The English know how to dine in style; it is no wonder that the fashionable brunch originated in the country. In the late 1800s, British author Guy Beringer proposed this concept in an essay titled “Brunch: A Plea,” where he claimed that this laidback Sunday breakfast “would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers.” He also suggested adding cocktails to the rendezvous to make it an affair that “sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.”
Beringer was certainly onto something, for nothing comes close to a brunch pick-me-up. Especially in London, with its sinuous rivers, plush high streets, breathtaking skylines, and a treasure trove of culinary marvels, a classy brunch with a view is bound to make life a little easier.
Read on to discover the best spots for brunch with a view, in London.
Aqua Kyoto
Tucked away in London’s illustrious West End, Aqua Kyoto presents authentic Japanese fare, fabulous East Asian maximalism, and stellar views of the city’s minted locales.
Dark, velvety interiors with modish asymmetrical cabinetry, inventive light fixtures, and lustrous furniture are contrasted with the bright, leafy balcony. Depending on your mood, you can tuck into a toothsome feast nestled in the Soho restaurant’s sultry luxury or enjoy London’s winds on the sun-kissed rooftop.
Delectable steaks, sea bass platters, stir-fried udon noodles, and gyoza starters are on the menu, in addition to premium wine, bubbly, and Asian cocktails. Cap the meal with decadent sweet bites such as white chocolate parfait and coconut lime shiso panna cotta.
601 Queen's Road
601 Queen's Road offers peerless glimpses of the tennis-famous locale’s bustle all year long. Indeed, it’s a slice of peppy cosmopolitanism in the heart of Wimbledon.
This restobar is a permanent window into Wimbledon’s life. The dome-shaped establishment is characterised by an awe-inspiring skylight and floor-to-ceiling windows. The pretty glass house is enveloped by a gorgeous terrace garden, festooned with fairy lights and evergreen creepers. Whether you’re relaxing inside by the snazzy bar or frolicking outside on the woodland balcony, scrumptious treats and a handsome cityscape are by your side.
From buttermilk pancakes to brioche French toast, shakshuka, smoothie bowls, and egg delicacies, you’re in for the most Instagrammable brunch bites. As always, luscious bloody marys and bellinis are on offer to zhuzh up your midday spread.
Decimo
Michelin-starred Spanish cookery, seductive red hues, and grand views of Kings Cross inform a typical day at Decimo.
Lavishly appointed ceilings, satiny red banquettes, richly patterned tapestries, and glossy scarlet tiles adorn the restaurant. Steeped in crimson wonder, mammoth floor-to-ceiling windows frame the iconic brick-red structure of King’s Cross and the surrounding labyrinthine streets peppered with Victorian buildings. Needless to say, if bold glamour, shades of red, and old London are on your Pinterest board, Decimo is uniquely perfect for you.
The menu is designed to be relished family style. From various taco, egg, meat, fish, and veggie options, Decimo dishes are an insatiable feast. Tortillas, skewers, and other flavour-packed snacks throng the table. Pitchers of margaritas and their special Bloody Maria (a twist on Bloody Mary) will no doubt kick things up a notch.
Darwin’s Brasserie
Perched on the 36th level of London’s Sky Walk Garden, you can enjoy a restive brunch among the clouds in a utopian forest.
The brasserie is furnished in contemporary art-deco style, with sleek tables, plain leather wingback chairs, and minimalist panels. The establishment is flanked by two awe-worthy sites, both vying for attention and equally deserving of it – one is panoramic visuals of London’s skyline, and the other is the Sky Garden’s beautifully manicured forest, abloom with rare herbs, trees, and fragrant plants.
The weekend brunch is quite a pompous affair, with mains ranging from aged ribeye steak, haddock and salmon fishcake, Hampshire pork chop, and harissa cauliflower. Peach cheesecake, lemon posset, and passionfruit panna cotta are some of their exquisite desserts, in addition to a range of strong champagnes, house wines, and cocktails worth splurging on.
London Bridge Rooftop
Sprawling the roof of Colechurch House on the London Bridge Walk, this rooftop restobar offers an utterly London brunching experience, given that it resides in the city's most eminent icon.
The aesthetic of this rooftop cafe is defined by its incredible surroundings – the establishment is enveloped by the River Thames, the glorious bridge, and the rest of central London unfurling beyond. Draped in twinkling lights and sleek furniture, the majestic city takes centre stage at this cafe.
In addition to a weekend brunch feast and premium liquor, the London Bridge Rooftop cafe also has a live DJ, ideal for those wild post-brunch evenings. Quintessential pub grub and heady cocktails are served during brunch; the gourmet burgers are a big hit among guests. With bottomless prosecco, mimosas, beer, and aperol spritz, the cafe takes pride in knowing how to get a party started.
Skylon
Inspired by the historical steel structure of the same name (it was an experimental steel structure built by architects in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, symbolising innovation and possibilities), Skylon serves modern European food, perched on the banks of the River Thames.
Industrial sophistication has influenced Skylon’s milieu, with symmetrical panels, eccentric light fixtures, light wood floors, and understated bistro furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows capture incomparable views of the Southbank Pier, with its shimmering waves, grand boats, and excited tourists.
During the weekend brunch, guests can opt for the standard luncheon menu, which is divided into starters, mains, and puddings, or the beloved Sunday roast. The typical brunch meal kicks off with egg preparations, salads, prawn cocktails, or avocado toasties before proceeding to the main curries, fishcakes, burgers, and steaks. Among the many desserts, the lemon curd is a particular fan favourite.
Wagtail Rooftop Bar and Restaurant
Residing atop one of London’s most resplendent buildings (after all, it dates to 1920), the Wagtail Rooftop Bar and Restaurant blossoms with the best of what London has to offer.
Spanning two floors, Wagtail comprises a main dining hall, two private terraces, and a stately rooftop terrace bar. While the interiors are fashioned with vintage glimmery panache – think pyramid-studded bar panels, leather banquettes, purple pillars, gold-studded emerald chairs, and old-school bohemian mirrors – it’s the rooftop bar that has captivated so many people, offering unmatched views of central London. From the Tower of London to St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, and the Walkie-Talkie building, the festooned rooftop is a mini-London tour in its own right.
An immensely luxurious weekend brunch, the menu boasts offerings that can cater to anyone’s fancy, from Native Blue lobster to sirloin steak and vegan risotto. Guests can turn the dining shindig into a bottomless prosecco brunch to make the best of London’s 360° embrace.
Garden Rooftop
At the Garden Rooftop, guests can enjoy the pulse of central London with delicious cocktails and honest-to-goodness food.
Simplicity, restraint, and refinement were evidently the guiding principles of Garden Rooftop’s interior decor, marked by unembellished bistro furniture. However, the thickly forested ceiling, blossoming with live creepers and flowering plants, is a gracious nod to nature. The showstopper, however, is London – full-scale windows showcase the Tower of London, London Eye, and the river in their full splendour.
The remarkable brunch features the likes of eggs royale, lamb shanks in red wine, shakshuka, avocado toast, and grilled salmon. After topping off with a creamy cheesecake, the elegant spread may be paired with bottomless espresso martini, prosecco, or pornstar martini.
If life is getting a little too much to handle, it’s worth taking a page out of Beringer’s book – a merry, “talk-compelling” brunch may be in order. It’s time to arrange a brunch date with your friends, to indulge in fine fare, delectable mimosas, and London’s bewitching cityscape.
