Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not our bacon-topping, maple-drizzling, pancake-flipping friends across the pond we have to thank for the revered repast we call brunch. This particular portmanteau has its roots in nineteenth century England – ironic, given that back then the country’s wig-topped women could do little more than inhale the odd stray crumb for fear of bursting out of their claustrophobic corsets. Yet, whilst scientists were busy creating the lightbulb, English Writer Guy Berlinger was working oh so hard on an even greater invention: brunch.
The aim of this revolutionary noon feast was to allow English socialites to party with reckless abandon each Saturday night, without the fear of sleeping through breakfast – now that’s a bright idea. If this ethereal spread wasn’t ingenious enough already, the Americans raised the bar, by creating the ‘bottomless brunch’ – if you’re picturing galloons of wince-worthy wine and flavourless fizz, think again, you’ll find everything from unlimited Dom Perignon to hand crafted cocktails accompanying the capital’s fanciest brunches.
So, whether you have a penchant for pancakes or want sushi with lashings of premium Champagne, this small but perfectly formed guide has the perfect London brunch for you…
The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
Creep beyond the Mandarin Oriental’s palatial columns and extravagant blooms and you’ll eventually find The Aubrey; a velvet-draped, art-adorned, champagne-fuelled ode to the humble izakaya (that’s a Japanese pub, for want of a better comparison). For all of its bells and whistle it certainly shares its convivial atmosphere and dedication to delicious sharing plates, but with an army of straight-backed waiters marching beneath its twinkling chandeliers and Champagne flowing as freely as the Shinano River, the resemblance to these often-shabby establishments ends there.
With a resident DJ and the option of free-flowing champers, cocktails or sake, their sumptuous weekend brunch is the perfect introduction to their elevated interpretation of the tapas-style sharing plates. Indecisive? Pick the set menu; there’s a smorgasbord of divine sharing starters (including their luxe take on a tamagoyaki bun, sexed up with lobster, naturally) and a beautifully presented platter of edomae-style sushi to get the appetite going. Diners then select one main each (you can’t go wrong with something from the robata), before sharing a dessert. Whatever you do, leave some room for the Japanese style pancakes – humble, they are not… and all the better for it.
The Aubrey’s set weekend brunch menu is priced at £70pp (this is for a minimum of two people and the entire table must partake). Bottomless drink choices include cocktails £50, cocktails & sake £70 or cocktails, sake & champagne £95.
Sette in The Bulgari Hotel London
Some brunches are a humble affair; an egg or two here, some smashed avo there. If it’s all out swank you’re after, Sette is your go-to. In this dimly-lit Italian hiding within Knightsbridge’s Bulgari Hotel guests dine to live music, dwarfed by theatrically tall bagel towers with Dom Pérignon on tap. Here, amid splendid surrounds, the singer knocks out sentimental classics (albeit unobtrusively) as diners devour all manner of Manhattan-inspired brunch dishes; from French toast with banana and bourbon to American pancakes with Chantilly.
Want it to feel more like lunch than brunch? No problemo, the all-encompassing menu has everything from a succulent pastrami ribeye to roasted rump of lamb. The fact this achingly slick Italian has nailed its bottomless brunch should come as little surprise, it is, after all, the little sister of New York’s much hailed Scarpetta. What does baffle us is that its lavish weekend offering is such a hush-hush affair. Despite offering free-flowing premium Champagne and quite possibly the capital’s best pasta, Sette’s New York Brunch somehow remains one of London’s best kept secrets… not that we’re complaining.
Sette’s New York Brunch is available at weekends between 12 – 3pm. Choose from 2, 3 or 4-courses with prices starting from £49pp. Bottomless options include select cocktails (£50), Ruinart (£65) and Dom Pérignon (£260pp).
Sky Lounge at Shangri-La The Shard
Popping the ol’ Mulbs through The Shard’s obligatory security scanner I can’t shake the feeling that I am boarding a flight to somewhere wonderful – and once the landmark’s ear-poppingly speedy lift swigs into action, it certainly feels as though we’re taking off. Despite shooting up the centre of UK’s tallest building, this particular first-class flight lasts less than half a minute, delivering lucky diners to London’s high-rise star: Shangri-La. The 5* hotel’s 34th-floor Sky Lounge is a vertigo-inspiring glassy affair with arresting views of London at every turn. When asked to pick a table I’m torn, but eventually opt for a bird’s-eye view of the glorious tower of London (and the umpteen other landmarks in view).
Once the view has sunk in, guests pick a starter and main from the Asian-inspired a la carte menu before being let loose on the unlimited buffet; a gourmet spread of artisan cheese, intricately decorated homemade patisseries and a Willy Wonka worthy organic chocolate fountain with various dunk-worthy delicacies – there’s even a gigantic bowl of handmade protein balls, should one get peckish on the way home. The cherry on the cake? Book in for the bottomless brunch and your charming waiter will keep your flute flowing with Albourne Estate’s zesty sparkling wine.
Shangri-La The Shard’s Sunday Sky Brunch is served in their Sky Lounge. Priced at £78pp it includes a glass of Albourne Estate sparkling wine. Alternatively, upgrade to their bottomless brunch priced at £139pp.
Café Biltmore Restaurant & Terrace at The Biltmore
In our humble opinion a great brunch should have three things; lip-lickingly good food, attentive yet unobtrusive service and lashings of champagne; enter Café Biltmore. Tucked away in the heart of Mayfair village, surrounded by bazillionaire’s pied-a-terre’s and overlooking one of London’s most iconic squares, The Biltmore’s brunch offering certainly ticks the ‘exclusive’ box when it comes to swish brunching in the capital. And now, thanks to the opening of its chic all-weather summer terrace, it also ticks the ‘al fresco’ box too.
Executive Chef Luis Campos trots out classic brunch dishes with a twist (their poached eggs and avo comes with scallion pesto and yuzu, while their coconut pancakes sports a generous dose of silky matcha green tea cream and Thai basil alongside the usual trimmings). Cocooned by terrific topiary, diners select a starter and a main before hitting the Insta-worthy desert station. To dine like a local, opt for the free-flowing Veuve Clicquot.
The Biltmore’s brunch experience is available Saturday & Sunday 12-4pm priced at £55 per person without champagne or £65 per person for 90-minuted of “bottomless” champagne for 90 minutes.
The Wolseley
For the fanciest fry up in town it has to be The Wolseley – but book in advance, this is one café you cannot rock up to unannounced. Awash with gleaming marble and some of the shiniest silverware in town, Piccadilly’s very own grand European café has turned the humble breakfast into a momentous occasion worthy of celebration.
Their popular fry up is a shamelessly scoffy number, but for those that want something a little different, this classic British go-to sits alongside some interesting (and often boozy) wild card picks; like kippers dripping in mustard butter or delicately fried haggis with duck eggs and an indulgent whisky sauce. Those with a sweet tooth are well catered for too – don’t miss the groan-worthy hot chocolate, crowned with whipped cream and laced with rum.
Breakfast at The Wolseley is served seven days a week, from 7am Monday to Friday and from 8am on weekends.
Tiffany Blue Box Café at Harrods
Ever dreamt of having breakfast at Tiffany’s? Then channel your inner Holly Golightly and head to Harrods. Once you’ve battled your way through the diamond tiaras and Narnia-worthy mink coats, you’ll eventually stumble upon London’s homage to the iconic jewellery house, Tiffany & Co. Enveloped in timeless Tiffany-blue and dripping in amazonite stone accents and hand-painted motifs, entering the Tiffany Blue Box Café is like stumbling into one of the brand’s iconic jewellery boxes – there is even the odd jewel scattered around for good measure.
Book the Champagne breakfast for two with Red Letter Days and you can kick off proceedings with a glass of perfectly chilled Harrods Brut NV Champagne before debating which of their classic brunch dishes you fancy; think eggs Florentine, Cornish crab muffins and Faroe smoked salmon, to name but a few. Of course, it wouldn’t be a true “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” without a cracking coffee (served in a Tiffany-blue cup, naturally) with a fabulously flaky all-butter croissant – tick.
Red Letter Days is a leading provider of unique experience gifts. Visit www.redletterdays.co.uk to book your experience at the Tiffany Blue Box Cafe in Harrods. Prices start from £90 for two people.
Header photo by Brooke Lark courtesy of Unsplash
