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August 20, 2015
London’s best brunches
Ahh brunch. Before Carrie and co came along it was just a fry up cooked by your Mum just before noon which meant you’d all be happy – she’d only have to cook two meals that day instead of three and it happened so rarely that you found it a novelty. But then four girls in heels went for brunch every weekend in New York City and all of a sudden brunch became cool. And stayed cool.
There’s so much brunch variety around now that almost everywhere has a ‘breakfast’ menu, so where do you choose to go? Well, we have a few ideas…
Simplicity, Rotherhithe
Tucked away off the high street and close to the Thames is the small-but-perfectly-formed Simplicity restaurant. The big front window allows you to people watch over a Sunday morning latte, the airiness invites you to sit there all day and the food, well, you’ll want to stay all day so you can eat dinner there too.
Chef Lawrence Lingard has created a traditional brunch menu but every dish is perfect and of a good size (originally from Manchester he knows that small portions just don’t cut it) so if you’re nursing a hangover, there’s probably no better place to go. For dish recommendations I’d say the smoked salmon but my Mum is still raving about the eggs Benedict.
Jackson and Rye, Soho
If you like your brunches alcoholic and your atmosphere lively then you’ll love Jackson and Rye in Soho. Its gorgeous settings suggest a not-too-gorgeous price list but its really reasonable so tuck in! The usual brunch offerings are all there, as is good, friendly service, but what we love about this place is the size of the cocktails: they are big, strong and served in jugs (to, I assume) emphasize how big they are.
Forget a romantic brunch for two; come here with the girls and get merry, then enjoy Soho. Top tip: definitely book. It gets busy and once you’ve stepped inside you won’t want to leave until you’ve eaten there.
The Orchard, Brockley
If you find yourself in South East London for brunch, make like Professor Green and visit The Orchard. Their brunch menu doesn’t go on for pages but it does just about everything else; change regularly to ensure their offerings are fresh and seasonal, include bread freshly baked each morning and the secret family recipe for their Boston baked beans. They also source everything locally so you can always be sure of what you’re eating (we especially like the fact that their fruit and vegetables are handpicked from New Convent Garden).
The Breakfast Club
Probably the most popular of all of these breakfast places, The Breakfast Club is fast becoming the go-to place for brunch and with 9 locations across London the the chances are you aren’t far from one. Its website lists all of its brunch options (did we mention their super cool website?) complete with amusing names and the food itself does not disappoint. As well as the expected eggs, pancakes and typical brunch options there are also healthier options including porridge, fresh fruit salad and homemade granola. Yes, it’s a chain, but it’s definitely miles away from Pret.
Duck and Waffle
For a posh brunch with all the trimmings (including yellowfin tuna, smoked eel and Dorset crab) and a view of London to rival The Shard, you need Duck and Waffle, the UK’s highest restaurant. Yep, that’s right, they’re on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate in the heart of London! This gem of a find is actually open 24/7 but they only serve on Saturdays and Sundays so don’t get caught out. We’ll let you see the menu (and the sights) for yourself, but just know that Duck and Waffle’s Executive Chef is Daniel Doherty and they have an ever-changing artisanal cocktail list. What more could you want?! It’s the perfect place to celebrate special occasions but don’t just wait until one comes around – go and treat yourself this weekend!
Stephanie Bolton