5 Ways to Eat Brunch in London This WeekendBy Angelica Malin
There ain’t no party like a granola party. Here’s 5 new ways to eat brunch in London this weekend:
1. Rooftop Brunch: Radio at ME London
What: ME London’s Radio Rooftop Bar, overlooking London’s iconic skyline, is opening its doors every weekend at 11am to serve its new Brunch menu. For the first time ever, guests will be able to experience brunch, which includes indulgent savoury and sweet breakfast dishes, coupled with a classic Bloody Mary cocktail, where guests can mix their own from a bespoke ‘design your own’ bar.
Eat: Treats like Ox Cheek Benedict, crab omelette, sweetcorn fritters, salt beef bagel, French toast with mixed berries, pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and Croque Madame. For those who have a sweet tooth, Radio Rooftop Bar also serves a strawberry sundae, doughnuts with hot chocolate, fruit plate and chilled vanilla rice. For drinks, their Bloody Mary, Radio iced coffee, blood orange mimosa and elderflower spritz.
Why: Guests can savour the summer sun whilst taking in the bar’s 180º panoramic views of the capital from Tower Bridge and The City through to St. Pauls, The Shard, The London Eye, Big Ben and in the distance, Battersea Power Station. There’s also a ‘Do It Your Bloody Self, Mary’ station with all the essential cocktail ingredients for a perfect Bloody Mary, as well as more than 30 garnishes of unusual ingredients from stuffed blue cheese, biltong and pickled eggs.
336-337 The Strand, London WC2R 1HA. Radio Bar is open from 11am to 2am at weekends and from 12 noon to 2am Monday to Friday.
2. Terrace Brunch: Magazine Restaurant at Serpentine Gallery
What: One of the most inspiring dining spaces in London, Zaha Hadid Architects’ designed The Magazine Restaurant at Serpentine Sackler Gallery now has an entirely new food offering. Emmanuel Eger took charge of the kitchen as the new Head Chef earlier this year and has, together with his Sous Chef, Felix Weber, created vibrant and exciting new menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea.
Eat: Bold, yet well-balanced flavours – local produce is used as much as possible, cooked simply and presented beautifully. For brunch, expect smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Greek yogurt pots with puffed rice and pomelo and Scottish salmon tartare with apple and radish. For something heartier, try Gressingham duck with charred peach and white asparagus. Of course, you can’t miss pudding – desserts include caramelised pineapple, macadamia and coconut.
Why: The impressive, serene space provides the perfect backdrop for the talented and dynamic kitchen duo. Emmanuel was formerly a Sous Chef at the Dorchester Grill while Felix worked as a stagier at some of London’s best restaurants including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Sketch, Locanda Locatelli and Pollen Street Social. The Magazine also features a 40 cover front terrace and the Kitchen Table, available for private dining with 10 covers. Situated five minutes walk from the Serpentine Gallery, just north of the Serpentine bridge, it’s the perfect for a weekend brunch.
Serpentine Sackler Gallery, West Carriage Drive, Kensington Gardens, London W2 2AR
3. Sunshine Brunch: Outdoor Terrace at The Athenaeum
What: The five star Athenaeum and Apartments has just unveiled their outdoor terrace which makes the perfect location for brunch in London. The Athenaeum is set in the heart of Mayfair opposite the luscious Green Park and Royal Grounds, making it the perfect location to people watch. Choose from breakfast or the delicious all-day menu with a choice of salads and light bites, right through to a three-course meal.
Eat: The breakfast menu (until 11am) features all your breakfast favourites – American-style pancakes or waffles with Canadian maple syrup, Eggs Florentine, English farmhouse cheeses and freshly baked pastries. The all-day menu offers a royally British affair, including chargrilled asparagus, free-range poached egg with hollandaise, make your own salad with chicken, smoked salmon or feta Cheese, and Cornish haddock with mushy garden peas, fries. And Knickerbocker Glory to finish, of course.
Why: Unique and undeniably wonderful, their luxury restaurant serves up fabulous fusions of delicious British favourites. Using fresh, seasonal and local produce, they create contemporary versions of the classics. Come and find out for yourself.
4. Brunch Festival: Spoon Cereals
What: To celebrate the launch of their new product range, Jonny Shimmin and Annie Morris, the duo behind Spoon Cereals are hosting a three-day breakfast festival, No Small Talk before Breakfast, in Shoreditch until Sunday 19th July. The festival celebrates everything that’s great about mornings, and will see Spoon Cereals collaborate with a range of likeminded start-ups and fellow morning lovers from the worlds of food, drink, fashion and fitness, to present inspiring events that will aim to get Londoners jumping out of their beds.
Eat: Spoon Cereal’s new granola, which officially launches nationwide this autumn, and have it topped with gourmet natural yoghurt from The Collective, seasonal fruits or superfood toppings, all served from their custom made breakfast bar. Expect breakfast canapés on arrival as well as cold press juices, almond milks and speciality coffee from the likes of Botanic Lab, The Pressery, and Noble Espresso. For those that fancy a pre-breakfast cleanse, guests can enjoy the indoor herbal tea garden to create a bespoke blend.
Why: Each day of the festival there’ll be an early morning fitness class for those endorphin junkies wanting to kick off their day. Wireless Fitness will be on hand to pump up the volume with a silent disco, with other fitness professionals there to lead classes and offer advice. For a more leisurely start, browse through the Spoon Cereals pop-up shop which will be selling kitchenware collections, cookbooks and of course, Spoon granola to enjoy at home.
Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, EC2A 3EY. 7.30am to 10:30am on Friday 17th July and 9.30am to 4pm on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July.
5. Bottomless Brunch: Jones & Sons
What: Start your weekend with some fizz from Jones & Sons, the affordable fine dining venue, who are launching their £30 bottomless brunch menu this weekend. The stylish bar and restaurant in a former factory, with modern British menu, cocktails and private dining, is perfect for weekend brunch with friends.
Eat: Start your weekend right by choosing from the full English, avocado on toast with poached eggs, pancakes with bacon and maple syrup or French toast with bacon and your cocktail of choice. The Jones & Sons’ menu changes with the seasons to provide the best British produce which, along with their classic cocktail bar – it will keep your bellies full and your spirits high.
Why: Let’s not forget about the standard brunch menu (with non-alcoholic drink options – after all, sometimes a fresh juice or strong caffeine fix does the trick, thank you very much) which will still be running as usual. The £30 bottomless brunch offer is also available at Jones & Sons’ sister site Jones at Trip in Haggerston.
23 – 27 Arcola Street, Dalston, E8 2DJ.
