Discover The Top 12 Brunches in London
There was a time when eating out meant a trip to an average burger joint, greasy caf, or fish and chip shop. Thank the culinary heavens things have got a whole lot better and a brand new mealtime served up in the process – brunch.
By Clare Dentith | Updated May 27 2024
Weekend mornings just wouldn’t feel the same now without tucking into a delight between breakfast and lunch.
With so much choice across London, we thought we’d take away the morning stress and deliver-up the best bottomless brunches, activity brunches, rooftop brunches, and cheap brunches near you. So, knives and forks at the ready…
North London
Beam - Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Highbury
39-41 Topsfield Rd, London N8 8PT
This family-owned small café chain in London is a firm favourite with its local communities. Its menu is inspired by the owners’ Middle Eastern heritage serving up delights including: organic Turkish eggs with diced spicy beef; the Beam Benedict – a Shawarma spiced patty with harissa hollandaise; and the ever popular Shakshuka.
If you fancy something a bit more traditional, there’s the usual salmon and scrambled eggs and full English to keep you satisfied for most of the day. The ingredients are super fresh, it’s well-presented and the service is friendly (especially when you’ve got small children to satisfy).
Their branches are open 8AM – 6.30P daily and they only take walk-ins.
Common Ground
49 Stroud Green Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 3EF
Common Ground is a relaxed café (with a twist) in Stroud Green and a stones’ throw from Finsbury Park tube station. They serve fresh, globally inspired food, pastries & house bakes, and speciality coffee daily and have a delightful large back terrace full of plants for those warmer days.
Their meat and fish free Savoury menu serve tasty veggie dishes – the smashed peas, black fig and rosemary goats’ cheese on sourdough (with or without eggs) is a firm favourite. Brunch diners can also choose from a selection of toasties, sandwiches, cakes and pastries from the counter.
The twist? Common Ground serves cocktails, beer and wine from midday on Saturday and Sunday so you can settle down for a boozy brunch if you’re feeling inclined.
Caravan
11-13 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QD
Now legendary in the London brunch seen with 7 cafes scattered across the capital, and about to open another in Covent Garden, Caravan was born in Exmouth market. It’s a super relaxed, neighbourhood brunch spot which boasts its own coffee roaster in the basement!
Its weekend brunch is served from 9 – 4pm and is neatly served On Toast, in a Bowl or on a Plate. It’s a big menu and they really do cater for all tastes - you’ll find yourself going back for more for sure. If it’s a boozy brunch you’re after, there’s an extensive drinks menu to choose from.
Book at table here
West London
The Barnaby Next Door, Covent Garden
16a Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, WC2H 9DP
This cosy café is a slice of Moorish Spain and North Africa rolled into one, tucked away in a corner of Covent Garden. There’s relaxed counter seating and the front windows fully open to overlook their patio where you can while away a morning in the summer months.
Barnaby’s head chef, Aika Levins, serves up simple but fragrant spicy and smoky dishes including roasted sweet potato, Beluga lentil and harissa salad and there are some seriously tempting pastries for dessert.
Dishoom - High Street Kensington
4 Derry St, London W8 5SE
If you’re looking to taste something new for brunch, Dishoom Kensington serves a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food and drinks all day, every day.
Delve into Keema Per Eedu – a Parsi power breakfast – with spicy chicken keema studded with delicate morsels of chicken liver topped with 3 runny-yolked friend eggs and Sali crisp-chips.
Dishoom’s bacon naan roll is also legendary! Created using applewood and Beachwood smoked streaky bacon from Ayrshire, it deserves all the accolades it gets.
Dishoom is mostly a walk-in café, no reservations needed.
Beam, Notting Hill
103 Westbourne Grove, Marylebone W2 4UW
This family-owned, small café chain in London is a firm favourite with its local community. Its menu is inspired by the owners’ Middle Eastern heritage who serve up tasty delights including: organic Turkish eggs with diced spicy beef; the Beam Benedict – a Shawarma spiced patty with harissa hollandaise; and the ever popular Shakshuka.
But if you fancy something a bit more traditional, there’s the usual salmon and scrambled eggs and full English to keep you satisfied for most of the day. The ingredients are super fresh, it’s all well-presented and the service is friendly (especially when you’ve got small children to satisfy).
Their branches are open 8AM – 6.30PM daily and they only take walk-ins.
South London
Wild by Tart
3-4 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, London, SW1W 9AZ
This is a large restaurant in the heart of Belgravia run by healthy foodie couple behind Tart London. It’s a take-away deli, all day café and fine dining restaurant and bar at night. All the ingredients are sourced as local as possible and there’s a seasonal approach to their menu.
Their mostly veggie and vegan menu whips up Burrata, Jerusalem Artichoke with black garlic and truffle vinaigrette, heritage tomatoes and goat’s curd with pistachio and almond dukkah. Mouth-watering Fowey mussels with miso butter, coconut milk and lime will hook in the fish eaters.
Book a table here
Aqua, Shard
Level 31, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
If you fancy burning off some calories before you took into a three-course brunch feast at level 31 of the Shard building, this spot is for you! The panoramic views of London are some of the best.
Menu highlights include citrus-cured South Coast mackerel, paired elegantly with avocado, cucumber, and heritage beetroot and ham hock terrine, accompanied by pigs head croquette, pistachio, tarragon, and pickled heritage carrot.
The weekend brunch menu is served from 10.30am – 2.30pm
Book a table here
Skylight, Peckham
120 Peckham Hill St, London SE15 5JT
This legendary rooftop space is fun for brunch. Think bottomless brunch, live music, cocktails and some of the best views of the London skyline.
From a choice between a drag bonanza or a garage dance sesh, you can party on. Think endless drinks for 90 minutes, from prosecco to bottles of corona.
Book at table or event here
City/East London
Ottolenghi, Spitalfields
50 Artillery Ln, London E1 7LJ
This is well-known restaurant chain across serving up Mediterranean taste sensations from its chef patron. Brunch guests can either dine at a table or the bar, and deli for take away. #
Menu highlights include: Shakhuka with braised eggs, Welsh rarebit or scrambled tofu with rose harissa and artichoke. Deli favourites offer a variety of tasty salads.
Book a table here
Duck & Waffle, The City
110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
If you like to munch on your brunch with a view, then the Duck and Waffle is a must. 40 floors above London in the heart of The City, brunch is served every weekend. There’s a wide range of dishes to choose from, many with a Duck name, and egg lovers will not be disappointed.
Indulge in Duck egg en Cocotte with wild mushrooms, gruyere cheese and truffle with soldiers, Duck Benedict, or Duck and waffle to name a few.
If a savoury brunch is more your thing, then there’s the rather decadent Foie Gras crème Brulé and Lobster roll to sink your teeth into.
Brunch starts early from 6AM to 4.30PM
Book a table here
Bourne & Hollingworth Buildings
42 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0HU
You should pop in here and look at the beautiful space which has been created in the middle of Clerkenwell. Pitched as a multi-faceted clubhouse, and boasting its very own cookery school, this bottomless brunch spot should not be missed.
The weekend menu (from 10am till 4pm), serves up the usual full English and Vegan breakfast, but throws in a couple of specials – Portland Crab on a pretzel roll and Salt Beef & Stornaway Black Pudding Hash. YumE!
Bottomless Brunch is priced at £42.50, £45 or £48.50 depending on whether you want fizz with your fries. Cocktail lovers won’t be disappointed with four Brunch cocktails to choose from.
See their website here