If there’s a culture that knows how to dine in style and truly appreciate food, it is the English. It’s hardly surprising then that brunch – the middle ground between breakfast and lunch — originated here. British author Guy Beringer coined this concept in an essay titled “Brunch: A Plea,” claiming that a weekend brunch would be the affair that “sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” Beringer’s theory, it seems, has immense merit: over a century later, brunch has become one of the most coveted events on the social calendar.
Read on to discover the best brunches in London.
Sexy Fish: Mayfair
A happy marriage between Japanese gastronomy and Mayfair glamour, Michelin-recommended Sexy Fish is full of promise. The restaurant is bedazzled without restraint – every nook and cranny is bursting with glitter, lights, and design, including a soaring LED accent wall, an ornate ceiling crafted with intricate geometric patterns, gargantuan fish motifs, shimmery piscean dreamcatchers, and sparkling copper-stemmed furniture.
The brunch is just as exuberant – there’s an unlimited sushi bar, in addition to a miscellany of mains and sharing dishes. Their signature salmon bao buns in particular have received rave reviews from David Adamson of Confidentials, and have been featured on Luxury London. Meanwhile, Sexy Fish’s in-house DJ relentlessly amps up the ambience with peppy live music.
Carmel Fitzrovia: Fitzrovia
Carmel is an understated establishment that brings eastern Mediterranean flavours to London. The light wooden interiors, beige accents, dim gold lights, and lush verdure collectively evoke a delightfully warm ambience. The aesthetic is modern with minimalist industrial influences, evidenced by the chic wooden furniture, ceiling panelling, and symmetrical bar cabinetry.
Guests here are in for a flavour-packed treat, marked by exotic spices and marinades. One may begin their meal with an appetiser like grilled broccoli or butterbean hummus and follow it up with a main dish such as the Za’atar chicken schnitzel, duck shawarma, or lamb and octopus shish. Classic cocktails with a Mediterranean twist also promise to elevate the meal – take, for instance, “Glory, Glory” – an inventive cocktail that features walnuts, figs, and milk-washed bourbon.
Claridge’s: Mayfair
Claridge’s is a Mayfair institution renowned for its peerless luxury, history, and affluence. Gold doors swing open to reveal an art deco-inspired restaurant with gilded furnishings and luxuriant red and turquoise banquettes. Calacatta Viola marble, an ornate stained-glass ceiling, polished brass, mosaic flooring, and crisp linen-clad tables craft an elevated ambience.
The charming meet-cute between old and new glam is only emboldened by the food and premium liquor. Severn and Wye smoked salmon, Dover sole, and Steak Au Poivre are the brunch specials at the time of writing. The special fish of the day and the Tomahawk of Herefordshire beef are other popular picks.
100 Wardour Street: Soho
100 Wardour Street aptly embodies the glitz and funk Soho is known for, with two special brunch menus for Saturday and Sunday. The ambience here will undoubtedly appeal to clubgoers and party lovers. The aesthetic is truly unique, with dim lights, rich red tapestries, florid furniture, and copper-stemmed lights. Every table is set up with an off-beat champagne bucket, which features a picturesque painting of a leafless tree.
On Saturdays, there’s the “Rhythm and Brunch,” which comprises an all-day party with resident DJs playing classic R&B, hip hop, and house tunes, accompanied by cocktail pitchers and delectable eats. From Eggs Benedict to Moroccan shakshuka, Josper-grilled ribeye steak, and mango-coconut parfait, 100 Wardour Street promises a memorable feast.
Hawksmoor Air Street: Piccadilly
Hawksmoor is a premium steakhouse renowned for its unrivalled cuts of beef, seafood, and other meats. Particularly popular among the well-heeled corporate professionals of central London, there's never a dull moment in this meat restaurant.
The palatial restaurant glows with natural light, owing to its captivating semi-circular windows. Designed with contemporary sensibilities, Hawksmoor has chevron floor tiles, rich green furniture, vintage sconces, and dark wooden panels.
At Hawksmoor, a typical meal comprises a gorgeous cut of beef, seafood platters, and precious oysters. The protein main is accompanied by a salad and side, which can be paired with a bottle of bubbly or an array of cocktails. A popular brunch deal is the Hawksmoor Ribwich paired with fries and a frothy banana milkshake. Add a sticky toffee pudding to the mix, and you have the ultimate Hawksmoor brunch.
Jikoni, Marylebone
Jikoni, marketed as the “no borders restaurant”, is a popular Asian-fusion restaurant perched on Blandford Street. From South and East Asian delicacies to Middle Eastern, African, and British grub, there’s little that’s missed at Jikoni.
The eclectic restaurant lies behind a gorgeous baby pink facade and is dolled up with powder pink and aqua accent walls, bohemian tapestries, modern pieces of art, and colourfully floral tablecloths. No two tables look alike, with some donning red and others pink, blue, and green. The tastefully busy aesthetic truly embodies Jikoni’s diverse spirit.
Jikoni’s weekend brunch is a global gastronomic voyage. From Indian khichdi (a wholesome rice dish), to Italian butterbean Aglio e Olio (a special olive oil-based pasta), and African kuku paka (a chicken curry), the choices are seemingly endless. The desserts are just as diverse and include the likes of pear and saffron cake, paan madeleines, and signature Jikoni ice creams.
Dishoom: Canary Wharf, King’s Cross, Covent Garden, and Shoreditch
Dishoom is one of London’s best-known and most loved Indian restaurants. The Hindi name translates to “blast,” and rest assured, the food certainly bursts with flavour.
Inspired by the 1930s jazz scene in Bombay, Dishoom is decked out in art deco glamour and imbued with Desi touches. Marble-topped tables, luscious red banquettes, polished copper chandeliers, and dark wooden-panelled walls effectively conjure old Bombay’s aristocratic affluence. Vintage Indian memorabilia such as black-and-white photographs and outmoded clocks infuse the restaurant with character.
Guests can begin their meal with starters such as vada pav (an Indian potato sandwich) or chole puri (chickpeas and fried bread). Dishoom chicken tikka, murgh malai (grilled creamy chicken), and spicy lamb chops are some main options, which can be topped with kulfi (Indian ice cream). For a real Desi brunching experience, Dishoom’s bottomless chai is an obvious choice.
601 Queen's Road, Wimbledon
601 Queen's Road, located in the heart of Wimbledon, truly offers guests an authentic slice of the tennis-famous locale. The ambience is largely defined by its unique architecture. The dome-like establishment is filled with natural light streaming through the breathtaking skylight and soaring windows. It is enveloped by a bosky terrace garden that’s dressed in pretty fairy lights and sinuous creepers. The atmosphere is a true homage to nature and London’s cosmopolitan spirit.
601 Queen's Road’s brunch menu stars several breakfast favourites, from pancakes to French toast, smoothie bowls, and shakshuka. For a more indulgent London brunch, the bellinis and bloody marys at this Wimbledon destination are exceptional.
Everyone deserves a day off after a hectic week, and a Sunday brunch is the perfect way to do just that. A “talk-compelling” brunch (as Beringer called it) is a cathartic affair of healthy emotional venting and merry gossip trading, accompanied by an enviable spread and heady cocktails.
