Best places for Brunch in London

Nessa

Opening in 2023, Nessa has quickly become a go-to Soho staple. This is one of London’s best bar and restaurant combos which ensures you are well fed and watered from breakfast, right through to late-night cocktails. Best of all, Nessa had that cosy, relaxed vibe, and feels more like a private members club than a restaurant.

Brunch is where Nessa truly shines with a menu of classic dishes, as well as inventive takes on the standard brunch fare – bound to please the adventurous palette. Just take the ‘Not Avocado on Toast’ which is a fun (and delicious) revamp on the classic dish, swapping avocado for crushed broad beans, chilli, and herbs. I recommend adding a poached egg for that extra protein hit.

Other brunch favourites include the Mixed Grill Breakfast with bacon chop and Oxford sausage, Eggs Royale with smoked salmon and St Ewe’s poached egg, as well as the decadent Banana French toast with maple syrup and caramelised pecans.

Bluebird Chelsea

A true King’s Road institution, Bluebird Chelsea, has become one of London’s most iconic restaurants, located in the historic Bluebird Motor Garage. The stunning art deco space is legendary, with a stunning restaurant, café and courtyard bar.

It’s been a home-from-home for the fashionable Chelsea set for over a century, attracting well-heeled socialites, as well as stars of the stage and screen. It was also a regular haunt of The Princess of Wales who was spotted enjoying lunch with her sister, Pippa.

Over the weekend, their famous brunch is on the menu which is well-worth booking in advance. I love the mix of classic dishes which are always guaranteed to please a hungry brunch crowd: French toast with whipped vanilla crème fraiche, Avocado and Poached eggs with habanero hot sauce and corn bread, and a decadent Truffled Croque Monsieur with honey roasted ham, gruyere cheese and Dijon mustard. In addition, you can add Bottomless Bubbles for £29.

Three Darlings

Stylish, seasonal dining is the ethos behind the fabulous Three Darlings, located in exclusive Chelsea. The combination of the star-power of Chef and Owner, Jason Atherton, and his perfectly devised Bistro-style dishes has made this restaurant a hit.

You could say Three Darlings is in the ‘brunch’ capital of the city: stylish Pavilion Road is dotted with a variety of bakeries, cafes and restaurants and becomes a hive of activity over the weekend.

Brunch, however, is serious business and I think this venue ticks all boxes: a chic venue, oodles of space to meet with friends, and a menu bursting with the kind of food you want to eat.

I highly recommend the ‘Three Darlings Bun’ which is stacked with sausage, egg, bacon, cheese and hot sauce mayo – one to order when you’re hungry. I also love the Baked Shakshuka, eggs and feta, and the decadent Lobster Royale.

Order the ‘Moët & Aker Sparkle’ cocktail made English Rosé, Passion fruit, Lime shrub, and Moët & Chandon Champagne to make it extra indulgent.

Café Francois

This lively all-day French brassiere is a welcome addition to the vibrant Borough Yards area, offering diners a chic space for a spot of brunch, as well as a welcome respite from bustling Borough Market.

Café Francois is inspired by the grand brasseries of Paris, with menus to take you from breakfast, right through to late-night dinner. Of all the menus, I’m a huge fan of their brunch, particularly for its incredible variety and sheer number of choices. The menu is smartly divided between breakfast plates, as well as salads, sandwiches and plats from their all-day menu.

If you’re in the mood for something more like a ‘breakfast’ option then the Scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and rosti feels like a treat, as well as the Eggs Benedict, and the creamy Avocado on toast with feta pumpkin seeds.

For heartier fare, the superb Burger with cheese, bacon, and béarnaise is one of London’s best burgers; the Grilled Cheese with French onion dip is one you’ll be ordering time and again. Of all the dishes, the much-requested Rotisserie Chicken and Jus with fine herbs is not to be missed.

Once you visit, I guarantee this café will become your regular go-to when in the London Bridge area. This is one of those venues that ticks all the boxes.

Grind

The popular all-day restaurant chain has become a reliable go-to spot for Londoners, especially on the daily commute: whether it’s coffee or matcha on the go, or a spot of brunch – this place never fails to provide a great variety of dishes and at a good price point.

What I love about Grind is that you can turn up at any time of the day and ‘brunch’ is always available – but not as you might think. The reason for this is that their all-day menu contains so many ‘brunch-style’ dishes that you’ll always have that option.

For example, on their ‘all-day’ menu, they serve their hearty ‘Grind Breakfast’ which is available whenever you have the craving.

My current favourite is a new addition to their menu: Turkish Eggs with garlic yoghurt, soft herbs, chilli crunch and flatbread. Other delicious options include the House Crumpets with poached eggs and hollandaise, Buttermilk pancakes with whipped mascarpone and berry compote, as well as the Prawn Katso Sando with tempura prawns, dijonnaise and skin-on fries.

The Farmer’s Mistress

Battersea is primed for brunch with the delectable offerings at The Farmer’s Mistress. This delightful neighbourhood restaurant is dedicated to the best seasonal produce and hearty brunch-style dishes. The menu is incredibly well thought through with inventive additions to those classic dishes you know and love; just take their ‘Saucy Beans’ dish which showcases their homemade Bloody Mary beans, topped with a rich cheese sauce, fried egg, chive oil and sourdough toast.

Other menu standouts include the Black Forest Gateau Waffle with Kirsch-soaked cherries, Creamy Eggs with Heritage beetroot yoghurt, harissa butter and sumac, and a superb Chorizo Benedict with smoked paprika hollandaise.

If you’re heading to the south-west area of London, this venue deserves a visit.

Sunday in Brooklyn

Brooklyn-style, casual dining is the order of the day at the oh-so stylish Sunday in Brooklyn, where classic comfort food is what they do best.

One dish that has gained plenty of popularity for its insta-worthy aesthetic is the ‘Sunday’ Pancakes. These big, fluffy, over-the-top pancakes, covered in hazelnut maple praline and brown butter are the stuff of pancake dreams. Depending on how hungry you are you can order a single, double, or even a triple pancake stack.

If you’re in the mood for something of the savoury variety, I recommend the Cheddar Scramble served with Long Island potatoes, toast and your choice of side dish.

You also can’t beat one of their delicious sandwiches, especially the Crispy Chicken with sweet and sour hot honey, cabbage, Kewpie and pickles – add bacon and request it crispy for that added crunch.

Balthazar

Over thirteen years after Balthazar first opened, there’s still no better place for brunch than at this Covent Garden stalwart. Classic French brasserie dishes and bistro favourites are served with panache, and this bustling restaurant still feels like the place to be seen.

A recent visit reignited my love of this modern classic that has attracted a loyal (and often starry!) following. Just between us, I may have spotted the actor Bryan Cranston on my last visit.

Celebrities aside, the food is the star at Balthazar with a brunch menu of tempting options, from the classic and always reliable Eggs Benedict, Oak smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and chives, and a decadent Lobster Mac and Cheese – too good not to order! Pair with a sweet Peach Bellini or a spicy Bloody Mary.