The Resy Guide To London’s Finest Brunches

Sunday in Brooklyn’s infamous pancakes dominated New York’s brunch scene for years after the restaurant launched, and the impact in London thus far appears similar; the thick buttermilk pancakes, drenched in a hazelnut maple praline syrup, have become staples on Instagram and TikTok. But aside from the pancakes, the entire brunch menu is excellent – NYC-style dishes like a top-tier egg sandwich or biscuits and gravy – not to mention good cocktails and a breezy light-drenched dining room that make brunch dates here a genuine pleasure.

An oasis of civility in Mayfair, this chic café and restaurant can be found on the top floor of Dover Street Market. The café compliments its surroundings with homely, comforting British cooking, with homemade tarts and hand-rolled pasta mixing with seasonal salads and baked treats. Everything is made from scratch under the guidance of legendary owner Rose Carrarini. Perfect for a late start – open from 12pm.

Carmel’s brunch offering runs from Friday to Sunday, dishing up savoury plates like an excellent shakshuka and turmeric-fried eggs alongside sweet dishes like stuffed French toast, or porridge with saffron poached pear and candied hazelnuts. A gorgeous, light-filled dining room decorated with hanging plants and vintage accents makes it an appropriate place to ease into the weekend, and a superb list of cocktails and natural wines offers plenty of refreshment as the clock hits double digits.

Not brunch, but breakfast. Café Cecilia has been serving one of London’s finest breakfasts of late, with fortifying dishes like kippers and toast, coolea and eggs on Guinness bread, and an outstanding black pudding served with moreish plum jam a reflection of chef Max Rocha’s Irish heritage and his time at institutions like St. John and the River Café. Grab a window seat and watch the morning drift by in one of the city’s buzziest dining rooms.

A stylish favourite with upwardly mobile Peckhamites, this superb neighbourhood restaurant offers a stellar brunch on Saturdays. The kitchen offers familiar twists on classic breakfast staples; so, a riff on a croque monsieur offers a bechamel-loaded croissant sandwiching smoked ham and oozing raclette, while a breakfast bap gets a lift from jerk BBQ sauce and vibrant salsa verde. It’s rather popular, so be sure to get in early.

Elements of Hong Kong’s cha chaan tengs (caffs) collide with London brunch culture at this slick Cantonese specialist in Soho. There’s an Instagrammable interior straight out of a Wong Kar-Wai film, with the clatter of a busy dining room and bursts of steam from baskets of buns being served; get the char siu Canton scramble with egg fried rice and scallop prawn toast to share, or keep it old-school with kaya butter toast with egg and an iced milk tea.

Alex Hely-Hutchinson’s gorgeous Borough café – complete with a pretty interior and spacious terrace – is a wonderful place to watch the tos-and-fros of the market, with breakfasts (9-12am) revolving around heritage grains. So, there’s comforting oatmeal and mueslis, delicious things on toast with eggs, seasonal veg, plus god-tier pastries from The Snapery and nearby Flor.

This cosy Kiwi café’s entire raison d’etre is plant-based brunch – and accordingly draws a loyal crowd from the surrounding Acre Lane area. Freshly baked pastries and homemade plates of pancakes, toasties, and bowls offer plenty of comfort bettered only by owner Samantha Newman as she fusses over guests in the dining room. Try and grab a table upstairs or on the pavement if the weather’s good.

This acclaimed Tooting restaurant punches well above its weight, with a creative array of delicious small plates in the evening and a succinct lineup of brunch dishes and house-made pastries in the morning. Brunchy plates and sandwiches sidle up to fare that reflects the chef-owners’ innovative approach to cooking, like an astonishing leek ‘guacamole’ on toast, or hot-smoked Chalkstream trout with grits. There’s a grown-up vibe, but it’s plenty cosy inside.

This trendy wine bar and bistro is already known for being a relaxed, local affair, but the conviviality turns up a notch at weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday) when the Bloody Marys are landing on tables and bright, summery wines are being poured. Food-wise, expect familiar brunch dishes with a twist — a breakfast burrito, peanut butter French toast or shakshuka — plus the cracking small plates the restaurant is known for. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Aussie chef Bill Granger’s original restaurant in Sydney launched a thousand imitators, with his smashed avo and corn fritters winding up on menus from Tokyo to Toronto. His London cafes are as good as their counterparts down under, with buzzing, bright dining rooms setting the scene for fresh brunch dishes, salads, bowls and Asian-inflected dishes. Cocktails are excellent, and you’ll want to split an order of the hotcakes. Tucked away from the main road, the Clerkenwell restaurant offers pretty views across Clerkenwell Green.

Tucked away on a quiet residential street near the Thames, Lindsay Elder established this pretty community café in 2019 when it quickly became popular for its freshly baked pastries, seasonal cooking, and laid-back pace. Inside, fresh flowers decorate tables and pretty pastels invite guests to linger awhile; nourishing breakfast dishes like a croque madame, kimchi fried rice or a super grain porridge leisurely ebb into afternoons of breezy seasonal pastas and salads. The café’s garden is particularly picturesque during warm weather.

With an artsy neon-accented dining room, strong coffee, cocktails and an intoxicating vibe, brunch at this all-day Greenwich café offers plenty of buzz. Hit it with a group for maximum enjoyment; staples like smashed avocado and pancakes are plenty popular, and there’s bottomless prosecco for the committed.

A friendly neighbourhood atmosphere and a sleek, bright dining room form a welcoming backdrop at this Battersea favourite. Known for sourcing seasonal, nutrient-dense produce and creating dishes with an eye towards balance, chef Chris Gay crafts luxurious brunches, hearty roasts, and comfort food that locals return for. Pro Tip: Don’t miss the banana bread.

Imagine a biker bar crossed with a greasy spoon set up shop in Clapton, and the result would be Jim’s. Grab a booth at this friendly neighbourhood spot for hangover-busting plates like salt beef hash, steak and eggs, and a vegan breakfast skillet loaded with black eyed beans, marinated peppers, and eggs over sourdough. Cocktails are strong, and a bargain at seven quid a pop.

Offering one of East London’s most outstanding brunches, this cult Dalston café attracts an in-the-know local crowd who come for unabashedly delicious coffee and retro cocktails, and a well-travelled (yet completely familiar) menu of dishes like on-trend birria tacos, prawn toast with cured egg yolk, and owner Freddie Janssen’s odes to fast-food classics like an excellent fried fish sandwich with tartare sauce. Grab a table in the bright front dining room, or relax in a sunny garden out back.

A sheltered outdoor terrace in Bloomberg Arcade and a comfy interior – showcasing a long bar and open kitchen – make for a calm setting to enjoy this restaurant’s legendary Japanese cooking. Renowned breakfasts – like a calming bowl of udon served with bacon, shiitake mushrooms and a fried egg, or buttered rice with kipper and egg – offer a refined alternative to the archetypal brunch affair.

Housed in a striking pavilion a stone’s throw from Bishopsgate, this hip all-day café and restaurant offers one of the area’s outstanding brunches. A short but sweet menu of classic brunch dishes with a twist – Eggs Benedict with nutty brown butter, fresh burrata on Dusty Knuckle sourdough, avocado toast spiked with chilli salt and dill – keeps things simple, and there’s an excellent value brunch prix-fixe for £28 with a glass of fizz for the indecisive.

Brunches don’t get much better than at this Bethnal Green institution, which offers superb renditions of classic dishes, strong coffee, and stronger cocktails. There’s a palpable buzz at the weekend in the dining room, as daylight washes through the capacious ex-industrial interior and resident pianist Xavier stumbles in just after 12 to pick through Penny Lane on the ivory. An essential East London experience.

Located in an old railway arch in Haggerston, this hip East End favourite specialises in Middle Eastern-inspired sharing plates and natural wine. Brunch is a celebratory affair here – fluffy cholla French toast arrives with crème fraiche and crunchy kedaif, with go-tos like Turkish eggs and shakshuka spiked with chilli and feta. Can’t decide? A full Israeli breakfast for two promises a colourful spread to brighten any morning.

A stunning dining room and a convenient Shoreditch location make this Turkish-luxe spot an excellent place to meet for breakfast or brunch. Housemade pastries are particularly good with Turkish coffee, while a Levantine-style breakfast – rich shakshuka, soft baked eggs with garlic yoghurt and chilli butter – and freshly baked flatbreads with a variety of toppings add pizzazz to the weekend. Afterwards, wander over to sister bar Tavla to settle in for a lazy afternoon drink.

Aussie chef Bill Granger’s original restaurant in Sydney launched a thousand imitators, with his smashed avo and corn fritters winding up on menus from Tokyo to Toronto. His London cafes are as good as their counterparts down under, with buzzing, bright dining rooms setting the scene for fresh brunch dishes, salads, bowls and Asian-inflected dishes. Cocktails are excellent, and you’ll want to split an order of the hotcakes. The Kings Cross restaurant can be found a (very) short stroll from the main station, with a pretty patio for al fresco dining and drinks.

Arguably Notting Hill’s best coffee shop, this cool Westbourne Grove standout offers stunning breakfasts and all-day dishes along with speciality coffees from Kiss The Hippo and teas from Lalani & Co. A bright, industrial-chic space lined with plants is an ideal setting for spot-on plates of eggs, pancakes, and sandwiches – don’t miss the pork belly katsu sando.

Opened by sisters Juliana and Valentina Beleno, this pretty all-day Colombian café dispenses arguably the best coffee in SW1, from a secluded courtyard in chic Eccleston Yards. As well as superb brews, expect relaxed, fresh brunch dishes like acai bowls and pancakes to go with broadly Latin-inspired plates like arepas, ceviches, and aljafor, a shortbread biscuit with sweet dulce de leche and coconut.

With locations across West London (including Ladbroke Grove and Earls Court), this breezy Antipodean café is a favourite with locals for a reason. Cosy, modern interiors and a lineup of brunchy all-day dishes like buttermilk pancakes, sweetcorn fritters, and a Reuben toastie loaded with salt beef and pickles are capable of busting any hangover; meanwhile, freshly ground Assembly coffee and cocktails are eye-opening in more ways than one.

With locations across West London (including Ladbroke Grove and Earls Court), this breezy Antipodean café is a favourite with locals for a reason. Cosy, modern interiors and a lineup of brunchy all-day dishes like buttermilk pancakes, sweetcorn fritters, and a Reuben toastie loaded with salt beef and pickles are capable of busting any hangover; meanwhile, freshly ground Assembly coffee and cocktails are eye-opening in more ways than one.

Want fresh spins on classic brunch dishes? Look no further. This chic Notting Hill restaurant sources from sustainable, biodynamic farms to craft plant-based riffs on brunch classics. The vegan pancakes and French toast are comforting go-tos, while heartier dishes like a chickpea protein ‘omelette’ are ideal for larger appetites. Pretty interiors – think high ceilings and cosy pastel booths – and excellent cocktails offer plenty of additional reasons to linger.

Bill Granger’s original restaurant in Sydney launched a thousand imitators, with his smashed avo and corn fritters winding up on menus from Tokyo to Toronto. His London cafes are as good as their counterparts down under, with buzzing, bright dining rooms setting the scene for fresh brunch dishes, salads, bowls and Asian-inflected dishes. Cocktails are excellent, and you’ll want to split an order of the hotcakes. The Chelsea restaurant is arguably the loveliest of all, with an entrance on pretty Pavilion Road, and a manicured garden for al fresco dining and drinks.