Guide to brunch in Covent Garden

With an outdoor terrace surrounded by greenery for ultimate garden vibes, as well as a tasteful interior with leather banquettes and wood furnishings, The Ivy Market Grill offers weekend brunches served late into the afternoon. The menu includes hearty breakfast fare such as eggs Benedict and buttermilk pancakes, as well as The Ivy favourites like shepherd’s pie, all utilising seasonal ingredients to put a fresh spin on classic dishes.

The famed Ladurée macaron chain operates a tea salon next to Covent Garden’s Apple Market. The focus is on the brand’s signature colourful delights, but they also do all-day dining and weekend brunch. The latter comes with a very French twist – a silver stand of croissants, jams and, of course, macarons. It also includes drinks and eggs on toast with a choice of sides, all served on the sunny outdoor terrace.

The plush Balthazar brasserie serves traditional French delicacies throughout the day, starting weekends with brunch classics such as eggs Benedict and pancakes and continuing with bistro offerings such as escargots, steak tartare and confit duck leg. The weekend brunch experience is further enhanced with live jazz music and cocktail favourites such as Mimosas and Bloody Marys, all served in comfy bohemian surroundings.

Driven by a passion for the Aussie approach to making coffee, the cosy Abuelo provides respite from Covent Garden’s crowds with cuppas of the brown go-juice, along with a globe-spanning menu of Australian-South American breakfast fusion. This includes egg feasts, toasties with mince beef and red bean in salsa brava, empanadas, green pea & jalapeño fritters and more, and the best part is that it’s all available at any time of the day.

The winkingly named Bunga Bunga offers an immersive dining experience with variety shows that features cabaret performers, dough-tossing chefs, singalongs and more. For Saturday brunch, they turn the heat up with buff male dancers providing the entertainment while the pink prosecco flows freely and the chefs manoeuvre metre-long pizzas with toppings such as pancetta, egg or sun-dried tomato to your table.

In the trendy izakaya-style setting of Covent Garden's Flesh & Buns, Sunday brunch includes a choice of small plates such as sushi or Korean fried wings and one “flesh” – two of the titular steamed buns with your choice of filling. Unlimited prosecco, white or red wine is included in the price, and the experience is rounded off with dessert served to the table, for example donuts with black sugar custard.

26 Grains doesn’t do an explicit brunch menu, but it does serve a simple breakfast menu throughout the day, with choices like porridge, ragu on sourdough and a smoked salmon plate, making it a popular destination especially among health-conscious brunchers. There’s also a small selection of drinks to choose from.

The Big Easy brand specialises in traditional American wood-smoking and barbequing techniques. Brunch at their vintage industrial Covent Garden restaurant comes with free-flowing prosecco, beer, wine or frozen mojitos, but that’s not all that’s limitless – the food options include unlimited home-smoked barbeque dishes such as ribs and pulled pork, as well as sides. Or you can choose a steak or whole lobster instead.

When it comes to meals, the Grind coffee company places an emphasis on the drinks, whether it’s their own coffee, freshly squeezed juices or cocktails. That’s not to say there’s no food, however. Their brunch menu features quick bites like smashed avo toast, filled croissants and burrata bruschetta, ready to go any time of the day.

Brunch at this friendly neighbourhood hangout run by two best friends is a highly customisable affair, as they provide the sourdough toast with avocado, eggs or tofu, then you pile on the extras. There are also various egg dishes, such as eggs Drury (think eggs royale but with bacon instead of salmon), porridge, waffles and more. To drink, choose from hot drinks, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, softs and some classic cocktails.

A familiar sight around the UK, Bill’s is a popular choice for all-day dining in a casual yet stylish atmosphere. Situated in St Martin’s Courtyard, the Covent Garden branch lets you enjoy a bit of respite from the area's crowds while munching on brunch favourites such as eggs Benny and pancake stacks. When it comes to drinks, you can choose from fresh juices and smoothies, hot drinks and softs, well as a selection of cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.

The Dishoom restaurants are a London classic. Stylish and elegant, yet with a convivial, welcoming atmosphere, they serve dishes inspired by the street food of Bombay. Though they're an all-day dining operation, they're known for their breakfast and brunch offerings, highlighted by their signature bacon naan roll. Add a warm mug of house chai for a traditional start to the day.

Garden Rooftop is a lush restaurant and bar occupying the tenth floor of the Assembly Hotel in Leicester Square and boasting stunning panoramic views of the area as a result. The kitchen serves a mix of Med-inspired dishes, with weekends reserved for their party brunch. In addition to a two-course menu and bottomless rosé or prosecco, the brunch includes DJ music and live entertainment.

Mildreds is a pioneering group of plant-based restaurants, serving an assortment of vegan takes on international favourites that'll win over even the most devout carnivores. In addition to a weekday breakfast menu, they offer a weekend brunch featuring different brunch plates, pancakes, avo chilli toast and more. Creative cocktails, wines, fresh juices, and homemade iced teas are available to wash it all down, as well as hot drinks.

Rossopomodoro brings genuine Neapolitan pizza craftsmanship to the UK, using the finest produce from Naples to serve traditional local cuisine with a modern twist. Their pizza dough is matured for 24 hours, yielding the slightest crunch when you bite into a slice, and the Italian staff and authentic setting give off bustling Italian pizzeria energy. They offer bottomless pizza brunch every day, let you indulge in as much cheesy goodness as you like, with the option to add bottomless drinks as well.

The Delaunay offers a tasteful ambience inspired by the grand cafés of Mitteleuropa, serving food from breakfast to late-night nibbles. Expect an assortment of European breakfast dishes, eggs, Viennoiserie pastries, and other such delights when you stop by in the morning. The bar complements the dining experience with an extensive range of cocktails, featuring both time-honoured classics and innovative house concoctions.

With a pleasant conservatory as its main space, Lilly's Café is the perfect destination for lunch, brunch, and even late-night gatherings, providing a varied array of breakfast and brunch dishes within a stylish, palm-adorned setting. You can choose from among various egg dishes, fresh salads, flatbreads with different toppings, and heftier plates such as burgers or pasta. As the café is owned by a professional pastry chef, the cakes counter is worth a look too.

At the laidback Black Penny cafes, you can savour a variety of breakfast choices, including hearty hashes, French toast, eggs, bubble 'n' squeak, and more. Their scrumptious filled buns are available all day long as well, and speciality coffees, fresh juices, brunch cocktails, and other refreshing beverages pair well with whatever you're having. The Covent Garden branch is charmingly adorned with late 19th-century furnishings.

Considered one of the top American restaurants in London, Christopher's is a glamourous affair serving indulgent stateside favourites throughout the day, fuelled by signature martinis. Their weekend brunch features standouts such as French toast, Maryland crab cake, omelettes, and more, finished off with classic US desserts such as pecan pie or cheesecake. A set brunch menu is available as well, and they serve a selection of brunch dishes on weekdays as well.

Popular coffee roasters and brunch providers Caravan expanded to Covent Garden, where you can enjoy all-day dining in a contemporary setting with both indoor and al fresco seating. A bar and a private dining room are available as well. The all-day menu features signature dishes, house cocktails, and the group's artisan coffee. PS – the filter coffee here is bottomless.

The Breakfast Club is a classic choice for fans of all-day brekkies. Available at a number of locations around London, the breakfast-focused restaurant group doesn't skimp on its breakfast and brunch menu. Serving everything from burgers to pancakes available from early doors until late afternoon, the Covent Garden café also offers various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.