Here are the places you want to book for brunch where the food (rather than the bottomless drinks) is the focus.
Fallow
St James - 2 St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4RP
Fallow have really built on their breakfast and brunch game over the years, and they have certainly done so with one eye on your Instagram feed. The croissant rolls are the main draw, with everything from sausage, bacon and egg to whey caramel sandwiched between them. Their black pudding Benedict is also a strong draw and, being a sustainably focused restaurant, they shun avocado on toast for crushed English peas instead. Their mid-week breakfasts are also well worth checking out.
The dish to order: Any of their signature croissant rolls.
Chet's
Shepherd's Bush - 65 Shepherd's Bush Green, London W12 8QE
This restaurant inside the Hoxton Shepherd's Bush hotel quickly became a big hit due to its unique Thai-Americana-style food. Taking specific influences from American diner bars, it's no surprise that their brunch game is so strong. Alongside more trad dishes like banana French toast, you'll also find spicy chicken on a roti waffle and a special Thai omelette on the menu.
The dish to order: The spicy pork patty scone is the one to go for.
Sunday
Islington - 169 Hemingford Rd, London N1 1DA
Sunday is such a popular brunch location you can always expect queues at the weekend, but it’s worth it for the perfectly cooked Full English and brunch options like courgette fritters as a base for avocado, halloumi and poached eggs. Weekly specials are worth watching out for and range the globe for inspiration from Mexican chilaquiles to chicken musakhan from Palestine.
The dish to order: The pancake stack with honeycomb butter
The Good Egg
Stoke Newington and Camden
The Good Egg in its Stoke Newington location has been one of the area's top places for brunch since it opened back in 2015. It takes a Middle Eastern approach to its brunch dishes (which are available all-day, all week). There are many options to choose from here, including a popular za’atar fried chicken and waffles with spiced maple syrup and a lamb shawarma hash. Don't leave without trying the babka.
The dish to order: They serve some of the best shakshuka in town.
Where The Pancakes Are
Fitzrovia, Battersea, London Bridge
If pancakes are what really makes a brunch special for you, then you might as well go to the place that specialises in just that. This restaurant's buttermilk batter pancakes come in all manner of savoury and sweet styles, as well as the more American Dutch baby version. There are lots of ready made options, but if you're looking to create something a little more bespoke, there are almost 20 toppings to choose from.
The dish to order: Probably the classic American - streaky bacon, maple syrup and blueberries.
Snackbar
Dalston - 20 Dalston Ln, London E8 3AZ
The breakfast and brunch menus at Freddie Janssen's Dalston spot take inspiration from all over the world, from the US-style Snackmuffin with its breakfast sausage patty, fried Burford Brown egg and American cheese to the Japanese-influenced sides of seaweed fries with umami mayo. Best of all is the hidden garden at the back, elevating this to a top-tier brunch spot during the sunnier months.
The dish to order: Kimchi croque madame made with Dusty Knuckle’s potato sourdough.
Milk Beach
Queen's Park - 19-21 Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6DH
While the Soho branch does a decent breakfast, the original Queen's Park Milk Beach is where you'll need to go for their proper brunch, easily one of the best in the area. An Australian restaurant, they do a mean avocado on toast using St John sourdough (you can get their doughnuts here too) and there's a strong line in brunch cocktails here too.
The dish to order: The eggs benedict with overnight cooked pulled ham hock, spinach and pickled daikon
Tasha's
Battersea - 3 Prospect Way, London SW11 8BH
A relatively new addition to London, Tasha's hails from South Africa and has quickly become one of the best places for brunch around the Power Station. Unique options here include the hummus toastie, and the sweetcorn scramble which combines scrambled egg, creamed corn and grilled corn. The breakfast/brunch menu is only available until 2pm, so bear that in mind when you visit.
The dish to order: The Jett and Lukes - mini sesame seed buns topped with cheddar cheese, grilled onion, bacon, rocket, eggs (and potatoes on the side)
Milk
Balham - 20 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9RG
Every day is brunch day at Balham cafe Milk, which prides itself on using producers from as close to its location as possible. Think classic brunch dishes, but given as much extra love and attention as possible. So smashed avo on sourdough might feature a tahini and sumac aioli and be served with pickled red meat radish and roasted chilli chickpeas. Plus you’ve got to love anywhere that offers hangover sauce (smoked chipotle, if you’re asking).
The dish to order: The Nutzilla French toast - with wild Madagascan sugar chantilly, miso and white chocolate caramel, strawberries and candied pecans
Ergon
Mayfair - 15 Maddox St, London W1S 2QG
London’s Greek brunch options are limited, making this Mayfair cafe a popular go-to if that’s what you’re after. Subsequently, the wait at weekends can be pretty long, although brunch is served all day every day, so you can pick a less busy time. The peinirli pizza pies are always worth a try and the smoothies (with Greek yoghurt, natch) are good too.
The dish to order: Shake things up with their Green Shakshuka made with pistachios.
Esters
Stoke Newington - 55 Kynaston Rd, London N16 0EB
If you’re seeking out a brunch with a difference then this Stokie cafe, tucked away on a side street, is the place you’ve been looking for. Expect to see regularly-changing seasonal takes on brunch specials, so a spring version of French toast will probably feature bright pink Yorkshire rhubarb. Brunch is Saturday-only but they do a cracking breakfast during the week too.
The dish to order: Whatever the French toast is - plus look out for the weekly changing loaf cake.
Sunday in Brooklyn
Notting Hill - 98 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU
This American import in Notting Hill has a signature dish that any pancake lover should cross town for, served with Hazelnut maple praline and brown butter. You'll need a stack of at least two in our opinion, but if you have any room after that, their steak and eggs are pretty strong or you could go for their egg sandwich, which is scrambled eggs, cheddar, gochujang majo and potato crisp in a brioche bun.
The dish to order: That pancake
Juliet's Quality Foods
Tooting - 110 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9NG
Tooting’s very own temple to brunch was set up by Julian Porter and Lauren James (who launched Milk in Balham so they have brunch form). The eclectic menu reflects a team who like to shake things up, so you’ll find their own Pumpkin Seed Dukkah on the poached eggs and limited edition dishes are also worth taking a look at.
The dish to order: Right now it’s the folded eggs on sourdough with smoked caviar
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