Weekend brunch is booming in London. At the moment, barely a day passes without somebody, somewhere in the capital launching a brunch menu: what a time to be alive. In the name of hard journalism, a group of us from the office gave up our hard-earned weekends to bravely venture out and eat some new brunches. Yes, it was tough. If you’re looking for a new weekend spot, you’ve come to the right place…
The traditional one
Club Zetter, Clerkenwell
Not to be confused with the Zetter Townhouse over the road, colourful and comfy Club Zetter is part of another hotel by the same group. It’s new brunch menu has jumped on to the (incredibly wobbly) bottomless bandwagon, with all-you-can-drink Bloody Marys and Prosecco (£9.50/16 per person). There’s a full English, a full veggie and bacon brioche butties, but I went for the enormous, gooey and satisfying Welsh rarebit.
When: Sat-Sun, 12N-3pm
Neil, news and online editor
The cool one
The Manor, Clapham
The Manor’s innovative food and understated, Nordic decor attracts a buzzy brunch crowd. You have to kick off with a Waga-Manor Bloody Mary: the porcini powder and wasabi will make you question ever going classic again. Our bircher muesli was a great mix of sharp greengages and thick yoghurt dollops, but if you want to shove your diet in the bin, the fried duck egg with crispy pig cheeks, ‘nduja and San Marzano beans does not disappoint.
When: Sat-Sun, 12N-3pm
Ella, social media manager
The spicy one
Gunpowder, City
This hard-to-find Indian restaurant (it’s currently shoe-horned next to a building site in Spitalfields) is worth hunting down – if you like spice. Gunpowder doesn’t shy away from it at brunch, so if that sounds up your street order the homemade gujiya (Indian-style empanada), filled with either masala beef or aloo dum (spiced baby potatoes), with a fiery tomato chutney – that’ll wake you right up. The menu also offers ginger tea porridge or coconut and chickpea pancakes if you want something milder.
When: Sat, 12N-3pm
Neil, news and online editor
The one with all the waffles
Oslo, Hackney
With its rustic decor, this all-day venue on Amhurst Road definitely has a Nordic vibe. Brunch-wise it offers up giant, sweet or savoury waffles, with various tasty toppings. I went for the Nutella split, which comes with a seriously large blob of hazelnut crème, as well as bananas, butterscotch and candied walnuts. To drink, there are fresh juices or cocktails; choose based on the extent of your hangover.
When: Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm
Eamonn, deputy news and online editor
The scenic one
Rotunda, King’s Cross
This canalside restaurant makes for a relaxed weekend brunch setting and with two hours of unlimited Prosecco plus one brunch dish for £26.95, it would be rude not to. The hearty full English comes with the holy trinity of breakfast goods; pork sausage, smoked bacon and English black pudding. I’d also recommend the ubiquitous avocado on toast (with a side of extra maple bacon), washed down with a Breakfast Martini.
When: Sat-Sun, 11am-3pm
Rosie, editorial assistant
The not-really-a-brunch one
Theo’s Simple Italian, Kensington
Theo’s isn’t located somewhere you’d naturally stumble upon, so weekends are fairly quiet: great for a hangover. This four-course brunch is also great for the hungry. Resist scoffing too much fresh-from-the-oven focaccia to save room for moreish beef ragu, atop pasta so fresh I felt I’d had my egg-yolk fix. We then made our way through bavette of beef and a trio of mini desserts, before asking our waiter whether a banquette nap was acceptable.
When: Sat-Sun, 12N-3pm
Ella, social media manager
We rather like brunch at Squaremeal, so click here for yet more new London brunch reviews from earlier this year, or peruse our full list of the best restaurants for weekend brunch in London here.
This article was published 14 October 2016