South Kensington has become a hub for some of the finest brunch spots in all of London over the last decade. There is definitely a connection between the vibrant luxury and leisurely lifestyle of South Kensington residents, and its visitors, to the recent rise in popularity of this food trend. Brunch is quickly becoming more of a daily ritual than just a meal to be enjoyed with friends and family. This humble little meal that sits between breakfast and a more formal lunch is now responsible for a huge influence on fashion, with thousands of social media posts and hundreds of magazine editorials dedicated to finding the most beautiful brunch outfits. It also supports the development of bars, restaurants, and cafes through an opportunity to try different menus, attract new customers and remain active throughout the day, which in turn leads to busier neighbourhoods for more retail and leisure opportunities.
Whether you are a South Kensington resident, just stopping by on a trip to the capital, or perhaps even taking a look around the area with a view to purchasing a property here, it always helps to get some local knowledge on where to brunch. With all of this in mind, we wanted to provide the ultimate guide to the best brunch currently available in South Kensington.
Brother Marcus
Brother Marcus on Pelham Street in South Kensington is a wonderful example of how brunch can be adapted and tailored using influences from global cuisines. This place achieves an Eastern Mediterranean paradise with everything it has to offer from the relaxed, bright, and welcoming atmosphere down to the produce, ingredients, and service. The owners are three best friends, Arthur, Alex, and Tas, who firmly believe in the familial approach to running a restaurant that has served them well for eight award-winning years across multiple sites in London. Brunch items on the menu here range from solid classics such as Eggs Benedict to the infinitely more exciting smoky shakshuka that consists of two poached eggs in a pepper & tomato sauce topped with labneh, zhoug, feta & toasted fluffy pita. The Rip and Dip selection of platters with Cod's roe taramasalata & sumac onions or fennel tzatziki & Aleppo chilli are a great way to get everybody around the table sharing.
FFiona’s
Ffiona’s on Kensington Church Street has been an unmistakable element of South Kensington’s food and drink scene for over a quarter of a century. It’s now considered very much a part of the fabric of this incredible area with locals flocking here every weekend to take a seat for their famous brunch. This place that was once described as a ‘hidden gem’ is gaining more notoriety across the capital with residents from Kensington and the more bohemian streets of Notting Hill regularly returning with friends and colleagues to witness the dishes on offer. The trio of great coffee, brilliantly attentive service, and delicious home cooking make it simply impossible to ignore in any brunch guide. Their French Toast cannot be bettered, with toppings ranging from berries and banana to toffee sauce and whipped cream. Saturday brunch also offers the chance to enjoy England’s most famous dish with fish and chips available and served with mushy peas and tartare sauce. A real 21st-century London twist.
Cocotte
Cocotte can be found on Harrington Road just yards from South Kensington Tube station, facing the world famous Natural History Museum. Farm-to-table is the philosophy here with their handcrafted food proposing the highest levels of authenticity, quality, and sustainability available for every dish. The French restaurant owner Romain Bourillon created Cocotte in 2016 with a speciality in rotisserie which led to an enviable portfolio of locations across London. Part of this development was the introduction of a weekend brunch menu that crystallises their methods of simple dishes done exceedingly well with the most freshly-sourced ingredients. The casual dining and informal air of Cocotte lends itself particularly well to this menu through big and bold choices such as the Full Cocotte with nduja beans, egg parfait, toasted sourdough, sausage, mushroom, bacon, and grilled tomato. Lighter choices like the vegetarian favourite Kale Benedict also highlight the down-to-earth efficiency of this cooking to make sure every taste is catered for throughout the day.
Eggbreak
Eggbreak on Uxbridge Street is sold as West London’s best kept secret with a location and brand that feels incredibly authentic for 2024. This is styled as a neighbourhood hang out that offers brunch dishes all day, every day and it is causing quite a stir amongst the locals by bringing a little side of something different to the area. Their reach is now going global too, with a recent pop-up experience at 25 Hours Hotel One Central in Dubai that introduced some special edition dishes and merchandise for the patrons. As you might expect, the Eggs All Day section of the menu is always a favourite with exquisite versions of classics such as Avo toast and Mexican omelette sitting alongside Turkish eggs accompanied by dill yoghurt, smoked paprika, and a cheese toastie. There are also sweet treats here with Ari’s pancakes and banana bread offering the perfect dessert. Eggbreak is doing something unique for brunch and it is worth a visit to see for yourself how exciting that turns out to be
Town House at The Kensington
The Town House at Kensington is an oasis of calm with an unmistakable heritage and charm that can only come from generations of experience in serving the great and good of South Kensington. Everything here is approached with an understated class and aspect of luxury for diners to enjoy. The modern trend of brunch menus created to guide guests into a more formal evening out continues to rise and the Town House is committed to doing it in their own inimitable style. A stunning three-course brunch is available here from Thursday to Sunday that begins with an elegant cocktail of Aperini, Jasmine Americano, Sanguina, or the sensational Kensington Bloody Mary with Belvedere vodka and a secret spice mix. The Coconut Panna Cotta with pineapple salsa is a refreshing dessert to choose if you are looking to refresh and energise before moving on to a big night out too. All that is left to do is make those phone calls to friends and family to decide on a date for your South Kensington brunch but do call ahead to book the venue as these places are so good that reservations may be required in advance, which is always a great sign too.
