The Sunday Times newspaper is calling Brunch the trendiest meal in London – more fun than boring old lunch and, crucially, later than breakfast.
It could be a way to boost your sales and there are examples below for other chefs to copy or adapt.
“It’s my favourite service,” says Jason Atherton, the South Place hotel’s Michelin-starred chef. “Brunch is less regimented than lunch or dinner, and totally relaxed, so people bring young kids and read the papers. It’s also a much more affordable way to eat in some of the capital’s most beautiful dining rooms.”
Well, “affordable” by London standards at least – our favourites below lay on a classy feast to last you the whole day. Dig in.
At the Edition, for example, Sunday brunch has been such a hit, they’ve started serving it on Saturdays, too.
THE LONDON EDITION, W1 In the decadent Berners Tavern restaurant, indulge in Colchester crab omelette (£18) or Moroccan fried eggs, tomato fondue and yoghurt (£15). Try an Aging Hipster cocktail (£14.50), a winning mix of bourbon, rum, vermouth and bitters that answers the nagging question of whether drinking in the morning is ever acceptable. Saturday and Sunday, 9am-4pm; bernerstavern.com ROSEWOOD, WC1 This glamorous hotel’s new terrace has heated benches and chunky-knit blankets to keep you toasty – as will its sizzling steak sandwiches (£14.75) and wickedly good spiced Somerset cider (£8).
Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm; rosewoodhotels.com
MONDRIAN, SE1 The bloody marys are bottomless and cost just £15, so balance your alcohol intake with the worthy but wonderful kale caesar salad (£13). Or say stuff it, and order blueberry pancakes (£8) or a full farmer’s breakfast (£18). Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm; mondrianlondon.com INTERCONTINENTAL, W1 The Cookbook Cafe invites guests to “rock up and feast like crazy” on eggs, waffles and pancakes, while glugging back unlimited bellinis and prosecco. Make the most of your two-hour reservation window. Saturday (£52pp) and Sunday (£59pp), 12.30pm-3.30pm; cookbookcafe.co.uk
THE BEAUMONT, W1 The art deco Colony Grill delivers five-star comfort: duck-egg black pudding hash (£10.50), kedgeree (£12) and macaroni cheese (from £7). Finish off with a club sundae, made to your specifications (from £6.50). Saturday and Sunday, 11.30am-5pm; thebeaumont.com
THE HOXTON, HOLBORN, WC1 In its Hubbard & Bell diner, the attitude to weekend eating is 100% gluttonous US of A. Its Sunday Feasting is an all-you-can-eat frenzy of cereals, pastries, waffles, pancakes, roast meats, charcuterie, brownies and cheese.
Sunday, 11am-5pm; £25pp, excluding drinks; hubbardandbell.com 45 PARK LANE, W1 As live music plays in Cut, tuck into pan-roasted filet mignon with a peppercorn and armagnac sauce (£36) or salt beef hash cakes topped with poached eggs and bearnaise sauce (£18). Add a Crossed-Eyed Mary, laced with jalapeño syrup, and you’re well on the way to consuming your recommended calorie intake for the week. Sunday, 11am-3.15pm; dorchestercollection.com SOUTH PLACE, EC2 This bolthole in the Square Mile delivers a square meal. Start with bircher muesli or chorizo and egg, then segue to a croque madame with Montgomery cheddar and York ham.
Bottomless bellinis or mimosas for £15.
Saturday and Sunday, noon-4pm; two courses £22.50, three courses £27.50; southplacehotel.com
