If you are going to set yourself up for the day with a filling meal, you may as well do it properly and visit a restaurant. Granted though, Covent Garden might not be the first place you think of when it comes to brunch in London. Firstly, very few people actually live in the area (it’s mostly home to offices and entertainment venues) and secondly, Covent Garden is more widely known for its late-night restaurant scene (thanks, of course, to the various nearby theatres). Nonetheless, places to eat the mid-morning meal do exist, and we've rounded up the best brunches in Covent Garden to help you in your search.
Many of the restaurants in the area may seem to be there purely for the purpose of dinner, but dig a little deeper and you will uncover a whole host of delicious brunch spots in Covent Garden just waiting to tempt you to a plate or two. When the weekend finally rolls around, sometimes all you need is a good brunch, somewhere that serves their menus a little earlier, allowing you to wake up and inhale eggs and pastries at the crack of dawn, if you so wish.
Brunch in Covent Garden spans a whole host of options. You'll find everything from high-end hotels which are well-versed in what people want for lazy morning sustenance, to the slightly more unusual choices: a Bombay-style feast, or South American-Aussie fusion dishes, for instance. It's these slightly more niche options that are sure to impress family or friends visiting from out of town. We’ve also made sure to include a couple of bottomless brunch places, for when the occasion calls for it.
Make sure to explore all of our top picks for the best brunch in Covent Garden below, and let us know if you think we have missed anywhere that deserves a special shoutout.
Pivot Bar & Bistro
![Brunch spread with fried eggs, bacon and sausages on toast, with a couple of coffees]()
What: Spanning two floors of the lovely townhouse at 3 Henrietta, Pivot is worth a visit at all times of day for easy-going modern British fare, with views of the piazza if you can nab a window seat. Morning menu options range from a hefty British breakfast or a bacon roll to porridge, cararmelised waffles with banana and maple syrup, or fermented sourdough toast with jam and marmalade.
Where: 3 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8LU
Book now: Pivot Bar & Bistro
The Delaunay
![eggs benedict on a plate with green smoothie]()
What: The Delaunay is every bit as traditional and grand as its Piccadilly sibling The Wolseley and is perfect for smart brunch meetings and special occasions. The restaurant’s strong Viennese vibe is reflected in a ‘Viennoiserie’ bakery menu packed full of pastries, plus brunch favourites like eggs benedict, pancakes with fresh berry compote, and crispy bacon and egg rolls. You can also sample alternate breakfast dishes such as spinach and potato grosti or smoked haddock kedgeree, should you want a refreshing change from the usual sausage sandwich, porridge and fruit salad.
Where: 55 Aldwych, WC2B 4BB
Book now: The Delaunay
Olea Social
![Vibrant and green restaurant interiors (left), a selection of dips and poached eggs on a table (right)]()
What: Sitting pretty on Upper Saint Martin’s Lane, Olea Social is found right in the heart of London’s West End, making it an ideal location no matter the time of day. But when the weekend rolls around, it's all about brunch, serving up sharing platters and boat-loads of eggs, with everything from classic avo toast to Turkish eggs with smoked yoghurt and chilli butter. Olea Social’s signature breakfast, however, is the Serpme, a Turkish breakfast spread that offers an array of cheeses, pastries, black olives, salads and plenty more. It's the perfect sharer for two, and goes great with a couple of house cocktails.
Where: 10 Upper St Martin's Lane, WC2H 9FB
Book now: Olea Social
Violas
![Someone cutting into eggs royale, with a glass of orange juice]()
What: This restaurant not only offers a delicious selection of brunch dishes but it happens to be one of the cutest little restaurant cafes in Covent Garden. As you enter through the floral canopy into the dining room, you’re greeted with the mouth-watering aromas wafting from a range of dishes including Tiramisu french toast with mascarpone; breakfast tacos stuffed with scrambled eggs, tomato salsa, and crispy bacon; and lobster bao buns topped with wasabi tobiko and brown crab butter.
Where: 38 Tavistock Street, WC2E 7PB
Book now: Violas
Brother Marcus
![a relaxing restaurant interior (left), and a stack of sweetcorn fritters (right)]()
What: Brother Marcus has really made a name for itself with its Middle-Eastern brunch menus, and its latest Covent Garden outpost might just be our favourite. The neutral backdrop and abundance of potted plants make Brother Marcus the ideal spot to while away a couple of hours with some seriously good grub. Brunch classics are available Monday to Friday, with the likes of smashed avocado on toast with beetroot houmous, or smoky shakshuka with poached eggs, labneh and feta. Or why not grab a couple of mezze plates with a Honey Bellini or Mavro Daiquiri from the brunch cocktails list?
Where: 23 Slingsby Place, WC2E 9AB
Book now: Brother Marcus Covent Garden
26 Grains
![a selection of rhubarb pancakes (left); sour cherry brioche French toast (right)]()
What: If you're looking for cosy brunch places in Covent Garden, then 26 Grains will be right up your street. This 24-seater in Neal’s Yard is the ultimate hidden gem, boasting an ever-changing menu of brunch classics, available all day long - the way it should be. Choose from sweet and savoury offerings with everything from beetroot mutabal, chargrilled artichoke and focaccia to a caramelised brioche with sour cherry jam and sunflower seed gianduja.
Where: 1 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP
Book now: 26 Grains
Baudry Greene
![smoked salmon bagel (left), and a selection of coffees on a table (right)]()
What: Little sister to the excellent 10 Cases Wine Bar and Parsons restaurant, Baudry Green emulates the charm and comfort of great mittel European grand cafes, serving a bevy of gorgeous patisseries and Viennoiseries, as well as mushrooms on toast, bacon baps and a signature salmon pretzel bagel. Or, if you’re feeling like something a little lighter, go for the granola with rhubarb compote.
Where: 20 Endell Street, WC2H 9BD
Book now: Baudry Greene
Balthazar
![Table with mimosa, and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast]()
What: A French-style brasserie, Balthazar restaurant serves a weekend brunch stuffed with all the classics. From caramelised banana waffles with chantilly cream to eggs benedict served with chips, there is something for everyone. Brunches here are best served with something off the brunch cocktail list, so you can sip on Mimosas whilst devouring your eggs. And if you fancy some entertainment with your brunch, expect a live caricaturist every Sunday, who can draw you as you eat.
Where: 4-6 Russell Street, WC2B 5HZ
Book now: Balthazar
Rucola at The Conduit
![Outdoor rooftop terrace (left), and stack of pancakes (right)]()
What: Looking to take your dining to the skies? This rooftop brunch in Covent Garden is sure to do the trick. Serving up all your favourite breakfast and brunch dishes, take a seat on the idyllic terrace and enjoy panoramic views of the city whilst tucking into your eggs. Expect the likes of shakshuka with spinach and feta, or poached egg and hollandaise on a sourdough pizza base. Or opt for something more lavish with one of Rucola’s signature dishes, such as the half chicken ‘Salmoriglio’ with blood orange and wild garlic, or the fish for two cooked in caper butter and served with potato rosti and charred broccoli.
Where: 6 Langley Street, WC2H 9JA
Book now: Rucola at The Conduit
Abuelo
![French toast (left); Brunch spread and coffees on table (right)]()
What: Abuelo offers a tempting menu of brunch dishes inspired by Argentinian dishes and Australian style. Alongside your warming cup of coffee, you can tuck into the likes of figs with honey and whipped mascarpone, green pea fritters served with poached eggs, or ‘The Bondi’ - a beachy open toasted sandwich with avocado, poached egg, goat cheese, pickled jalapenos, and dukkah. The coffee is great too, with speciality blends from ethical growers in South America.
Where: 26 Southampton Street, WC2E 7RS
Book now: Abuelo
The Black Penny
![Full english breakfast (left), and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (right)]()
What: Named after London’s first coffee shops, where the price of admission was a penny, The Black Penny scores on two fronts for brunch. Coffee provided by Alchemy is one of them, and a range of traditional brunch dishes alongside a few twists is the other. Speciality hashes include the must-order crispy duck hash and a salt beef hash with green tomato chutney, whilst brunch pursuits will be left satisfied with a whole host of eggs, breakfast puns and french toast. While you're at it, why not go for a mimosa, too?
Where: 34 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5AA
Book now: The Black Penny
Brasserie Max
![floral plate of eggs florentine with a coffee and orange juice]()
What: The Covent Garden Hotel’s restaurant has all the boutique charm and slick service you need for a business brunch. All the usual brunch suspects are present and correct at Brasserie Max, from eggs benedict to pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. At weekends, any dish you choose is served with either a Mimosa or a Bloody Mary from 11am till 1pm.
Where: Covent Garden Hotel, 10 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9HB
Book now: Brasserie Max
Big Easy Covent Garden
![Sharing platters and drinks on table]()
What: Celebrating New Orleans in all its sinful glory, Big Easy lays on a weekend ‘boozy brunch’ including a choice of alcoholic beverages (from house wine to frozen Mojitos). This good-timing crab-shack and barbecue kitchen is located in a former Victorian power station, with many original features intact and a formidable nine-metre bar. Order mac ‘n’ cheese, and veggie burgers, or choose the unlimited home smoked Bar BQ or a surf and turf feast if you're extra peckish.
Where: 12 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NA
Book now: Big Easy Covent Garden
Christopher’s
![Chocolate french toast]()
What: Christopher’s handsome Grade II-listed Victorian building makes a seemly setting for a reliably good Stateside weekend brunch. The menu is extensive, incorporating buttermilk pancakes with maple-cured bacon, truffled scrambled eggs and huevos California with chilli salsa and guacamole. The real reason people go to Christopher's though, is for the French toast. It's famous, and served warm with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.
Where: 18 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DD
Book now: Christopher’s
Dishoom Covent Garden
![Full english plate with Dishoom spices]()
What: Dishoom’s take on the café culture of old Bombay (complete with quirky styling) ticks all London’s boxes - and brunchers will be pleased to hear that the breakfast menu is served daily until 11:45am. Highlights include the Kejriwal (two fried eggs on chilli cheese toast) and the acclaimed bacon naan roll. And if you wake up with a sweet tooth, the uttapam stack with sweet yoghurt and fresh berries eased down with chai or maybe a cocktail could be just the ticket.
Where: 12 Upper St Martins Lane, WC2H 9FB
Book now: Dishoom Covent Garden
The Ivy Market Grill
![tale with plates of toast and eggs florentine]()
What: With its smart terrace overlooking the Covent Garden piazza, a dapper bar and a popular all-day menu, this offshoot of The Ivy offers a weekend brunch menu to make your day. There are a variety of dishes from eggs royale with The Ivy cure smoked salmon to to fluffy buttermilk pancakes with red berry sauce and Greek yoghurt. Of course, you can’t have a meal at The Ivy without looking through their seasonal cocktails.
Where: 1 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8PS
Book now: The Ivy
Looking to travel outside of the entertainment district? This is our round-up of the best brunches in London for every occasion.