5 Ways to Have Brunch in London This WeekendBy Alicia Grimshaw

A weekend eating brunch, is a weekend well spent – About Time Magazine. 

1. For a New Brunch Spot: The Ivy Cafe

What: For weekend brunchers seeking a new spot to indulge in some delicious Eggs Benedict, look no further than newly opened The Ivy Cafe. Located in the heart of Marylebone, this all day dining restaurant serve breakfast, elevenses, brunch, lunch, cream tea and dinner. It’s everything you want under one roof and we’ve got a lot of time for that.

Eat: All the brunch dishes are available at The Ivy Cafe. Think toasted crumpets served with Marmite, mustard and parsley butter and chopped avocado with roast plum tomatoes and poached free-range hen’s egg on toasted granary with spicy sesame dressing. For something heartier, order The Ivy Café’s HLT – a combination of grilled halloumi, avocado, lettuce and tomato served with thick-cut chips or the equally delicious Croque madam – ham hock, Gruyère and Dijon mustard béchamel.  Wash it down with one of specially concocted cocktails, including some classic favourites served with a twist. The Espresso Martini is served unsweetened with a hot cross bun with amaretto and crème brûlée infusions on the side, for you to sweeten to your liking. Dreams.

Where: 96 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone, London W1U 2QA

2. For Eggs: Jones Family Project 

Why: Situated in the heart of East London’s hub, Shoreditch, The Jones Family Project is a restaurant and bar that has something for everyone and will please even the pickiest of eaters. The restaurant champions responsibly sourced, quality ingredients  and take great care in choosing their suppliers, using only the best meats from the Ginger Pig.

Eat: Jones Family Project create some killer eggs dishes. For the eggs Benny lover, order the Jones’ Benedict with either Ginger Pig bacon or smoked salmon. For us, you can’t go wrong with their baked eggs, 2 free-ranged eggs in a terracotta pan with a white wine and  tomato sauce, roasted rosemary potatoes, red onions, harissa spiced butternut squash and peppers. And, you have the option to top your eggs with either roasted chorizo, king prawns or goats cheese. If eggs aren’t your bag – don’t fret, they also have another menu full of yummy goodness. Dig into grilled rare beef open sandwiches, lemongrass spiced prawn salads and Jones’ truffled macaroni cheese.

Where: 78 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3JL

3. For a French Brunch: Bandol

What: Husband and wife team Sylvia Kontek and Vittorio Mongethe the duo behind Margaux (go there for exceptional European dishes and wine), recently opened Bandol last month. Bandol is all about bringing  Nicoise and Provencal sharing dishes to London with fresh, simple ingredients at the heart and the best bit: they just launched a new brunch menu.

Eat: Bandol keep it simple with their brunch menu, but that’s why it works. For the classic brunch dishes you can’t go wrong with their Egg Benedict, Florentine or Royal. If you’re not in an Hollandaise mood, they whip up some seriously good omelettes. And, if that doesn’t wet your appetite, the new menu also includes duck egg provencal on a bed of ratatouille, a range of Tartines such as smoked salmon with avocado, sun blushed tomatoes and goats curd cream and French toast with red fruit and ice cream.

Where: 6 Hollywood Rd, London SW10 9HU

4. For an Indulgent Brunch: Dirty Bones

What: Dirty Bones’ (home to the Mac Daddy burger: mac and cheese ON a burger) have launched a new brunch menu in their Carnaby and Kensington restaurants. Served throughout the weekend, their brunch provides the perfect cure to a hangover, a great indulgence in some serious grub, or an excuse for hair of the dog with a £15 bottomless prosecco offering at Carnaby.

Eat: Brunch here is not just brunch but a serious meaty occasion. We’re talking about the Benedict Burger, a 6oz house burger, topped with a poached egg and black treacle bacon, smothered in Dirty Bones hollandaise sauce or the short rib and cheese toastie – a  triple stack toastie of beef rib, charred gherkin, English mustard, taleggio and cheddar on sourdough. Also on the menu is steak and eggs, chicken and waffles and a load of other meaty treats. Finish off with their Banana Toblerone-tella waffles, a sweet and chocolatey combination of caramelized banana, Toblerone-tella, blueberry jam, peanut butter gelato, crushed nuts on a freshly baked waffle.

Where: Locations here

Photo Credit: The Gaztronome

5. For a Boozy Brunch: Columbia Restaurant, Bar & Terrace

Why: After re-launching their hotel and dining offerings, DoubleTree by Hilton Docklands have launched a delightful exclusive at their Columbia Bar & Terrace for indulgent weekends. Every Sunday, relax with a Thames-side view and unlimited glasses of Prosecco or Bloody Mary’s for £20. Now that’s what we call a boozy bargain.

Eat: Here it’s all about British gastro pub food done really well. Starters include black pudding Scotch Egg with soft herbs and piccalilli, Szechuan peppered squid with crushed garlic, chilli and lime mayo and the dreamy wild mushrooms on toast topped with garlic and walnut pesto. Sharing boards are also up for grabs with both a British Charcuterie and a vegetarian offering available. For bigger dishes, brunch on fish and chips, lamb rump and a whole host of different burgers.