
Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Brunch is the most glamorous, so it wins the top spot in our books.
The best brunch in London lets you begin your day, post lie-in, with truly bottomless possibilities. Fabulously boozy options come in the form of as much sparkling sake as you can drink at five-star fusion restaurant TOKii, fresh and fruity Mexican margaritas with sky-high views at Madera, or traditional mimosas at Days Like This.
Not forgetting the food, of course. The best brunch in London spans traditional New York dishes at The NoMad and sumptuous Cantonese offerings at A-list favourite Hakkasan.
Discover Vogue’s definitive guide to the best brunch in London, below. Then, plan the rest of your day by checking out the Vogue guides to the best afternoon tea in London, the best pizza in London, and the best cocktails bars in London.
- 1/15
Stork
For something a little different, head to this wood-panelled Pan-African restaurant in Mayfair, where the dishes range from plantain waffles and cornmeal porridge to fluffy vitumbua pancakes with moringa cream and a ginger-bissap syrup.
- Jodi Hinds Photography 20212/15
Dipna Anand at Somerset House
Gordon Ramsay is a famously difficult man to impress, but even he has praised Dipna Anand’s food. Boasting Thames views from its location in Somerset House, the British-Indian chef’s second buzzy restaurant plates up the likes of chicken-tikka burgers with masala fries and a twist on a Full English that includes egg bhurji and mini naans.
- 3/15
DLT
Days Like This is the monthly bottomless brunch daytime party that has rapidly become the preeminent destination for the Black British beau monde – selling out so quickly that actually landing a ticket is now a signifier of status. DLT has organised high-profile collaborations with everyone from Soho House to Julie Adenuga. With classic dishes as enjoyable as the buzzy energy – think American-style chicken and waffles and Nigerian jollof rice with fish – find a way to experience at least one DLT session, whatever it takes.
- Thomas Alexander4/15
Madera
At the top of hotel Treehouse is Mexican-by-way-of-California restaurant Madera, which serves phenomenal margaritas (using toca, guava, or passionfruit), and experimental Mexican cuisine with a side of panoramic London views. For brunch, try the carne asada over eggs – which uses grass-fed prime steak topped with chimichurri and roasted peppers – or a Mexican flatbread with tequila prawns.
- Mike Tsang5/15
Barboun
In the heart of Shoreditch, Barboun specialises in flame-cooked Levantine dishes using locally-sourced ingredients and spices imported from Istanbul. The shakshuka is not to be missed, using spicy tomatoes and zesty lemon yoghurt, but if you’re in the mood for a meatier option, the pulled short-rib burger is topped with apricot harissa mayo – the perfect dish to nurse you back to health after a night out.
- 6/15
NoMad London
Bringing a taste of New York’s weekend brunch scene to Covent Garden, this beloved Manhattan import opened in 2021, transforming the historic Magistrates’ Court into a British outpost of its beautiful luxury hotel. Dishes include twists on brunch classics from both the Big Apple and the Big Smoke, from the breakfast burrito, which stars pork confit, eggs, potatoes, cheddar, avocado and salsa roja, to truffle chicken sandwiches served with French dip – best enjoyed under NoMad London’s beautiful glass-ceilinged atrium.
- Ben Carpenter Photography7/15
TOKii
Inside Marylebone’s Prince Akatoki Hotel is the sleek chic Japanese fusion restaurant TOKii, where visitors can enjoy a truly five-star brunch surrounded by soothing minimalist interiors. Choose between prosecco or bottomless sparkling sake, before turning your attention to the food menu, which includes the likes of tamago omelettes with miso soup.
- 8/15
Pergola On The Wharf
Want to boogie while you brunch? At the waterfront restaurant, Pergola on the Wharf, Saturdays see samba dancers perform on the rooftop, while live bands serve up soul songs on Sundays. Starting with fruit skewers and freshly baked pastries, the mains here range from avocado toast and eggs Benedict to a bacon and sausage breakfast burger. (There’s also a vegetarian version of the latter, which substitutes meat with roasted tomato pesto and mozzarella.)
- Mark Weeks9/15
Riding House Café
A Fitzrovia favourite, the Riding House Café team is comprised of Hollandaise fanatics – the sauce gets star billing on the menu, which even features a “Burgerdict”. Just as popular are its deep-dish malted pancakes, which come with either a berry compote and clotted cream or triple-smoked bacon and maple syrup.
- 10/15
Hakkasan
The Michelin-starred restaurant that needs no introduction, Hakkasan is world-renowned for its modern twists on authentic Cantonese cuisine. Its brunch offering features the signatures the restaurant is celebrated for – including the crispy duck salad and excellent dim sum – along with mains such as sweet-and-sour Duke of Berkshire pork. Fret not, vegetarians: there is an equally sumptuous vegetarian menu on request.
- OLA O SMIT11/15
Vinoteca
Alcohol has a starring role at Vinoteca, even before noon, with a selection of dedicated breakfast wines to choose from at the newly opened Borough branch. The food menu is limited but great, with an emphasis on classic dishes: think eggs Benedict with Ginger Pig ham and freshly baked croissants.
- 12/15
WatchHouse
Coffee takes priority at the WatchHouse, an industry leader when it comes to specialty, fairtrade beans. The food at every one of its locations is also excellent, though: vegan coconut pancakes with homemade blueberry compote, and Cacklebean eggs with Lambton & Jackson salmon are fixtures on the menu. With eight gorgeously designed houses across London, you can be sure to find their thoughtful dishes in a location close to you. - 13/15
il Pampero at The Hari
In the luxury of the five-star Hari hotel, you can enjoy bottomless prosecco and Aperol with a three-course Italian brunch at il Pampero. The eggs here are served with porchetta in lieu of bacon, while the French toast comes with truffle. (Just trust us.) There’s even live Italian music while you dine.
- 14/15
Dobar
Here’s a tip: get to Dobar early in the morning – people regularly queue for 45 minutes at this immensely popular restaurant in Finsbury Park, which specialises in all manner of moreish breakfast dishes. It’s worth standing in line to experience their hot chocolate – one of the best in London – and impossibly fluffy pancakes loaded with toppings. There are even specialty plates that combine French toast with fry-ups, so you don’t have to make the painful choice between the two.
- 15/15
Coal Office
Created by renowned interior designer Tom Dixon and Michelin-starred chef Assaf Granit, Coal Office marries Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern traditions to create a world of flavour. Discover octopus with Yemeni pancakes or seared trout with okra, aubergine cream, and chilli ferment. Even the bread is to die for – with the choice of brioche with grated tomato, tahini and zhug, focaccia with za’atar and labneh, or Jerusalem-style pretzels.