Top 5: All-Day Brunches in LondonBy Angelica Malin
Who doesn’t love an all-day brunch? There is nothing finer than a disruptive meal time, we say. We teamed up with Tabasco to find the best all-day brunches in London – to see more, visit the Tabasco Brunch site here and check our their top 5 here. Here’s our top 5 of the best all-day brunches in London. Get brunching, London:
1. For Unusual Dishes: Caravan
Brunch served until 4pm
What: No brunch list is complete without a mention of Caravan, and this one starts with it. Caravan in Kings Cross and Exmouth Market is the place to go for brunch lovers. You’ll find some of the most inventive and sensational brunch dishes, such as Raclette and spinach french toast, and favourites such as avocado on toast, baked eggs, tomato and pepper ragout, Greek yoghurt and chorizo.
Eat: The Jalapeno cornbread with chipotle butter and lime. Winner.
Why: Caravan roast their own seasonally-changing house-blend espresso on site which is used in all their coffees. A must-try is the fermented chilli and mashed cucumber Bloody Mary. Heaven.
Where: Kings Cross and Exmouth Market – see more here
2. For Laid Back Cool: 24-Hour Polo Bar
Brunch served 24 hours a day
What: The Polo Bar is a 24-hour brunch spot opposite Liverpool Street station which serves brunch all day and night long. The food is good, proudly British and cheap as chips. It’s the kind of place you just want to find yourself with a fry-up at 3am after a Shoreditch night out.
Why: It looks like the kind of place J.K. Rowling could have penned Harry Potter in, in the right way.
Eat: The Royal Breakfast, a hearty fry-up which comes with tea AND bubbly.
Where: 176 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4NQ
3. For Sensational Eggs: The Breakfast Club
Brunch served until close
What: The Breakfast Club is a London staple for trendy brunchers. They serve breakfast until 5pm all day, and it always draws in a fun, young crowd. Some of their best brunch dishes are the weird, wonderful combos, such as the Banana and Bacon French Toast (£7.90). We love eggy bread. We’re sorry. We do.
Eat: All American Pancakes with potatoes and streaky bacon
Why: The Shoreditch branch of The Breakfast Club has a secret bar you can only assess through the Smeg fridge. Yes, really.
Where: Branches throughout London – see here
4. For Neighbourhood Vibes: Ben’s Canteen
Brunch served daily, 9am to 5pm
Photos by The Gaztronome – website here
What: Ben’s Canteen is like the kitchen you’ve never had. They serve brunch all day long, with some epic bloody marys, too. What’s more, if you Instagram a picture with the hashtag #benscanteenmenu and show it to the staff, you’ll get it for free. You can also add a glass of bubbly to your brunch for £5 on weekdays 10-5. Genius.
Eat: Sweet corn fritters with spicy grilled chorizo
Why: They also do weekly specials, such as £15 for 2-course dinner with a free drink – see here for more information.
Where: Earlsfield and Battersea – see here
5. For an Experience: Duck and Waffle
Late night menu starts at 10pm
What: Duck and Waffle is a 24-hour restaurant located at the top of the Heron Tower, with sensational panoramic views over London. Although it’s difficult to get a table, it’s well worth the wait. You can expect city workers and the after-work crowd, although it’s considerably more rowdy on weekends. The weekend brunch menu is fantastic, and you can sample some of the brunch dishes on the late night menu, which runs until the wee hours.
Eat: Duck egg with wild mushrooms, truffle oil and lots of gruyère cheese
Why: For the story
Where: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY
And one for luck…
Brunch served 9am-close
What: M1LK is an awesome all-day breakfast cafe in Balham with a range of delicious and creative brunch dishes, inspired by the creative roots of the two young owners – Julian Porter and Lauren Johns. Everything they do is simple, but well done, such as simple cornbread with fresh churned butter and local honey. They source the food from local, family-owned suppliers, and organic butchers, so it’s all good.
Eat: Kurdish baked eggs with chorizo, spinach, Kirmizi butter and labneh (so good people queue for them, really)
Why: The owners are a couple to watch – their new cafe Fields opens in Clapham this month, offering incredible all-day brunch options.
Where: 20 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9RG
