The complete guide to brunch in London

The award-winning Breakfast Club fulfils the promise of its name with a menu featuring more or less every classic breakfast dish you can imagine, from the national treasure that is the Full Monty to sandwiches, burgers, pancakes, burritos and more, with veggie or vegan versions of their main feasts available as well. There are many Breakfast Club locations around town, but in our opinion, the one in Hackney Wick edges them out with outdoor seating and proximity to nearby parks.

Brunch at Brother Marcus features their contemporary Middle Eastern take on the Full English, subbing in merguez sausage, fattoush salad and fluffy pitta bread. That's just a small part of the foliage-sprouting eatery's menu, however, with the rest made up of various refreshing dishes like smoky shakshuka, harissa eggs and asparagus salad. Right or not, this writer is also adding halloumi & honey to everything – just try and stop me.

There are several branches of Farm Girl in the capital, bringing Londoners a taste of Australian café culture. Brunch recipes are available every day along with coffee and health drinks, all served in a trendy casual space. All of the food here is prepared with fresh and organic ingredients.

Known as one of the best spots in town to mull over the previous night's exploits while chowing down on a sriracha-slathered bun, this cosy neighbourhood spot in Hackney Downs draws crowds especially on weekends. A stop at the pastry counter afterwards is almost a must with its ever-changing assortment of goodies such as guava pastelitos and crème brulée cookies.

At this plush King's Cross restaurant with a view, Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias blends Mexican and Spanish influences, offering various brunch snacks such as guacamole and tortilla chips, chorizo and marinated red peppers to pave the way for tacos, egg dishes such as Spanish tortilla, and heftier food such as Iberico pork or beef fillet skewers. You can booze it up classily with Sevilla mimosas or margaritas.

The buzzy Dobar came out of lockdown even stronger than it had been, with a refined menu and well-prepared to meet the crowds that soon formed a line outside. Rubbing elbows with your neighbours in a friendly, communal atmosphere, the stars of the show are the large plates stacked high with Mediterranean-inspired breakfast dishes of all sorts, available all day. Try the Medi Breeze with helva jam, tahini molasses, honey & cream and olives, or the fruity taco pancakes.

You can get Jewish-style breakfast cuisine throughout the day at this café, with standouts including shakshuka with preserved lemon yoghurt, challah French toast, pastrami smoked trout, and various bagels and pitas that you can eat in or take away. They do a mean Hard Arnold Palmer as well as other classic brunch cocktails, and count yourself lucky if you can get your hands on one of the swiftly disappearing slices of chocolate babka.

A favourite among Walthamstow locals, Bühler and Co offers light breakfast and brunch fare with a plant-based menu that's inspired by food from all over the world. Think vegan bagels, veggie fry-up, quinoa cakes and more, coupled with all sorts of coffee and brunchy cocktails, smoothies and milkshakes, all to be enjoyed in an airy, sparsely decorated café space out front or a charming patio tucked away in the back.

Bringing thriving Aussie café culture to a tasteful spaces, Lantana Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It lists a variety of dishes on its menu, such as poke bowls, corn fritters and smashed avocado. Weekend brunch patrons can upgrade to a bottomless blowout as well look forward to additional dishes, for example rhubarb and custard French toast.

Promising to cure all hangovers off the bat is quite the head turner, but this Dalston joint doesn't really believe in restraint. "Bucket of bacon", anyone? It's paid off for them, with punters queueing up for the house hashes, the pork-packed muffin and other greasy goodness. Plenty of decent options for veggies as well, such as the beets 'n' sweets hash or even just the option to have kale as a side, really.

The weekend brunch at Duck & Waffle, set high above London with floor-to-ceiling windows, starts early and ends late. The one-time fixture of the London culinary circuit plays around with traditional British cuisine in dishes such as the duck Benedict it's named after, English breakfast or corn ribs in spicy sticky sauce.

The glamorous Christopher's does weekend brunch the go-big-or-go-home stateside way, with stacks of pancakes, corned beef hash, eggs Maryland, tobacco onion rings, lobster mac 'n' cheese and other Americana flavours swirling among the cocktails, juices and chocolate shakes. On weekdays, a limited version of the brunch menu is available as well.

The breakfast and brunch menu at this all-day restaurant with an outdoor terrace in Brixton is a full-blown affair in its own right, prominently featuring a tribute to New Zealand chef Peter Gordon's famed Turkish eggs. You could also go for any of the other Kiwi-informed seasonal dishes, enjoying them in the casual atmosphere of the place.

The Pergola on the Wharf complements its in-house kitchen with a rotating roster of streetfood pop-ups, so you can often find something to spice up the regular weekend brunch. Not that the latter is a slouch, either. With a focus on natural ingredients, the brunch menu includes the usual English muffins, fry-ups, waffles and so on, as well as burgers, steak and chicken off the grill. For a supplement, you can go bottomless on the prosecco or cocktails.

Esters is a comfy neighbourhood coffeehouse that surpasses expectations by adding a pinch of gourmet flair to brekky evergreens. For example, the French toast might come with poached loquats, blood orange purée, Earl Grey cream and buckwheat-oat brittle, while the breakfast sandwich might include wild garlic-walnut pesto. There are similarly imaginative bakes to choose from, all in the name of creative simplicity.

This hard-to-miss café is a community hub by the lake in Victoria Park. There are plenty of pastries, sandwiches, cakes and other quick bites by the Pavilion Bakery to take with you to a nearby park bench, or you can relax with a nice brunch special on the café's outdoor terrace. Either way, it's a delightful alternative to the more urban establishments.

This café, located a short walk from Blackhorse Station, might have started out as a showcase for an independent coffee roaster, but has since become a popular community space thanks also to its culinary offer. The changing weekly menu brings together freshness and decadence for generous slices of banana bread beneath a heavy helping of mascarpone, loaded sourdough toasties, and more, and the over-the-top French toast is obscenely hard to resist. They do have a tendency to run out of items - or seating - on weekends, so the earlier you go, the safer.

You can forget about the fry-ups, eggs benny and avocado toasts at this place. They prefer to focus on stacks of slow-cooked pancakes from fresh batter, with all sorts of sweet and savoury toppings heaped on them. Though, come to think of it, maybe don't forget all the classics, as you can get English breakfast or shakshuka pancakes, for instance. Even so, there's banana marshmallow, spring salad, beef pastrami and plenty more toppings to distract you, while the drinks include various cocktails as well.

No list of the best brunch spots in the city is complete without Sunday, a bright and friendly neighbourhood café in Barnsbury that even has a cookbook with the recipes that have made it such a success. Clean white-and-wood decor, large front window with a counter, outdoor seating – everything is quite no-frills and effective, just like the changing weekly specials such as sweet potato and salt beef hash or poached egg and wild garlic pesto.

Providing respite from the tourist crush of Covent Garden, the welcoming and charming Abuelo coffeehouse is distinguished by a fierce passion for the Aussie approach to making coffee. The cuppas accompany a globe-spanning array of Australian-South American brekky fusion, with all-day egg feasts, toasties with mince beef and red bean in salsa brava, empanadas, green pea & jalapeño fritters and more.

A great spot for soaking up the sun, meeting friends for an evening drink and tunes, or getting some work done, Bubba Oasis hides a charming rooftop terrace in Islington. The bright, Miami-chic place has an affordable menu with all-day breakfast choices like rolls and toasties, as well as different salads, smoothie bowls and various puddings. The many house cocktails keep the party going late into the night.

Imported from New Zealand, Ozone Coffee Roasters keep their commitment to environmental awareness and sustainability through their eateries as well. At the weekend the eatery makes full use of processes such as fermentation and pickling for maximum flavour and minimum waste, resulting in brunch fare along the lines of banana bread with cultured butter, kimchi fritters, smoked fish kedgeree and more.

The popular Arepa & Co eateries have a traditionally strong brunch game, combining the titular arepas and other authentic Venezuelan nibbles such as crispy tajadas, yuca fries, plantain crostini and cachapas with house takes on classic cocktails and sunny outdoors dining. 

If you're brunching in Greenwich, check out Royal Teas. This charming café has indoor and outdoor tables and is a popular spot locally. This cosy eatery focuses on breakfast and brunch dishes with options on the menu including fruit salad, fried breakfasts, and breakfast sandwiches. Later in the day enjoy lunch options or a cream tea.

Contemporary eatery When Abby Met Claud specialises in all-day dining, including brunch dishes. The restaurant is decorated in regal purple with plants and neon signs. Breakfast and brunch favourites like pancakes, omelettes, and sandwiches are served all day with the option to go bottomless. This place has a busy events programme too.

In Camden you'll find The Lost Elephant's Kitchen, an all-day dining spot with a considerable choice of brunch recipes on offer. Enjoy brunch at any time at this sophisticated venue with rustic stylings and a homey vibe. Vibrant sweet and savoury dishes are available from porridge to fry-ups or eggs on toast.

Head to Mayfair and check out Popina, a breezy all-day dining spot with an upmarket feel. In a crisp contemporary space you can sample breakfast and brunch favourites, with sweet and savoury dishes available all day. Expect granola, French toast, sandwiches, and eggs cooked in a myriad of ways.

You'll find various branches of Caravan around the city. These are modern and on-trend spots where the filter coffee is bottomless but you can also try a signature cocktail. Breakfast food is served in the morning with brunch at weekends. Choices range from light fruit or porridge to baked eggs and fry-ups.

Check out Brunswick East for informal all-day dining. The space is breezy with a sky farm at the Dalston branch that provides much of the produce used in the dishes. Brunch recipes here have an international spin like pastries, breakfast buns, kedgeree, and okonomiyaki. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available to pair with your meal.

Located in Balham, Milk is low-key but has a dedicated following. Breakfast and brunch dishes are the focus and are served all day. This cool rustic space is walk in-only, serving classics like breakfast sandwiches and sweetcorn fritters as well as seasonal specials like a fish sando. Complete the meal with a fresh juice or smoothie.

Islington's Sawyer & Gray is sleek and social. You're welcome to bring your dog along but laptops are banned. Breakfast, lunch, and sweet treats are served here, with an indulgent brunch on offer at weekends. Try a simple option like poached eggs or porridge or go for more elaborate shakshuka, French toast, or quesadillas.

West London's Wild Thyme serves global brunch dishes in a comfortable rustic setting. A wide variety of vibrant and colourful recipes are available to try, whether you favour light choices like granola or a hearty fried breakfast or burger. Pastries, hot drinks, and wine and brunch cocktails are also available.

The Blues Kitchen serves brunch at weekends with a unique menu inspired by southern US cooking. These spacious venues have comfortable booths and a musical atmosphere. Dishes including pancakes, salmon and eggs, and sandwiches are served, with alcoholic drinks available. You can also go for bottomless brunch here.

Towpath is an open-air canalside café in Hackney whose more famous clientele includes the likes of Keira Knightley and Tracey Ullman. However, there's nothing glitzy or glamorous about it - just simple wooden tables, friendly staff, and produce-led seasonal dishes that emphasize freshness, flavour, and simplicity. Stop by for breakfast or brunch and enjoy a languid meal as you watch the river, joggers, and dog walkers go by.

Eggbreak is a breakfast-focused restaurant serving eggs in various styles, along with an array of international dishes, pastries, and bread. The interior is bright and modern, and the venue offers a broad drinks menu, including tea, coffee, iced drinks, smoothies, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. With its versatile offerings and laid-back atmosphere, Eggbreak caters to both quick grab-and-go breakfasts and leisurely late-morning meals, though be prepared to queue if it's the latter you're after.

The Snapery East is the debut retail venture of The Snapery Bakery, a wholesale bakery renowned for supplying high-end London restaurants with bread and pastries. Located in London Fields, the family- and dog-friendly courtyard café offers freshly baked items and serves breakfast and lunch dishes every day. Coffee and other hot drinks are also available; afterwards, you can take a freshly sliced sourdough loaf, artisan groceries, sweet treats, and other baked goods home.

Deeney's in Leyton is a go-to local destination for satisfying sandwiches, but this cosy Scottish café in a snug basement space is also a popular brunch choice. Classic dishes like fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches are complemented by an exceptional cheese toastie selection, headlined by Deeney's iconic haggis toastie, available in both vegetarian and vegan options.

Dudley's, a popular neighbourhood café in Walthamstow, is the sort of place locals go when in need of great coffee and tasty brunch. Featuring an inviting ambience, the café encompasses a cosy front area that leads to a spacious covered garden in the back. In the kitchen, classics like scrambled eggs and toasties are creatively transformed with spices and relishes, resulting in both comfortable and familiardishes, innovative and thrilling.

Chino Latino is where the fusion of Asian culinary culture and Latin American-inspired cocktails takes centre stage. Located in the heart of London, this acclaimed restaurant seamlessly blends contemporary Pan-Asian cuisine with a lively cocktail bar. Under the culinary guidance of Head Chef Ederson Bonasso, a menu unfolds that brings together the allure of exotic flavours with the zing of Latino cocktails. Their weekly bottomless brunch allows you to indulge in unlimited sushi paired with Latino cocktails and riverside views.

Yuu Kitchen is a trendy hotspot for indulging in the delicate flavours of Japanese and Taiwanese cuisine. It's a fusion of tasty dishes and an enjoyable atmosphere. Get a good taste of everything with their brunch offering or the 60-minute bottomless bao special. Their menu has a global selection, including chicken karaage, gyoza, and zesty spicy tuna tostadas. In addition to a wide variety of alcoholic drinks, they also offer the option to transform your bubble tea into a boozy cocktail.

Rated as one of the capital's top brunch spots, Chuku's in Tottenham draws a crowd at weekends. This vibrant venue is all about social meals and Nigerian small plates, decorated in strong colours and with on-theme art. Brunch includes three plates of your choice and three mouthwatering original cocktails, served in a lively environment.

Ollie's House is an all-day restaurant with two branches dotted in West London, serving a mouthwatering menu of pan-Asian-inspired dishes. It's inspired by Balinese resorts, which you'll gather from the decor – expect potted plants, parquet flooring and hanging lights. As for brunch, they host a special Tropical DJ brunch every Saturday featuring bottomless bubbles or beer.