Every self-respecting foodie knows that brunch is the best meal of the day, and London is home to some of the best breakfast-lunch hybrid hot spots in the world. Once taking a backseat to the likes of New York and Australia – pioneers of the original brunch – the city has since taken on a life of its own when it comes to mid-morning dining, and from traditional English dishes and avocado-laden favourites to Middle-Eastern, Asian and a broad variety of other decadent offerings from across the globe, today, there isn’t anything you won’t be able to find to feast on if you look hard enough.
Whether you live in the capital or are planning a luxury break to London sometime soon, there are a multitude of lavish brunch spots scattered across the city that you won’t want to miss. Here, we take a look at some of the very best.
Hide, Piccadilly
For a fine dining brunch with a twist, Hide is central London’s most highly sought-after destination, often booking up well in advance thanks to its decadent menu and Michelin-starred head chef, Ollie Dabbous. Spread across three opulent floors, dining on the top offers the most luxurious experience, with the eight-course brunch tasting menu coming in at £245 per head and featuring inspired dishes like the buttery-soft Gigha halibut with citrus fruit and imperial caviar, and the Herdwick lamb cooked over charcoal with roast garlic, violet artichoke and three-cornered leeks.
Down on the ground floor, the set menu costs £48, and is a more laid-back affair – think truffled scrambled eggs on toast, buckwheat pain au chocolat, and banana bread with smoked maple butter – but you can choose to up-level your experience with Porthilly oysters with Exmoor caviar, all washed down with plenty of champagne.
Address: Hide, 85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 7NB
Seabird at The Hoxton, Southwark
One of the best boutique hotels in London and certainly in Southwark, The Hoxton is home to sky-high rooftop dining spot Seabird, which offers sweeping views down over the city and brings a New York feel to the table. This trendy spot specialises in oysters, which you can enjoy feasting on all day, every day, with a menu that takes diners on a coastal escape that incorporates all of the fresh flavours of Southern Europe and features an array of sea-to-table dishes inspired by the Mediterranean.
The Seabird’s sophisticated menu includes light dishes such as the anchovies yurrita with grilled sourdough and Bungay butter, and white prawns with escabeche oil and garlic, all washed down with as many Bloody Marys or glasses of Bucks’ Fizz as you fancy.
Address: Seabird, The Hoxton Hotel Southwark, 40 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NY
Café Biltmore Restaurant and Terrace at the Biltmore Hotel, Mayfair
Everyone knows that the best brunches are bottomless, and at Café Biltmore, the bubbles won’t stop flowing until you say so. In the springtime, you can dine on the heated outdoor terrace, surrounded by verdant green foliage and plants, with a menu of mouth-watering dishes delivered to your table courtesy of Michelin-recommended head chef Jason Atherton.
Eggs are a speciality here, making it a great spot for a more traditional brunch, and just about any style you can dream up is yours for the eating – from classic Benedict and Florentine to tasty shakshuka. Of course, eggs aren’t the only thing on the menu, and from fluffy pancakes topped with fresh berries and cream to the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich on a brioche bun, the biggest challenge you’ll face is choosing just one dish to devour.
Available every Saturday from 11am to 5pm, enjoy a well-deserved weekend lie-in, then meet friends here for a lazy brunch of either two courses for £32, or three courses for £38, with bottomless drinks starting from £18.
Address: Café Biltmore Restaurant and Terrace at The Biltmore Hotel, 44 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP.
Dishoom, Covent Garden
Dishoom is a renowned name across the capital thanks to its inspired Bombay café-style eatery, which first opened its doors to much acclaim back in 2010 and has remained one of London’s hottest dining spots ever since. Dishes here are decadent, and come with just the right amount of kick – from the Ludlow sausage naan with egg, to the bacon naan roll filled with Ginger Pig bacon, cream cheese and chilli jam.
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that Dishoom will keep you coming back for more, and the breakfast banana and mango lassi, which has a cult following, is worth making the visit for all on its own.
Address: Dishoom, 12 Upper St. Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2
Wun’s Tearoom, Soho
This old-school Asian tearoom is perched on the corner of bustling Greek Street, and has won itself a reputation for delicious all-day dining inspired by the delicacies of Hong Kong. Upstairs, an intimate dining room offers an authentic experience and must-try dishes including the sugar skin Iberico char siu, while downstairs, the neon-lit speakeasy bar is the perfect place to round things off with a few lunchtime drinks.
The brunch menu is especially popular, and takes inspiration from both Chinese and European cooking, with the soy mackerel devilled egg, scallop prawn toast and spicy Sichuan pepper rostis all stand-out dishes to try. Wash it all down with a potent Bloody Mary or a traditional Hong Kong iced milk tea.
Address: Wun’s Tea Room and Bar, 23 Greek Street, London W1D 4DZ
Ottolenghi Spitalfields
Tucked away down Artillery Lane, a narrow Georgian passageway in Spitalfields, you may be surprised to find that this chic spot is in fact the largest of all Ottolenghi locations, with an extensive brunch menu to match. With all of the flavours synonymous with Yotam and his team, the relaxed, all-day café utilises the mesmerising flavours from around North Africa and the Middle East.
On the menu, you’ll find dishes like the house shakshuka with braised eggs alongside brunch classics like scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, plus, the infamous scrambled tofu with grated tomato and confit garlic – a sort of ‘if you know, you know’ dish. Served daily from opening until 12pm and 1pm on Sundays.
Address: Ottolenghi Spitalfields, 50 Artillery Lane, London E1 7LJ.
