The Best Brunch in North London

Brunch in North London: not just north of the river, but north of expectations too.

Here you can visit a nostalgia-laced greasy spoon from former Lyle’s chefs; cosy neighbourhood cafés; swanky restaurants on the 10th floor; outdoor terraces and more…
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Dudley’s | Walthamstow

Dudley’s is everything. Which we mean both as a gushing form of praise, and as a very literal statement: this little café offers both Assembly coffee and beer to accompany your brunch, depending on your mood. And the dishes are fantastic: toasted banana bread with espresso butter, chilli folded eggs (out of this world) and ‘The Dogfather’, a game-changing breakfast bun.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Mon-Sat 8am-3pm, Sun 9am-3pm
Address: 145 Wood Street, London E17 3LX | Visit their website
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The Good Egg | Stoke Newington, Camden

Safia Shakarchi

Wisely, The Good Egg’s brunch menu contains sections titled ‘Breads’ and ‘Dipping.’ And if you need anything beyond that, you’ll find it in the form of smoked haddock hash with crispy capers, amba mayo & fried egg; Challah French toast; or a pitch-perfect pastrami lox bagel.

Details: Bottomless booze? Yes | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Daily, 9am-3.30pm
Address: 93 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0AS | North Yard, Camden Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH | Visit their website
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Common Ground | Finsbury Park

This little neighbourhood café, with its beautiful, spacious back garden, really will give you common ground. Because if there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that this is one of the best spots for an all-veggie brunch in London. And their dishes all go rather nicely with a Garibaldi cocktail and a slice of freshly baked chocolate babka…

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Weekdays 8.30am-4pm, Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm, Sunday 9.30am-4pm
Address: 49 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EF | Visit their website
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Sunday | Barnsbury

Barnsbury might seem like a long way to go for brunch. But trust us, when you’re knee-deep in chilli beef with soft corn grits and fried eggs, that suddenly won’t seem to matter.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Tues-Fri 8.30am-5pm, weekends 9am-5pm
Address: 169 Hemingford Road, N1 1DA | Visit their website
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Salt The Radish | Finsbury Park

Salt the radish, grate the ginger, overnight the oats… whatever culinary wizardry goes on behind the scenes at this Blackstock Road café, it works. Brunch innovations like the chilli oil eggy bread (drizzled with soy and lavished with sesame roast tomatoes & bacon) and the fried eggs with masala roast potatoes are served up with Climpson’s coffee and a warm welcome that’s been drawing in locals for 7 years.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Weekdays 8am-4pm, weekends 9am-4pm
Address: 45 Blackstock Road, N4 2JF | Visit their website
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Norman’s | Tufnell Park

A new, old-school greasy spoon, where you can score no-frills ham, eggs & chips; cheese on toast and bacon rolls with change from a fiver. Except, you know, the chefs worked at Michelin-starred restaurant Lyle’s.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Wed-Sun, 10am-3pm
Address: 167 Junction Road, London, N19 5PZ | Visit their website
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Ginger & White | Hampstead

A cosy neighbourhood spot tucked down a picturesque Hampstead side street, which specialises in good old-fashioned breakfast dishes like buttered sourdough soldiers and runny eggs, beans on toast and homemade peanut butter.

Details: Bottomless booze? No| Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Weekdays 7.30am-5.30pm, Saturday 7.30am-6pm, Sunday 8am-6pm
Address: 4a – 5a Perrins Court, NW3 1QS | Visit their website
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Granger and Co. | Kings Cross, Clerkenwell, Chelsea, Notting Hill, Marylebone

The late, great Bill Granger made his name as a chef thanks to his signature scrambled eggs. Head to the sleekly designed Granger and Co. for brunch, and you’ll find out why.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings (King’s Cross): Weekdays from 7am-12pm, weekends 8am-12pm
Address: Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG | Visit their website
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Kipferl | Islington

If you’ve got a scratch only a Bauernfrühstuck can itch, get along to Kipferl on Camden Passage, and feast on traditional Austrian farmers’ breakfast stir fries; French toast with milk bread; and the legendary Viennese Sachertorte.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Weekdays only
Timings: Mon-Sat 10am-2pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Address: 20 Camden Passage, London N1 8ED | Visit their website
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Esters | Stoke Newington

Jonathan Simpson

Esters basically takes all the city’s best producers – Neal’s Yard Dairy, Little Bread Pedlar, Brindisa – and whips their ingredients into elevated classics like French toast with heather honey cream; breakfast baps spiked with pumpkin seed miso; and fried eggs with cauliflower purée.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Tues-Fri 8am-12pm, Sat 9am-2.30pm
Address: 55 Kynaston Road, London, N16 0EB | Visit their website
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Brother Marcus | Angel, Borough, South Ken & Spitalfields

Tucked away on Islington’s quaint, flagstone-paved Camden Passage, Brother Marcus will ply you with dishes like fried chicken & potato rosti; brioche French toast with bacon floss; and stacks of courgette and feta fritters with a poached egg. Just like a good brother should.

Details: Bottomless booze? No, but 2 for £20 on cocktails | Set menu? No | Bookable? Weekdays only
Timings: Weekdays from 8.30am-12pm, Saturdays 9am-4pm and Sundays 9.30am-4pm
Address: 37-39 Camden Passage, N1 8EA | Visit their website
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Coal Office | King’s Cross

Coal Office: the best (and only) answer to the question “where can I find Cornish squid with braised hispi cabbage & chilli ferment all mopped up with cloud-like kubalah bread prepared by chef Assaf Granit in a sleek, Tom Dixon-designed space?”

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends, 12-2.30pm
Address: 2 Bagley Walk, London N1C 4PQ | Visit their website
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Beam | Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Highbury, Notting Hill

Run by a mother and son team, Beam is home to London’s most generous brunch dish: the colossal Mediterranean breakfast with grilled halloumi; egg; feta filo pastry parcels; avo; sausage; more feta; olives; feta; and harissa yoghurt cascading off the plate.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Daily from 8am, be prepared to queue at weekends
More info: Visit their website
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