the small posies of flowers that adorn each table. There's usually a relaxed vibe, and I always enjoy talking to the baristas who help me choose from the current coffee selection. Full review.
The pink one...
Over Under Coffee | Clapham, Earl's Court, Notting Hill, and other locations
You can spot Over Under coffee shops from their millennial pink shopfronts. Inside, the surroundings are more minimalist — there's a long sofa facing the coffee bar at the Ladbroke Grove location, which is handy when there's a queue. They serve coffee from Assembly and a selection of brunch dishes that take you from 'definitely still breakfast' to 'wait, it's afternoon already?' The avocado toast with poached egg, coriander and seeds is always a winner. Full review (Notting Hill).
The Kiwi one...
Ozone Coffee Roasters | London Fields, Shoreditch
I've been to the original Ozone near the Old Street roundabout many times, but it took me finally getting a bike during lockdown to visit their Emma Street cafe in London Fields. Lockdown meant it was takeaway only at the time, but *BREKKIE BUN ALERT* the brekkie bun was most excellent. If you're dining in, the menu is long and filled with interesting and delicious brunch options, and drinks-wise, you can opt for Ozone's single-origin coffees, or go for something rather boozier. Full reviews: London Fields and Shoreditch.
The one T.S. Eliot would have rated...
Prufrock | Clerkenwell
Prufrock (named for a T.S. Eliot poem about a man who "measured out [his] life with coffee spoons") has long been one of my favourite speciality coffee shops and it's great to see it thriving more than a decade after my first visit. The interiors are looking more gorgeous than ever after their most recent revamp, but it's the coffee and brunch that are the real standouts. My favourites from the all-day menu are the Prufrock Benny with espresso hollandaise and bacon, and the breakfast brioche bun (I'm predictable, I know). If you like your single-origin pourover, you will probably enjoy browsing the amazing selection of retail bags of coffee beans from different roasters from around the world. Full review.
The one fit for a royal...
Queens of Mayfair | Mayfair
Sometimes one brunch course isn't enough, and at Queens of Mayfair you can go the whole hog, starting with pastries or porridge before proceeding to the main event, where pancakes, sweetcorn fritters and mushrooms on toast currently feature. If you're feeling even more decadent, you can add bottomless cocktails or prosecco to your order. The Brazilian Daterra coffee they serve is great, but you can upgrade to the Best Gesha of Panama option for an even more special experience. Full review.
The one for when you can't spend Sunday in NYC...
Sunday in Brooklyn | Notting Hill
Brunching at Sunday in Brooklyn in Notting Hill isn't just for Sundays, although it is also perfect for lazy Sundays that are made for pancakes and parks. The Sunday pancakes are the signature dish; served with hazelnut maple praline, they come in a stack of one, two or three. Unless you have a very sweet tooth, you may wish to order a savoury dish to start and then share a pancake or two with your dining companions. Note to self: take dining companions next time you go so that you can do this! I've had the cheddar scramble at the Brooklyn original, and the excellent egg sandwich is the featured photo at the top of this post. The cocktails — most of which are whimsically presented — are great too. Mini-review of the NYC original.
The one with my all-time favourite avocado toast...
TAB x TAB | Notting Hill
There are so many things to love about TAB x TAB: the coffee (currently from Kiss the Hippo), the gorgeous ceramics (from KANA) and the people-watching opportunities on Westbourne Grove. But best of all is the avocado toast, which comes with the most moreish coriander, cashew and lime dressing. I have eaten a lot of avocado toast over the years, but this one takes the biscuit (or should that be the sourdough?). Full review.
The one in Brixton Market...
Three Eight Four | Brixton
Brixton Market isn't short of dining options, but Three Eight Four is a great brunch option. I like the huevos notos — and I like being able to have churros for dessert even more! Of an evening, there are small plates, wine and cocktails at this bustling spot.
The 'Bermondsey born' one...
WatchHouse Tower Bridge | Bermondsey, and other locations
There's a veritable village of WatchHouses these days (or a hamlet, at least), but the first two were in Bermondsey, and it's the Tower Bridge location on historic Shad Thames that is my favourite for brunch. The menu is filled with brunch classics — all of those that I've tried have been fab, especially the sweetcorn fritters and Full House. WatchHouse roasts their own coffee at their Bermondsey roastery, and there are espresso-based drinks and V60 pourover coffees on the menu, as well as some boozier options. Full review (Tower Bridge, in its previous location).
The one...
Where the Pancakes Are | Borough, Fitzrovia
If you don't like pancakes, Where the Pancakes Are probably isn't for you. But I suspect you are in the minority as there's always a big queue outside the original Flat Iron Square location in Borough at weekends. I do like pancakes but, as mentioned, I don't really like sweet brunch dishes, so I'm delighted to report that Where the Pancakes Are has a great range of sweet and savoury pancakes. I've enjoyed the American (with bacon and maple syrup) and the Royal (pictured above), and when I last visited, a few months ago, my Welsh friend was delighted by the Welsh Rarebit pancakes. The sweet dishes are impressively decadent. Full review (Borough).
The one on the waterfront...
White Mulberries | Wapping
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