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Roger Federer. The Swiss Alps. Lindor chocolate.

Turns out there could be even more to love about Switzerland – a tasty breakfast dish that London’s currently going cuckoo for.

Bircher muesli – or ‘overnight oats’ to give it a slightly more exotic and naughty sounding name – was invented by a Swiss Doctor in the 1900s.  Don’t let that put you off though, while pre-soaking the oats the day before does make them easy on the digestive system, it also makes for a wonderfully creamy and indulgent one-bowl wonder that satisfies and tastes pretty damn amazing.

The foundation of a decent bircher is simple: rolled oats, some liquid to soak them in (normally milk, yogurt or juice) and a bit of crunchy and/or fruity stuff to top it off.  It’s a personal thing – at home I keep it simple with almond milk, chia seeds, blueberries, and a swish of coconut yogurt, but to each their own bircher. 

For all of you whose last thought before bed isn’t ‘I must soak my oats’, fear not – London’s restaurants have fallen in love with Bircher and have got you covered.

1. The Raw One: Iris & June, Victoria

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Recipe: Oats with sunflower, pumpkin and chia seeds soaked in coconut milk with seasonal fruit compote.

Oat Winner: The seeds give this clean-tasting bircher a delicious, crunchy, knobbly-ness which works well with the softness of the oats.  The dish feels wholesome and nourishing and they’ve got the milk to oats ratio just right.  Mixed colours give it an instagram-able pleasure.  Kept me full for ages.

Vibe: This is the last place you’d expect to find behind Victoria Street – hip, modern but relaxed and friendly neighbourhood café serving nutty Ozone coffee. Try the porridge and fresh salads too. 

Price: £3.50

2. The One at The Shard: Lang at The Shangri-La Hotel, London Bridge

 

Recipe: Oats soaked in greek yogurt, apricots and cherries with fresh berry topping. 

Oat Winner: The berries made a lovely contrast to the creamy oats and although the bowl looks small it’s delightfully filling.  Very good value, considering you’re surrounded by marble and glass Shangri-La luxe.

Vibe: Ok, so it’s the one without the view, but overall The Shard’s ‘artisan deli’ delivers brilliantly on service, detail and quality.  It’s a beautiful and calm place to enjoy all manner of delectable treats or even just a cup of damn good coffee. Oh and the loo seats are heated.  Nice touch.

Price: £3.50 

3. The Organic One: Daylesford Organic

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Recipe: Chia, goji berry & flax seed Bircher with natural yoghurt & fresh seasonal fruits 

Oat Winner: Gloriously nutty and wholesome, but not for raisin haters.  Almost like a sweet coleslaw, it’s plainer than most and presented simply with some fresh grapes on top.  Pricey but hey, it’s Daylesford.

Vibe: It’s impossible to be in a bad mood here.  Sitting at the marble counter with the sun streaming in surrounded by incredible organic farm shop treats and cold pressed goodness to take home… I’m in paradise.

Price: £6.

4. The 80s One: The Breakfast Club, London Bridge and various locations

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Recipe: Apple and cinnamon soaked oats, yoghurt, dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

Oat Winner: Not something I’d expect to see on the menu here at Brekkie Club, but for a themed diner they deliver this healthy option remarkably well.  Theirs is a personal favourite of mine – the dried fruit is wonderfully chewy, not too sweet and keeps things interesting texture-wise.  Cute presentation and it’s oat-dense.

Vibe: Friendly, casual and laid back.  The table next door happily devoured generous classic fry-ups and looked at my cup of hardy cereal rather pityingly.  Little did they know.  Great coffee too. 

Price: £5

5. The Silver Service One: The Delaunay, Aldwych 

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Recipe: Oats soaked with yogurt, apple, raisin, hazelnuts and cherries.

Oat Winner: Definitely on the sweet side but the chunky nuts add fulfilling crunch.  No topping to speak of and plenty of apple.  A simple and unsurprisingly traditional approach.

Vibe: As always, the Delaunay delivers on a luxurious and opulent experience even at breakfast.  The kedgeree’s another top tip and the coffee is incredible.  And served in a silver pot. 

Price: £4.75 

Bircher Business: The Best to Go

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Pod’s  (£1.99) is gluten free and incorporates bee pollen if you’re into that sort of thing, but I find it a touch too sweet.  Pret’s had bircher for ages (£1.89) but the granola, honey AND fruit make it more like a pudding, and possibly not something that Dr. Bircher would have recommended a century ago.  Prefer an impromptu breakfast in bed?  Rude Health makes an instant bircher containing all the goodness – just add liquid and it’s ‘soft in seconds’.  Just what the doctor ordered.

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